Verizon Wireless Deploys 19,500 BlackBerry 8830 World Edition Smartphones For The FBI

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless today announced the deployment of 19,500 internationally enabled BlackBerry® 8830 World Edition Smartphones to more than 56 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) offices worldwide. The devices are part of the agency's Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) Mobility Program and provide FBI agents with mobile access to federal law enforcement information that was previously inaccessible from handheld wireless devices.

"The FBI works hard to provide our agents and professional staff with the technology needed to perform their job anywhere in the world," said FBI Chief Information Officer Zalmai Azmi. "These devices allow FBI employee's access not only to the internet, e-mail calendar and taskings, but also to applications critical to our mission such as the no-fly list, missing and kidnapped persons, crime alerts, etc."

Verizon Wireless also conducted in-person training with agents, transferred phone book contacts directly to the new devices, and provided complete equipment set up that included fully-charged batteries, SIM card activation, and unit assembly to ensure a smooth transition from the FBI's previous wireless devices to the new BlackBerry 8830 World Edition smartphones. All deployed devices feature asset tagging and tracking capability, ensuring that lost or stolen devices are easily recovered and the information on those devices remains secure. In addition, each field office can access account information online to manage and maintain the devices quickly and easily.

"FBI officials work in a variety of circumstances and environments, where mobility and speed are not luxuries but requirements," said Michael Maiorana, vice president of government sales for Verizon Wireless. "Verizon Wireless is committed to providing the FBI and other government agencies with reliable, contract-compliant service and support that keeps officials connected to their organizations."

Verizon Wireless offers a host of business applications and solutions for a variety of industries — from construction, manufacturing and healthcare to retail, financial services, government and public safety. Verizon Wireless' portfolio of mobile applications, enhanced by the comprehensive suite of IP products and services and technological innovations offered by Verizon Business, provides business and enterprise customers access to turnkey solutions that can help them improve efficiency, streamline communications and produce a solid return on investment.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services for government agencies visit www.verizonwireless.com/government or contact a Verizon Wireless Government Sales Representative at 1-800-293-3048. To learn more about Verizon Wireless' offerings for businesses, customers can go to www.verizonwireless.com/business or contact their Verizon Wireless Sales Representative at 1-800-VZW-4BIZ.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 65.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 69,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: 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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