Residents In Red Bank And North Chattanooga, Tennessee Can Phone Home With Ease — Thanks To Verizon Wireless

RED BANK, TN — In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for residents in Hamilton County, Verizon Wireless, the leading wireless provider of the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, has expanded network reach and capacity in North Chattanooga and Red Bank.

As a result of the company's investment in equipment and wireless technology, Verizon Wireless customers can use their wireless phones to make calls; send and receive e-mail and text, picture and video messages; and download games and Ringtones while enjoying clearer reception and fewer dropped calls. Areas of focus include:

• US 27 in North Chattanooga
• Dayton Boulevard in North Chattanooga
• EV-DO coverage extension to Red Bank

This network expansion is part of the company's aggressive multi-billion dollar network investment each year, including more than $200 million in Tennessee in 2006 alone, to stay ahead of growing demand for Verizon Wireless voice and data services. Since 2000, Verizon Wireless has invested more than $37 billion — on average $5 billion a year — into its national wireless network.

BroadbandAccess customers in enhanced broadband wireless coverage areas can expect average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits and average upload speeds of 500-800 kbps.

The company's real-life test men and women, who inspired the company's national advertising campaign, are Verizon Wireless engineers who make three million test calls nationwide on Verizon Wireless and other wireless carriers' networks, riding in specially-equipped, company-owned test vehicles and traveling more than one million miles a year. In fact, the company's most reliable wireless network in the nation claim is based on these network studies.

Verizon Wireless has also introduced a new program, Test Drive, that lets customers experience the nation's most reliable network virtually risk-free for 30 days. If the customers are not completely satisfied with their Verizon Wireless experience, they can take their number to another carrier and Verizon Wireless will refund their money for all calls made, equipment, activation fee and taxes.

Verizon Wireless is the nation's wireless leader in customer loyalty, based on company retention and turnover rates published by the largest providers; owner and operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network and the only widely available wide-area wireless broadband network in the United States; and the wireless company at the top of more third-party surveys of customer satisfaction.

EDITORS NOTE: Test Man Ride-Along Program for the News Media
Specially-equipped Verizon Wireless test vehicles simultaneously test the Verizon Wireless network as well as the networks of as many as seven other wireless providers, using a mobile laptop computer to generate phonically diverse "conversations." If one of your reporters is interested in setting up an interview or ride-along test drive with your locally-based Verizon Wireless test man or woman, please contact Tara Healy at 864-233-3776, ext. 14.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving more than 60.7 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 66,000 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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