For 8th Consecutive Quarter, Verizon Wireless Customers Are The Most Loyal In Wireless Industry

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — According to the latest data released by the nation's largest wireless carriers, Verizon Wireless customers remain the most loyal in the wireless industry.

For the eighth consecutive quarter, Verizon Wireless had the lowest customer turnover rate, or churn, among the major wireless companies in the third quarter of 2006, based on those companies' financial reports in the last three weeks (see chart below). Churn is the percentage of customers who leave their carrier and is the industry's measure of customer loyalty.

Third quarter financial performance announcements — the latest was released today — included the following customer churn rates (for postpaid and prepaid customers):

Carrier Q3 2006                 Churn Rate

Verizon Wireless:                  1.2%**
Carrier A:                             1.8%
Carrier B:                             2.4%*
Carrier C:                             3.0%

"Our unparalleled network performance, combined with our premier customer service in our call centers and retail stores and outstanding handset lineup, create the most satisfying wireless experience for our customers," said Lowell McAdam, executive vice president & COO of Verizon Wireless. "Quarter after quarter, our industry-leading churn is further proof of our winning formula."

For more information about Verizon Wireless, please visit www.verizonwireless.com.  

* Post-paid churn rate; total churn rate was not reported.

** In addition to total churn, Verizon Wireless reported retail postpaid churn of 0.95%.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 56.7 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com.  To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.  

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