Verizon Wireless Extends Rollout of Wireless Broadband Network To Wichita, Kansas

WICHITA, KS — Verizon Wireless announced today it has expanded its Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) third generation (3G) wide-area network to Wichita.

The expansion means that Verizon Wireless customers can access the company's high-speed wireless broadband network while traveling throughout Wichita and surrounding towns and will be able to enjoy two additional services: BroadbandAccess, the company's high-speed wireless broadband network geared toward mobile professionals and business customers, with average user speeds of 400-700 kilobits per second (kbps); and V CAST, a consumer-oriented multimedia service that offers music and short content on demand, including cutting-edge 3D games, music videos, news, weather, sports and more.

"This expansion is part of our continuing focus on investing in our network reliability and providing innovative high-speed data services to our customers in Wichita and across the country," said Mark Crumpton, president — Kansas/Missouri Region, Verizon Wireless. "With BroadbandAccess, Wichita's mobile and business professionals now will be able to take their desktop experience wherever they go in the coverage area, enabling them to wirelessly access their calendars, the Internet, e-mail and critical business information residing behind corporate firewalls."

Verizon Wireless was the first national wireless provider to commercially launch a high-speed wireless broadband network in the United States. Wichita is the latest metropolitan market to be added to Verizon Wireless' EV-DO network coverage area, now available to half the nation's population.

BroadbandAccess
BroadbandAccess provides mobile workers full access to their corporate information as if they were attached to the information via a high-speed wired connection, but with the freedom of true mobility. Developed with a range of users in mind, the service enables large enterprises, small to medium-sized businesses and mobile professionals to conduct business anytime, anywhere in the BroadbandAccess coverage area via a secure, true high-speed data connection.

Business customers can access information when they are on the road-at customer locations, at job sites or in taxis-with BroadbandAccess. With data transmission bursts up to above 2 megabits per second (mbps), BroadbandAccess customers could download a 1 megabyte e-mail attachment (for example, a small PowerPoint^® presentation or a large PDF file) or receive three digital pictures (each 400 x 600 pixels) in less than 20 seconds. Also, customers who travel outside a BroadbandAccess coverage area with an EV-DO device will switch seamlessly to Verizon Wireless' existing NationalAccess network, in which customers experience average data transmission speeds between 60 and 80 kbps with bursts up to 144 kbps.

"This service gives our enterprise customers two key advantages in wireless communication-speed and mobility," said Crumpton. "With that comes an increase in productivity and bottom-line business benefits."

V CAST
The company's high-speed network also enables its V CAST multimedia services, offering customers the ability to download full song tracks, play cutting-edge 3D games and stream video clips straight to the handset with transmission speeds capable of bursts of 2 mbps. With content updated daily, customers can watch dozens of broadcasts, from breaking news and weather to sports highlights, the hottest entertainment clips and more.

V CAST Music, available to customers with V CAST Music-enabled handsets, is the world's most comprehensive, over-the-air mobile music download service. Customers with V CAST Music can download full song tracks directly to their Verizon Wireless handsets or to PCs equipped with Windows^® XP operating software. The V CAST Music on demand service includes access to a catalog of more than 1.3 million songs.

Coverage
BroadbandAccess and V CAST coverage spans the entire Wichita loop from Interstate 235 west to Kansas Highway 96 and includes Mid-Continent Airport and McConnell Air Force Base. Coverage extends north from Wichita to Sunnydale and Valley Center, south to Derby, west to Goddard, St. Mark and Maize, and east to Leon, El Dorado and Towanda. BroadbandAccess and V CAST services already are available in Lawrence and the greater Kansas City metropolitan area.

Product Offering
BroadbandAccess is available for $79.99 monthly access with a new one- or two-year customer agreement. For a limited time, Verizon Wireless customers with an existing voice plan can receive unlimited BroadbandAccess service for $59.99 monthly access. A new two-year customer agreement is required. BroadbandAccess service also is available as an integrated option on select notebook computers, including laptops from Dell, Lenovo, HP and Toshiba.

Wireless PC Cards for BroadbandAccess customers include the Verizon Wireless PC 5740, Verizon Wireless V620 and Kyocera KPC 650. In addition, several handsets have the ability to "tether" to a laptop's USB port, with the purchase of a Mobile Office Kit. BroadbandAccess-powered PDAs offered by Verizon Wireless include the Motorola Q^®, the Palm^® Treo^™ 700w and the Palm^®Treo^™ 700p.

To access V CAST video and games, customers need a V CAST-enabled handset and a $15.00 monthly subscription added to their Verizon Wireless calling plan.

Customers with a V CAST Music-enabled handset can pay as they go to download songs on their phone for $1.99 per song plus airtime, download songs to their PC for as little as $0.99, and transfer their existing compatible digital music collection to their V CAST Music-enabled handset or memory card for free from their PC. Purchases from the handset include two copies of every song-one for the handset and one for the PC.

For more information, about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a local Verizon Wireless Communications Store or go to www.verizonwireless.com. 

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 54.8 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., 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 preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

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