Verizon Wireless Expands Wireless Broadband Network To Include Helena And Missoula, Montana

HELENA, MT — Wireless customers in Helena and Missoula, Montana now have access to the latest high-speed business and entertainment services on their wireless phones, laptop computers and other wireless devices thanks to Verizon Wireless.

The new capabilities come with the expansion of the company's Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) network into Montana, enabling both its BroadbandAccess and V CAST services.

"The greater Helena and Missoula areas are important, expanding markets with dynamic, growing businesses and an increasing number of mobile data consumers," said Jeff Mango, regional president of Verizon Wireless. "The expansion of our broadband network will provide them access to the very latest wireless technology and services such as BroadbandAccess and V CAST Music and video."

Coverage
With today's launch, coverage includes the following communities and points-of-interest in Montana:

• Helena, including Historic downtown, Carroll College, the State Capitol, Civic Center, Lewis and Clark Fairgrounds and North Hills 
• Missoula, including the lower Flathead Valley and Big Arm

Verizon Wireless was the first national wireless provider to commercially launch a high-speed wireless broadband network in the United States. Verizon Wireless' EV-DO network coverage area spans more than half the nation's population.

The company has invested more than $95 million in its Montana network in the past four years — part of its $35 billion nationwide network investment over the last seven years — to ensure network reliability and expanded coverage, capacity and capabilities.

BroadbandAccess
BroadbandAccess provides on-the-go professionals with full, mobile access to their corporate information as if they were attached to the information via a high-speed wired connection. Users can conduct business anytime, anywhere in the BroadbandAccess coverage area via a secure, true high-speed data connection.

With average access speeds of 400-700 kilobits per second (kbps), users can download a 1 Megabyte e-mail attachment — the equivalent of a small PowerPoint^® resentation or a large PDF file — in about 20 seconds.

Connecting to BroadbandAccess is easy, using a PC Card that slides directly into most laptop computers, an integrated option on select notebook computers or by connecting a laptop to a BroadbandAccess-capable PDA or phone. BroadbandAccess customers who travel outside the coverage area with an EV-DO-capable device will switch seamlessly to Verizon Wireless' existing NationalAccess network that offers average data transmission speeds between 60 and 80 kbps, with bursts up to 144 kbps.

V CAST
V CAST, the nation's first wireless broadband multimedia service for consumers, offers the most comprehensive selection available of music, videos and 3D games on demand. Users can stream video clips (up to five minutes long) of the hottest entertainment, music videos, movie trailers, sports highlights, news and breaking weather directly to their Verizon Wireless V CAST-capable phones.

With V CAST Music, customers can browse and download songs from the V CAST Music library of 1.5 million songs directly onto their V CAST Music-enabled phone or Windows^® XP-enabled PC. They can also transfer music from their PC to their V CAST Music-enabled phone and take their tunes with them without a second device.

BroadbandAccess and V CAST pricing and product information is available at 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 US 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.

####