Verizon Wireless Sponsors 2003 College Tours

BEDMINSTER, NJ — Verizon Wireless, the nation's largest wireless provider and operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network, will be making the college circuit this Fall by co-sponsoring ESPN's Heisman Tailgate Tour 2003 - the definitive college tailgate party - and the BET College Tour. Both tours show the college crowd the latest in wireless technology, including TXT messaging, picture messaging from Verizon Wireless, cool Get It Now^SM applications and Verizon Wireless' high-speed Express Network® wireless service, plus gives them the chance to win [FREEUP] prepay wireless service on Verizon Wireless' award-winning network.

With ESPN's Heisman Tailgate Tour 2003, students can access the latest in Get It Now games, ring tones and more, check out one of many cool full-color screen phones, and connect to the Internet wirelessly - as fast as they can from their home PCs. Stop by to win a [FREEUP] prepay wireless package from Verizon Wireless, complete with phone and airtime, or an ESPN The Magazine gift bag. ESPN's Heisman Tailgate Tour 2003 is scheduled for:

• September 13, 2003 - Iowa State v. Iowa
• September 20, 2003 - Boston College v. Miami
• September 27, 2003 - Alabama v. Arkansas
• October 4, 2003 - UNC v. Virginia
• October 11, 2003 - Texas A&M v. Baylor
• October 11, 2003 - Pitt v. Notre Dame
• October 25, 2003 - Texas A&M v. Okalahoma
• November 1, 2003 - Stanford v. UCLA
• November 5, 2003 - Oregon State v. Stanford
• November 15, 2003 - Washington State v. Arizona State

The BET College Tour gives students an afternoon of fun and prizes. Verizon Wireless will hold a 3-point Shoot Out contest - the winner will receive a [FREEUP] wireless package, complete with award-winning service and phone. While there, students can also check out the latest from Verizon Wireless, including the Get It Now virtual store via cool, full-color handsets, and the latest picture messaging-capable LG VX6000 handset, which lets students swap pictures with Verizon Wireless customers or e-mail addresses in just four easy clicks. The BET College Tour is scheduled to visit the following campuses:

• September 11, 2003 - Tennessee State University
• September 19, 2003 - Clark Atlanta University
• September 26, 2003 - Prairie View A&M University
• October 1, 2003 - Virginia Union University
• October 3, 2003 - Norfolk State University
• October 8, 2003 - Southern University (HC)
• October 10, 2003 - Grambling State University
• October 16, 2003 - St. Augustine University
• October 17, 2003 - North Carolina A&T State University
• October 23, 2003 - Alabama A&M University
• October 31, 2003 - Bethune-Cookman University
• November 7, 2003 - Tuskegee University

Verizon Wireless has products and services to meet every college student's needs. Students can choose an America's Choice^SM monthly plan to fit their calling styles or [FREEUP] prepay wireless service, a perfect option for students who are learning to balance a budget.

America's Choice, with plans starting at $34.99, lets students call anywhere coast to coast from anywhere on the extensive America's Choice network with no roaming or domestic long distance charges. [FREEUP] offers many of the benefits of a monthly plan - including the nation's best wireless network - free domestic long distance and TXT messaging in an easy-to-understand prepaid service without monthly bills or credit checks. And it's easy to [REUP], or replenish, a [FREEUP] card online at www.freeup.com, and even more enticing with the Verizon Wireless Million Prepay Minutes Sweepstakes. From now until September 29, 2003, every time customers purchase a $30 or higher [REUP] card online they are automatically entered to win one of 100 prizes of 10,000 prepay minutes. For details including how to enter, visit www.verizonwireless.com/MillionMinutes.  

College students jumping onto the TXT Messaging trend can TXT Message everyone - from friends to family. With Verizon Wireless TXT Messaging, customers can pay as they go for $0.02 for each message received and $0.10 for each message sent, or select from bundled plans for $2.99 monthly access for 100 messages, $3.99 monthly access for 200 messages and $7.99 monthly access for 600 messages sent or received. Verizon Wireless [FREEUP] customers with text messaging-capable phones can send and receive messages for just $0.05 each.

Picture messaging from Verizon Wireless is an easy way to share the excitement and fun of college life. Verizon Wireless customers simply snap a picture with their camera phone, enter a Verizon Wireless phone number or any e-mail address, type a TXT message, add a sound and hit "send" to send a picture message to another Verizon Wireless customer, any e-mail address or an online photo album. Verizon Wireless customers can pay as they go for each picture message, $0.25 for each message sent or received, plus airtime, or select from bundled picture messaging Pix Paks of $2.99 per month for 20 messages, and only $0.25 for each additional message sent or received, plus airtime or $4.99 per month for 40 messages, and only $0.25 for each additional message sent or received, plus airtime. Picture messaging is an extension of Verizon Wireless' Get It Now service that falls under the Flix & Pix aisle and available on Get It Now picture messaging-enabled phones.

Verizon Wireless offers the LG VX6000 for $149.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a two-year customer agreement. Verizon Wireless products and services are available in more than 1,200 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, at participating Circuit City and RadioShack locations and on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com.  

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 34.6 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 www.verizonwireless.com.  

About ESPN, Inc.
ESPN, Inc., The Worldwide Leader in Sports, is a multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring the broadest portfolio of multimedia assets in sports marketing with over 40 business entities. The company is comprised of seven domestic television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes (launching third quarter 2003), ESPN Now, ESPN Today), ESPN HD (high definition service launching April 2003), ESPN International (25 international networks and syndication), ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Regional Television, SportsTicker and ESPN Enterprises, overseeing brand extensions such as ESPN Zone, an interactive sports-themed dining and entertainment experience. Based in Bristol, Ct., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc, which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.

About BET
BET, a subsidiary of Viacom, is the nation's leading television network providing quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs programming for the African-American audience. The BET Network reaches more than 74.5 million households according to Nielsen media research. BET is a dominant consumer brand in the urban marketplace with a diverse group of branded businesses: BET.com, the Number 1 internet portal for African Americans; BET Digital Networks - BET Jazz, BET Gospel and BET Hip-Hop, a new alternative for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Event Productions, specializing in a full range of event production services, including event management, venue selection, talent recruitment, sound, lighting and stage production; and BET Books, the nation's leading publisher of African American-themed romance novels under the Arabesque Books label.

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