Thinking of Switching Wireless Providers? Verizon Wireless Has the Nation's Most Reliable Network

BEDMINSTER, NJ — On May 24, wireless customers across the United States will be able to keep their numbers when they switch wireless service providers. Reliable wireless coverage is the most important factor for consumers deciding which service provider to choose, and for customers thinking of making the switch, Verizon Wireless, the nation's leading wireless service provider, reminds customers that its network completes more customer calls in more places than any other U.S. service provider. More wireless users in the United States have selected Verizon Wireless than any other wireless provider for their wireless needs — a total of 39 million customers from coast to coast.

Since November 24, 2003, when number porting went into effect only in the top 100 markets, significantly more customers have switched to Verizon Wireless than have ported away to other service providers. The company has the lowest churn rate — the percent of customers who leave for another service provider — in the industry, demonstrating that Verizon Wireless customers are more likely to stay with the company than with any of the other national service providers. The quality of Verizon Wireless' national network, paired with the ability to offer the best value of any wireless service provider and award-winning customer service, enables Verizon Wireless to continue adding customers seeking the most reliable coverage from their wireless provider while constantly expanding coverage and capacity.

Network Investment

Verizon Wireless continues to demonstrate its commitment to continually improving its voice and data services — even while some wireless service providers are scaling back spending on their networks. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $1 billion in the first three months of 2004 alone to install new cell sites, grow the network's capacity and engineer other service improvements to further strengthen the nation's largest and most reliable wireless network. Currently, the company operates more than 150 switching facilities and 20,500 cell sites, or antennas, throughout the nation. On top of this regular and constant investment is an incremental $1 billion being used this year to build a new broadband wireless network for business and individual customers.

Every year since the formation of the company in 2000, Verizon Wireless has invested more than any other U.S. wireless provider — more than $4 billion annually — to maintain and expand its high-quality network nationwide. Last year, Verizon Wireless again dedicated more financial resources than any other wireless service provider to network enhancements.

Network Testing

Verizon Wireless continues to dedicate significant financial and human resources to improve its network. The company deploys a fleet of 50 test vehicles managed by company engineers who each drive more than 100,000 miles per year continuously testing the network and identifying areas for improvement. These engineers are the real-life test men and women who inspired the company's national television advertising campaign, "Can you hear me now? Good.®"

The company's unique test vehicle fleet is equipped with computers that each automatically make more than 300,000 call attempts monthly on the Verizon Wireless network and the networks of other carriers, ensuring that the Verizon Wireless network continues to meet the company's own high standards for call quality.

Network Quality and Accolades

Over the years, Verizon Wireless has been recognized for its network leadership and quality. Earlier this month, Bedford Communications, Inc.'s LAPTOP magazine announced that Verizon Wireless was selected as LAPTOP Editors' Choice Award for Best Overall Carrier because "As far as quality goes, Verizon Wireless is as definitive a winner as you can get. To find a cellular companion like Verizon Wireless in this day and age — that is, reliable and garble-free — is a beautiful thing." LAPTOP Editors' Choice Award for Best Overall Carrier is revealed in the article, "Wireless Winners and Losers" by Jon Gibson and Brian Nadel, in the May 2004 issue of LAPTOP magazine.

In addition, an April 2004 survey by Strategy Analytics found that, "Verizon Wireless is the market leader for 'user satisfaction,' and beats all its competitors as the destination of choice for 30 percent of users who may churn."

Customers wishing to join the nation's leading wireless provider can make the switch by visiting one of more than 1,200 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, by calling customer service at 1-800-2 JOIN IN, or by visiting www.verizonwireless.com.  

EDITORS NOTE:
A Verizon Wireless video news release, broadcast-quality B-Roll and still images about local number portability are available online. Log on to www.thenewsmarket.com/verizonwireless to preview and request video segments, which can be received in newsrooms digitally, by tape or via satellite. The footage features customers porting their numbers, the porting process in Verizon Wireless stores, industry analyst comments, and special tips for consumers on how to port their numbers.

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 39 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/verizonwireless.

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