Verizon Wireless Launches High-Speed Wireless Network In Des Moines, Iowa

DES MOINES, IA — Verizon Wireless has expanded the national rollout of its high-speed wireless network in Des Moines and areas of Polk, Dallas and Warren counties in Iowa. The expansion overlays the company's existing data network with coverage extending west of Des Moines to Adel and De Soto; east to Altoona; north to Ankeny and Perry; and south to Indianola.

The launch of the wireless broadband network (Evolution-Data Optimized [EV-DO] Revision A [Rev. A]) means Verizon Wireless customers in the area can access the company's high-speed wireless network and enjoy two prime services: BroadbandAccess, the company's enhanced high-speed wireless service, with average user speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits, geared toward mobile professionals and business customers; 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, and sports.

The network expansion equips 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 the ability to get 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 and residents can access information when they are on the road with BroadbandAccess. Customers in enhanced broadband wireless coverage areas can expect average download speeds of 600 kbps to 1.4 megabits and average upload speeds of 500-800 kbps, which means customers with Rev. A-compatible devices can download a 1 Megabyte e-mail attachment — the equivalent of a small PowerPoint^® presentation or a large PDF file — in less than eight seconds and upload the same-sized file in less than 13 seconds. The enhanced coverage areas enable Verizon Wireless customers to download files approximately 10 times faster than customers of other wireless service providers that use different broadly deployed network technologies. Also, customers who travel outside the enhanced BroadbandAccess coverage area with an EV-DO device will switch seamlessly to the company's NationalAccess service.

"Our enhanced BroadbandAccess service gives our customers three key advantages in wireless communication — speed, mobility and security," said Nancy B. Clark, president — Great Plains 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 their handsets 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 and Windows^® Media 10 or higher can download song tracks directly to their Verizon Wireless handsets or to PCs equipped with Windows XP or VISTA operating software. The V CAST Music on demand service includes access to a catalog of more than 2.1 million songs.

Investment
The multi-million dollar expansion entailed installing high-tech wireless hardware and software in wireless transmission sites throughout the region. It is part of an ongoing network investment by Verizon Wireless that has totaled $40 billion nationally since the company was formed — $5 billion on average every year — to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services. Nearly $171 million of this investment was spent in Iowa from 2001 to 2006.

"The Des Moines area is a vital market with dynamic, tech-savvy businesses and residents who want to stay connected," Clark said. "The launch of our broadband network here provides our customers with access to the very latest wireless technology."

Verizon Wireless was the first national wireless provider to commercially launch a high-speed wireless broadband network in the United States. The Des Moines market is the latest to be added to Verizon Wireless' EV-DO network coverage area, now available to more than 210 million people. The company's broadband network is also available in Council Bluffs and portions of eastern Iowa and western Illinois including the communities of Cedar Rapids/Marion; the Quad Cities of Davenport/Bettendorf and Rock Island/Moline, Ill.; and Waterloo/Cedar Falls and Dubuque.

BroadbandAccess is available for $79.99 monthly access with a new one- or two-year customer agreement. 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 and laptop computers.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 62.1 million customers. The largest U.S. wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, NJ, with 67,000 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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