Verizon Wireless Customers In Kansas City Get Faster New Wireless Broadband Network

OVERLAND PARK, KS — Verizon Wireless customers in Kansas City and its surrounding areas can now have access to the Internet and to their e-mail and corporate data at faster speeds, uploading files eight to nine times faster than before as Verizon Wireless rolls out its next-generation high-speed broadband network. Based on CDMA 1x Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A) technology, the enhanced wireless broadband network provides Verizon Wireless customers in the Kansas City area with data uplink speeds significantly faster than the company's award-winning national EV-DO network, which the company rolled out in June of 2005.

The EV-DO Rev. A network coverage now spans the Kansas City metropolitan area, including the Interstate 435 loop surrounding the city. Coverage extends along Interstate 70 from Odessa, west through Kansas City and to Topeka. The coverage reaches north from the southern Johnson county line to the Platte City area.

The company's existing EV-DO network enables customers to access BroadbandAccess on their laptops, e-mail on their PDAs, and V CAST Video and Music on their wireless phones. The company's national wireless broadband network, the first in the nation, is already available to more than 200 million Americans in 242 major metropolitan areas and 180 major airports from coast to coast.

"Our existing wireless broadband network has enabled customers to work remotely and stay entertained in unprecedented ways; now we're taking wireless to the next level by introducing technology that helps them work faster," said Mark Crumpton, president—Kansas/Missouri region, Verizon Wireless. "Our customers who enjoy the latest technology will applaud Rev. A's faster data uplink speeds for their cutting-edge devices."

The company's flagship business data service, BroadbandAccess, will run faster and more efficiently with the new network enhancements. Customers in enhanced coverage areas can take advantage of upload speeds that are eight to nine times faster than that of the company's existing wireless broadband network, while interacting with Web-based applications with improved latency for a better customer experience. For example, BroadbandAccess customers in enhanced broadband wireless coverage areas can expect average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits and average upload speeds of 500-800 kbps, which means customers can download a 1 Megabyte e-mail attachment — the equivalent of a small PowerPoint^® presentation or a large PDF file — in about eight seconds and upload the same-sized file in less than 13 seconds.

In addition, customers who travel outside the BroadbandAccess coverage area will switch seamlessly to the fastest Verizon Wireless network available, whether it is the wireless broadband network or the network that operates the company's NationalAccess service.

Devices that take advantage of Verizon Wireless' wireless broadband network include the new V740 ExpressCard, the compact USB720 wireless modem, the AirCard 595 and the PC5750 PC Card from Verizon Wireless, all of which are fully compatible with the company's wireless broadband network and its NationalAccess network (based on CDMA 1xRTT technology). BroadbandAccess also is available as an integrated option on select notebook and laptop computers.

Kansas City-area customers purchasing these devices can get significantly faster upload speeds and improved download speeds when in an enhanced network coverage area. Customers interested in purchasing these devices can contact their local business sales representative at 314-920-4220. The devices are also available online at www.verizonwireless.com.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving more than 59 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 65,000 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.  

####