Enhanced Service For Verizon Wireless Customers In Western North Carolina

FRANKLIN, NC — Verizon Wireless is widening its wireless “3G fast lane” to cover a larger footprint across western North Carolina. Customers of Verizon Wireless will immediately see enhanced wireless coverage in and around the following areas:

• Along US 441 between Franklin, N.C., and Dillard, Ga.
• Throughout the town of Otto

With the enhanced network, residents of western North Carolina now have access to Verizon Wireless’ two prime services: BroadbandAccess and V CAST. With BroadbandAccess, customers can download a 1 Megabyte e-mail attachment – the equivalent of a small PowerPoint® presentation or a large PDF file – in about eight seconds and upload the same-sized file in less than 13 seconds. Today, over 75 percent of North Carolina residents have access to Verizon Wireless’ high-speed broadband service, an increase of nearly 68 percent since 2006. The company’s V CAST multimedia services offer customers the ability to download full-song tracks, play cutting-edge 3D games and stream video clips straight to their phones.

“We are excited to introduce residents of western North Carolina to the Verizon Wireless experience of unparalleled products and services combined with unbeatable customer service,” said Jerry Fountain, president of Verizon Wireless’ Carolinas/Tennessee region. “Customers choose Verizon Wireless and stay with us, because they know they’ll get the wireless service they can depend on.”

In an industry first, Verizon Wireless is putting customers in the driver’s seat to take the nation’s most reliable* wireless voice and data network for a spin. Verizon Wireless is the only major carrier with a 30-day network Test Drive pledge that pays for calls if a customer is not satisfied with Verizon Wireless and switches to another carrier.

Verizon Wireless builds its network for reliability during emergencies. For example, 100 percent of Verizon Wireless’ cell sites in North Carolina are prepared for a natural disaster or other emergency, which includes back-up battery power at every site, generators at switching facilities and many cell sites, a fleet of mobile generators and Cells on Wheels.

The company has invested more than $45 billion in its wireless network since the company was formed in 2000. Of that amount, more than $890 million has been invested in North Carolina, helping Verizon Wireless stay ahead of the growing demand for its services, like the new Nationwide Unlimited Anytime Minute calling plans, adding new capabilities like V CAST Mobile TV and improving and maintaining the network year-round in preparation for hurricanes and other natural disasters.

To meet customers’ growing demand for wireless products and services in this growing community, Verizon Wireless products can be found at the following authorized agents:

Dnet Enterprise
185 Franklin Plaza
Franklin, NC 28734
828-349-1110

The Wireless Store
235 Hollysprings Plaza
Franklin, NC 28734
828-361-0100

For more information about Test Drive from Verizon Wireless or any of our products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.  

* Network details at www.verizonwireless.com/bestnetwork.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 68.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 70,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: 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.

Test Man Ride-Along Program
The specially equipped Verizon Wireless test vehicles simultaneously test seven wireless providers, using a computerized program to generate phonically diverse “conversations” and data transmissions. Members of the media who are interested in setting up an interview or ride-along with a local member of the Verizon Wireless team of real-life test men and women, please contact Carly Culbertson at 864-987-2006 or via e-mail at Carolyn.Culbertson@verizonwireless.com.

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