Verizon Wireless And Georgia Institute Of Technology Team Up To Lead Wireless Innovation

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ALPHARETTA, GA — Verizon Wireless announced today it has committed $100,000 and a variety of wireless devices to the 2009/2010 Georgia Tech Research Network Operations Center's (GT-RNOC) Convergence Innovation Competition (CIC). The company's open development group will sponsor a category of the competition focused on developing innovative wireless solutions for the utility industry.

GT-RNOC hosts the CIC annually, screening proposals in the fall for team competition in the spring. Invited industry representatives review project proposals for overall merit and finalist submissions for market and technical viability, creativity, and completeness of the working prototype. Many competition teams are interdisciplinary, and all are constituted of tomorrow's leaders in convergence markets and technologies.

"Verizon Wireless' commitment to this competition is outstanding. As a leader in wireless technology, Verizon Wireless' support and the opportunity for our students to interact with senior leaders of the business will greatly enhance the experience for everyone," said Ron Hutchins, associate vice provost and chief technology officer, Georgia Institute of Technology. "By giving our students inspiration, advice and guidance to explore value in wireless connectivity for management of electric utilities, Verizon Wireless is playing an important role in drawing the students' attention to the energy sector and enabling them to build their best ideas for sustainability."

Tony Lewis, vice president of open development at Verizon Wireless, noted that the company's relationship with Georgia Tech fits a strategic imperative to further wireless capabilities in the energy and sustainability sector. "Our commitment to open development in wireless devices is ongoing and growing," Lewis said. "By working with innovative partners such as Georgia Tech and its gifted students, we are encouraging a new generation of dreamers who can harness the power of our network, untainted by old ways of doing things."

At the CIC kickoff event yesterday, event speakers included Hutchins and Lewis. Category winners will be announced at an award ceremony in the spring of 2010 and will be invited to visit to the Verizon Wireless LTE Innovation Lab in Massachusetts, as well as an opportunity to present their winning idea to Verizon Wireless executives and the wireless leader's world-class research and development team.

"Georgia Tech is a leader in mobility and convergence and is focused on accelerating innovation and building tomorrow's technology leaders. That is in perfect alignment with our goals and commitment to the future of wireless technology, which is why we are very proud to partner with such a premiere university on such an important competition," said Jeff Mango, president — Georgia/Alabama region for Verizon Wireless. "We are excited to see what the student teams develop using next-generation wireless technology that will help the utility industry become more effective and efficient."

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving 87.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 87,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit 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.

About GT-RNOC
GT-RNOC exists to accelerate innovation combining SIP + Web 2.0 applications and services for IPTV set tops, handsets, and mobile computers. We are an enabling center providing Georgia Tech academic, research and development communities with the access networks, core services, application services and enablers, as well as fixed and mobile clients required to pioneer end-to-end ubiquitous visual and voice communication integrated with personalized real-time information and media. GT-RNOC produces the Convergence Innovation Competition annually during Georgia Tech's fall and spring semesters.

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