Verizon Wireless' Broadband Wireless Network Speeds Into Mississippi

JACKSON, MS — Customers in Jackson and along the Mississippi Gulf Coast can now access the latest high-speed business and entertainment services on their wireless phones, laptop computers and other wireless devices thanks to Verizon Wireless.

The new capabilities come with the expansion of the company's Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) network, enabling both its BroadbandAccess and V CAST services. The launch includes the Jackson Metro area as well as communities along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

"Verizon Wireless is committed to expanding high-speed data service across the nation and is proud to announce the launch of our wireless broadband network in Mississippi," said Katherine Greene, regional president, Verizon Wireless. "Mississippi is an important market with dynamic businesses, recreational attractions and an increasing number of mobile data consumers. This new wireless broadband service will bring the latest wireless products and services to Mississippi businesses and consumers."

BroadbandAccess

BroadbandAccess provides on-the-go professionals with full, mobile access to their corporate information as if they were attached to the information via a high-speed wired connection. Users can conduct business anytime, anywhere in the BroadbandAccess coverage area via a secure, true high-speed data connection.

With average access speeds of 400-700 kilobits per second (kbps), users can download a 1 Megabyte e-mail attachment — the equivalent of a small PowerPoint^® presentation or a large PDF file — in about 20 seconds.

Connecting to BroadbandAccess is easy, using a PC Card that slides directly into most laptop computers, through an integrated option on select notebook computers or by connecting a laptop to a BroadbandAccess-capable PDA or phone.

V CAST

V CAST, the nation's first wireless broadband multimedia service for consumers, offers the most comprehensive selection available of music, videos and 3D games on-demand. Users can stream video clips (up to five minutes long) of the hottest entertainment, music videos, movie trailers, sports highlights, news and breaking weather directly to their Verizon Wireless V CAST-capable phones.

With V CAST Music, customers can browse and download songs from the V CAST Music library of more than 1.5 million songs directly onto their V CAST Music-enabled phones or Windows^®XP-enabled PCs. They can also transfer music from their PCs to their V CAST Music-enabled phones and take their tunes with them without a second device.

Coverage Area

Verizon Wireless' Mississippi EV-DO expansion includes the Jackson Metro area from Clinton to Brandon and from south of Jackson to Ridgeland and Madison. The Gulf Coast expansion includes Waveland, Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian and Gulfport along Hwy 90 as well as portions of Biloxi along Hwy 90 and I-110.

The company invests more than $1 billion in its network every quarter with over $6 billion invested in 2006 alone. The company has invested more than $35 billion nationwide over the last six years — to ensure network reliability and expanded coverage, capacity and capabilities.

In addition to allowing advanced applications such as BroadbandAccess and V CAST, the network upgrade in Mississippi will further strengthen the Verizon Wireless network in the event of emergencies. The network stood up well to the recent extraordinary storm seasons, while other communication networks sometimes suffered substantial disruptions.

"A strong, reliable wireless network is critical for the public in large-scale emergencies and every day," Greene said. "Verizon Wireless will continue to take a leading role in public safety to serve residents, businesses and visitors locally and across the region."

Verizon Wireless was the first national wireless provider to commercially launch a high-speed wireless broadband network in the United States. Verizon Wireless' EV-DO network coverage area now covers more than 200 million people.

BroadbandAccess and V CAST pricing and product information is available at www.verizonwireless.com.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 57 million customers. The largest US wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 60,000 employees nationwide. The company 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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