Verizon Wireless Test Man Targets Northern California; Company Enhances Network In The Great Outdoors

SAN RAMON, CA — Verizon Wireless, the nation's largest wireless provider, has upgraded and expanded its digital network in several rural, recreational and suburban communities in northern California. Based on the findings of its local team of "Can you hear me now?" Test Man experts, the company launched a series of network enhancements near Auburn State Recreational Area, Gaviota State Park, Mount Diablo State Park, Lake Ming near Sequoia National Forrest, Woodward Reservoir Regional Park, the city of Lamont and the San Francisco Bay Area.

"Our television Test Man, with his signature 'Can you hear me now?' phrase, represents the work ethic of our local network experts — they're focused on delivering a network that allows our customers to make a call, with clear reception, whenever they'd like, without getting dropped," said Tony Simpson, regional president of Verizon Wireless.

Visitors to the following recreational areas will now be able to be able to use the Verizon Wireless digital network, including sending and receiving short text messages, voicemail, caller ID and access to the Internet:

• Auburn State Recreational Area: south of Interstate 80 to the Lincoln Way exit, west of Highway 49, north of Interstate 80 to the Bowman exit and east from Foresthill Road to Foresthill Bridge
• Gaviota State Park: areas north of Gaviota, south of Buellton and around the Highway 101 and Highway 1 interchange
• Lake Ming, near Sequoia National Forrest: around Lake Ming and along the rural travel routes of Round Mountain Road and the Alfred Harrell Highway
• The Verizon Wireless digital network has also been improved to meet increasing consumer demand in the following recreational areas and cities:
• Mount Diablo State Park: southwest of the park and between the towns of Danville, San Ramon, Tassajara and along the I-680 freeway.
• Woodward Reservoir Regional Park. along Dodds Road between Henry Road and 26 Mile Road; on Eastman Road north of Woodward Reservoir; and, along 28 Mile Road between Dorsey Road and Eastman Road
• City of Lamont: within the city and north along Highway 58, West of Fairfax Road and east to Edison Road

Upgrades to the Verizon Wireless network in the Bay Area, including San Francisco, Oakland and much of the peninsula, will lengthen the battery life of 3G-capable phones operating on the Verizon Wireless Express Network. The newly introduced Express Network gives users full Internet access, intranet access and traditional email functionality at data transmission speeds up to 144 kilobits per second (kbps), which is unprecedented for wireless access. Users should expect average speeds between 40 and 60 kbps, significantly higher than speeds produced by competing technologies and comparable to speeds experienced by desktop users get when using a dial-up Internet service. The technology used by Express Network also increases the overall phone call capacity of the Bay Area network.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 30 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com.

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