Verizon Wireless Adds 1600 New York Metro Area Employees in 2006

ORANGEBURG, NY — In a continuing effort to keep pace with demand for the company's wireless voice and data products and services, Verizon Wireless today announced that it recruited and hired more than 1600 employees in the New York Metro area this year.

New York Metro Region President Charles Hand said the search for qualified candidates is expected to continue in 2007. "The appetite of New York area consumers and businesses for our exciting new wireless phones, voice services and high-speed wireless broadband services continues to fuel our need for intelligent and energetic employees."

"Our goal is to continue to deliver the best customer experience in the wireless industry and to do so we need to continually recruit and hire employees in customer-facing sales and service positions in our Communications Stores, telesales and business sales. We are looking for candidates with high standards, excellent communications skills and a passion for superior customer service," Hand said.

Bilingual English-Spanish speaking skills continue to be in high demand to meet the needs of the area's growing Hispanic population. Nearly 20 percent of the company's retail employees now speak both English and Spanish and that number is expected to increase in 2007.

"Offering Spanish-language services, including specially trained bilingual sales and service representatives, improves our ability to meet the needs of the area's Spanish-language population, " Hand said. "Our goal is to make all customers feel comfortable doing business with us and to help non-English-speaking customers get the best value from their Verizon Wireless products and services."

Strong demand for Verizon Wireless services continued during 2006 as the company added a record 5.4 million net new customers in the first three quarters of the year. Verizon Wireless now serves 57 million customers nationwide and is the nation's wireless leader in customer loyalty, based on customer retention and turnover rates announced publicly by the largest wireless providers.

Verizon Wireless consistently ranks as one of the best places to work in the United States. In the past year alone, the company has been recognized by independent experts and organizations including Working Mother magazine, 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers; The Wellness Councils of America, Gold Well Workplace; IDG's Computerworld, Best Place for IT; DiversityBusiness.com, Tops for Diversity; and Training magazine, Training Top 100.

The company offers highly competitive salaries and benefits that include health care coverage that begins on the first day of employment, 401(k) dollar for dollar match of the employee's contribution up to 6% of the employee's salary, profit-sharing, tuition reimbursement for continuing education and long-term incentive plans. Employees also can take advantage of numerous opportunities for career advancement.

Job requirements include one-to-two years of retail sales or service experience. A college degree is highly desirable. To learn more, interested candidates may visit the company's website at www.verizonwireless.com/careers.  

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.  

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