Verizon Wireless Calls on NBA Fans To Vote for The 2004 NBA All-Star Game MVP

LOS ANGELES, CA and BEDMINSTER, NJ — Verizon Wireless customers get to make the call by voting for this year's MVP of the 2004 NBA All-Star Game right from their two-way TXT messaging capable phones. The NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, February 15 will be broadcast live by TNT, Rogers Sportsnet and ESPN Radio at 8 p.m. EST. The game will also be telecast in 212 countries and broadcast in 12 languages on NBA.com.

To date, thousands of fans have already pre-registered from their Verizon Wireless phones by sending the TXT message "N-B-A" to "6-2-2" and hitting SEND. Verizon Wireless customers will be charged according to their calling plans. Fans can also log on and pre-register to vote at NBA.com. After half-time at the 2004 NBA All-Star Game the ballots will be sent directly to all pre-registrants' phones. Fans who do not have a chance to pre-register can send the TXT message "N-B-A" to "6-2-2" from their Verizon Wireless phones during the game, or simply log on and cast their ballot at NBA.com. All votes received through Verizon Wireless' TXT Messaging and NBA.com will be calculated in real time and will count toward selecting the official MVP of the 2004 NBA All-Star Game.

"We have taken our long-standing relationship with the NBA to a new level this year and are delighted we can continue to offer our customers wireless voting for the 2004 NBA All-Star Game's MVP. Based on past participation, this program has been a resounding success," said Marvin Davis, vice president of advertising for Verizon Wireless. "Our program this year helps get fans into the game like never before."

Verizon Wireless customers can also vote via their wireless phones for the 2004 got milk? Rookie Challenge MVP on Friday evening and for the winner of the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk competition on Saturday evening. As with the 2004 NBA All-Star MVP voting, ballots for each of these events will be sent to participating Verizon Wireless customers' phones once the players are selected.

And for basketball fans who need to chat on their wireless phones, anytime and anywhere, Verizon Wireless' TXT Messaging service keeps them in the game. Hoops lingo is a slam dunk with this TXT Messaging dictionary:

Air Ball — AR BL
Nothin' but Net — XX
That's what I'm talking about — THTS WHT IM TLKN ABT
In your face — IN UR :(
They'll miss this shot — O..o
That's gotta hurt — OUCH!
Lights out — LITES/OT
It's raining threes — 333

TXT Messaging from Verizon Wireless makes it easy to chat about and participate in the games — customers can pay as they go for TXT Messaging, which is just $0.02 for each message received and $0.10 for each message sent, or select from bundled plans for $2.99 per month for 100 messages, $3.99 per month for 200 messages and $7.99 per month for 600 messages sent or received. Verizon Wireless Prepay service customers can also join the excitement - prepay customers with TXT messaging-capable phones can send and receive messages for just $0.05 each.

From now through May 9, 2004, customers can sign up for a bundled plan of either 500 TXT Messages or 80 Picture Messages for $4.99 monthly access through December 31, 2005. Customers who choose both will be billed $7.99 monthly access for 500 TXT Messages and 80 Picture Messages, a $2.00 monthly savings through December 31, 2005.

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 37.5 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. To receive broadcast-quality video footage of Verizon Wireless operations, log onto www.thenewsmarket.com.  

About NBA
With 29 teams in the United States and Canada, NBA games and related programming are broadcast to 212 countries in 42 languages. The NBA is one of the most popular and profitable sports or entertainment properties in the licensing world with NBA league and team products in stores across the globe, on the NBA Store on NBA.com, the NBA Store on Fifth Avenue in New York City, and NBA City in Orlando. The NBA maintains marketing partnerships with the most successful companies in their categories. For more information on the NBA, visit www.nba.com.  

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