Verizon Wireless Expands High Speed Wireless Network In Topeka, Kansas

OVERLAND PARK, KS — Verizon Wireless announced today it has expanded its local Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) third generation (3G) wide-area network from Kansas City to Topeka, Kansas.

The expansion means that Verizon Wireless customers in the Topeka area can access the company's high-speed wireless network and enjoy two prime services: BroadbandAccess is the company's high-speed wireless service, with average user speeds of 400-700 kilobits per second (kbps), geared toward mobile professionals and business customers; V CAST is a consumer-oriented multimedia service that offers music and short content on demand, including cutting-edge 3D games, music videos, news, weather and sports.

The network expansion will equip Verizon Wireless' business customers to experience a truly untethered mobile office experience, enabling them to wirelessly access their calendars, the Internet, e-mail and critical business information residing behind their companies' firewalls. With the added benefit of V CAST, consumers also now have access to the most comprehensive selection of downloadable music, high-quality videos and the coolest 3D games found anywhere.

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. Customers can download a 1 Megabyte e-mail attachment (for example, a small PowerPoint^® presentation or large PDF file) or receive three digital pictures (each 400 x 600 pixels) in less than 20 seconds. Also, customers who travel outside the BroadbandAccess coverage area with an EV-DO device will switch seamlessly to Verizon Wireless' existing NationalAccess network and experience average data transmission speeds between 60 and 80 kbps with bursts up to 144 kbps.

"Our BroadbandAccess service gives our enterprise customers three key advantages in wireless communication - speed, mobility and security," said Mark Crumpton, president—Kansas/Missouri Region, Verizon Wireless. "With these advantages 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 top transmission speeds. With content updated daily, customers can watch dozens of on demand videos, including breaking news, weather, sports highlights and the hottest entertainment clips.

V CAST Music, available to customers with V CAST Music-enabled handsets, is the world's most comprehensive, over-the-air mobile music service. Customers with V CAST Music can download 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 1.5 million songs.

Coverage
Verizon Wireless' expansion of BroadbandAccess and V CAST coverage covers the city of Topeka and extends along Interstate 70 between Kansas City and Topeka and throughout the entire Interstate 470 loop. South of Topeka, coverage extends along U.S. Highway 75 including the towns of Pauline, Carbondale, Wakarusa, Lyndon and Melvern. Coverage also extends north of the city along U.S. Highway 75 through the town of Elmont and along U.S. Highway 4 through the towns of Meriden and Rock Creek. U.S. Highway 24, which is north of the city and runs parallel to I-70, is also now covered throughout the Topeka area.

"This area is a vital market with dynamic, tech-savvy businesses and consumers," Crumpton said. "The launch of our broadband network here provides our customers with access to the very latest wireless technology."

The multi-million dollar expansion entails installing high-tech wireless hardware and software in wireless transmission sites. It is part of an ongoing network investment by Verizon Wireless that has totaled $35 billion nationally in the last seven years.

Verizon Wireless was the first national wireless provider to commercially launch a high-speed wireless broadband network in the United States. These enhancements in the Topeka area are among the latest expansions to Verizon Wireless' EV-DO network coverage area, available to more than half the nation's population. Verizon Wireless' broadband network was introduced in Kansas City in September 2004.

Product Offering
BroadbandAccess is available for $79.99 monthly access with a new one- or two-year customer agreement. BroadbandAccess service also is available as an integrated option on select notebook and laptop computers.

Wireless PC Cards for BroadbandAccess customers include the Verizon Wireless PC 5740, Verizon Wireless V620 and Kyocera KPC 650. A new Novatel Wireless V640 card is available for laptop owners with ExpressCard/34 or ExpressCard/54 slots rather than with a traditional PCMCIA slot.

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^TM, the Palm^® Treo^TM700w and the Palm Treo 700p. Popular BlackBerry^® options include the new 8703e, the 7250 and 7130e.

To access V CAST Music, video and games, customers need a V CAST-enabled handset and must be on a Verizon Wireless calling plan. Currently, nearly 20 music capable handsets are available, including the popular Chocolate by LG, the Motorola RAZR V3m and MOTOKRZR K1m.

Customers with a V CAST Music-enabled handset and a calling plan can pay as they go to download songs directly onto their phone for $1.99 per song plus airtime, download songs to their PC for as little as 99 cents, and transfer their existing compatible digital music collection to their V CAST Music-enabled handset or memory card at no charge 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 operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 57 million customers. The largest U.S. wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 60,000 employees nationwide. The company 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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