AccuWeather.com and Verizon Wireless Launch On Demand Weather Video Clips For V CAST Customers

BEDMINSTER, NJ and STATE COLLEGE, PA — AccuWeather.com, The World's Weather Authority and Verizon Wireless, the nation's leading wireless provider, announced today the availability of video clips of AccuWeather.com's extensive weather information on the new Verizon Wireless V CAST wireless broadband multimedia service. V CAST from Verizon Wireless is the first true 3G wireless broadband consumer multimedia service in the country, allowing customers to view crystal clear video on demand and graphics for 3D games because it runs on Verizon Wireless' Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) network — the only widely available wide-area wireless broadband network in the United States. The V CAST coverage area, which mirrors Verizon Wireless' EV-DO network, is available in more than 30 major metropolitan markets and covers more than 75 million people.

With video clips from AccuWeather.com, V CAST customers can access the latest local metro, regional and national weather information, in a format created specifically for optimum viewing on mobile handsets. This screen-size customization ensures AccuWeather.com's V CAST video clips feature the sharp images and clear informative graphics so that video clips look like video rather than a slide show. AccuWeather.com's video clips include:

• National forecast
• Regional forecasts
• Localized forecasts for 39 metro areas across the nation, including all cities in which V CAST is currently available
• Breaking news regarding severe weather watches and warnings
• Special daily weather features for business travelers and sports fans

(EDITORS: A complete list of metro areas with localized forecasts follows this news release.)

"As a company that has built a reputation for innovation, AccuWeather.com is proud to be associated with such a breakthrough wireless service," says Jim Candor, senior vice president of New Media at AccuWeather.com. "Now, Verizon Wireless V CAST customers can get the latest and most accurate weather updates, delivered to them when and where they need it, in a format that is easy to view."

For $15.00 monthly access added to their Verizon Wireless calling plan, customers get the V CAST VPak which includes unlimited access to a wide array of more than 300 daily updated basic video clips from leading content providers. Unlimited basic video clips are included, but application download fees will still apply for 3D games, premium video clips, and all other Get It Now® applications. There are no airtime charges to download or stream and watch AccuWeather.com's video clip forecasts and updates and other V CAST basic video clip content. For a limited time, customers who sign up for V CAST will receive two months of service free. Verizon Wireless V CAST customers also receive monthly access and unlimited browsing on Verizon Wireless' Mobile Web 2.0^SM news and information service. In addition, customers can choose from premium video clip content, available at additional cost that will include music videos and more. With Windows Media delivering AccuWeather.com's content to V CAST phones, Verizon Wireless customers receive a high quality wireless multimedia entertainment experience.

V CAST's array of hot new multimedia programming is located in the Get It Now virtual store — customers can access video clips from AccuWeather.com and their favorite news, sports and entertainment providers in the getVIDEO shopping aisle and check out new cutting-edge 3D games in the getGAMES aisle. Once in the getVIDEO shopping aisle, customers simply scroll to the Weather category and click on AccuWeather to view video clips in the palm of their hands. V CAST also gives users unlimited access to browse and view applications in the other familiar Get It Now shopping aisles — such as getTONES and getGOING — but application download fees still apply.

V CAST customers can find AccuWeather.com video clips on three new 3G EV-DO phones available today — the LG VX8000 from LG Mobile Phones is the featured phone and is available to Verizon Wireless customers for $199.99 after $70 rebate with a two-year customer agreement. V CAST customers can also find AccuWeather.com video clips on the Samsung a890, which is $249.99 after a $70 rebate with a two-year customer agreement, and the CDM8940 from UTStarcom Personal Communications (formerly Audiovox Communications Corp.) for $229.99 after a $70 rebate with a two-year customer agreement.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.  

(EDITORS: High-resolution images of AccuWeather.com applications on V CAST are available online. Log on to www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia to preview and request images.)

Verizon Wireless V CAST customers can receive localized forecasts for the following 39 metro areas:

• Atlanta
• Austin
• Baltimore
• Boston
• Chicago
• Cincinnati
• Cleveland
• Columbus
• Dallas/Fort Worth
• Dayton
• Denver
• Detroit
• Fort Lauderdale
• Hartford /New Haven
• Houston
• Jacksonville
• Kansas City
• Las Vegas
• Los Angeles
• Madison
• Miami
• Milwaukee
• Minneapolis
• New Orleans
• New York
• Newark
• Orlando
• Philadelphia
• Phoenix
• Pittsburgh
• Portland
• Providence
• Sacramento
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• Seattle
• St. Louis
• Tampa/St. Petersburg
• Washington D.C.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 43.8 million voice and data 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 on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.  

About AccuWeather.com
AccuWeather.com, The World's Weather Authority®, provides a portfolio of products and services through the airwaves, via the Internet, in print, and behind the scenes that benefit hundreds of millions of people worldwide. AccuWeather.com services more than 150,000 paying customers in media, business, government and institutions, and millions more through the website. AccuWeather.com also provides content onto more than 1,200 Internet sites including CNN Interactive, ABC's owned and operated stations, The Associated Press®, The Washington Post and The New York Times.

For more information about AccuWeather.com's wireless products, visit http://wireless.accuweather.com; email behe@accuweather.com; or call 814-235-8756.

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