Verizon Wireless Brings Reggaeton 'Stars of the Future' to Your Mobile Phone

Verizon Wireless Brings Reggaeton 'Stars of the Future' to Your Mobile Phone

Verizon Wireless and Univision Online Team Up to Discover the Next Reggaeton Superstar

Verizon Wireless Customers Have Exclusive Access to Reggaeton Content on Their Mobile Phones

BEDMINSTER, N.J. and LOS ANGELES, Nov. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network, and Univision Online, home of Univision.com and Univision Movil, are teaming up to discover the next Reggaeton superstar. Verizon Wireless is the exclusive sponsor of "Estrellas del Futuro/Reggaeton," a weekly talent competition searching for the next star of Reggaeton. The segments will air on Sabado Gigante on the Univision Network and will be integrated with exclusive content from Univision Movil and interactive coverage on Univision.com.

Starting today, Verizon Wireless customers with V CAST-enabled phones will be able to get exclusive "Estrellas del Futuro/Reggaeton" content, including video and sound highlights featuring the best performances and contestant interviews. V CAST from Verizon Wireless is the nation's first and only wireless broadband multimedia service for consumers that brings high-quality video, 3D games and music videos straight to hot new phones.

Verizon Wireless customers can download "Estrellas del Futuro/Reggaeton" exclusive finalists' true tone ring tones, voice tones and wallpapers provided by Univision Movil and available through Get It Now(R), Verizon Wireless' virtual store. Get It Now customers can download applications over the air and purchase them directly from their phones. Virtual shopping aisles, including getGAMES, getTONES, getGOING, getPIX, getFUN and getMESSAGING, are organized to help customers find what they want, when they want it.

Reggaeton blends Jamaican dancehall reggae, salsa, Dominican merengue, Puerto Rican bomba, and rap music to produce a unique new musical experience. Daddy Yankee, Don Omar and Tego Calderon are the best-known Reggaeton superstars behind this new music genre.

"Reggaeton is eclectic, multicultural and multilingual, energetic, passionate and daring, just like the young new generation of U.S. Latinos that are embracing the movement and propelling it forward," said Oscar Madrid, director of multicultural marketing, Verizon Wireless. "We are excited about partnering with the Univision Network and Univision Online to forge closer ties with this new generation of trendsetting Latino consumers that are proudly expressing their identity by creating and supporting a new and evolving music genre that is quickly making its way to the mainstream."

"Our relationship with Verizon Wireless showcases the exciting and extensive possibilities of cross platform integration," said Javier Saralegui, President, Univision Online. "The combination of the nation's most reliable wireless provider with all of Univision's media properties gives way to the creation of new and original content with unprecedented opportunities to reach the Hispanic market."

To get V CAST from Verizon Wireless, customers can equip their V CAST- enabled phones with the V CAST VPak for $15.00 monthly access added to their Verizon Wireless calling plan. Unlimited basic video clips are included, but application download fees apply for 3D games and premium video. There are no airtime charges to download, stream or watch V CAST content.

Along with the exclusive "Estrellas del Futuro/Reggaeton" content on V CAST, Verizon Wireless customers can share their love of Reggaeton music with callers by purchasing Ringback Tones -- music that is played for callers instead of the traditional ring -- featuring Reggaeton stars like Zion y Lennox and Voltio. Verizon Wireless customers can find out how by visiting www.verizonwireless.com/ringback or sign-up right from their TXT Messaging- capable phones. Sign-up is easy. Send the TXT Message "RBT" to address "728." Reply to accept the service and send the TXT Message "List" to "728" to receive a list of Ringback Tones available for purchase. A list of song ID codes will be sent to the phone as a TXT Message and customers can purchase a Ringback Tone by sending the song ID code as a TXT Message to "728." Standard text messaging rates apply.

Reggaeton fans can also enter a sweepstakes, sponsored by Verizon Wireless, via text-messaging on Univision Movil or through Univision.com. The winner will win two tickets to the "Estrellas del Futuro/Reggaeton" finale in Miami on November 18, 2005, including airfare and accommodations. All fans need to do is send a TXT Message with the words: "Gana" to code number: 7888 (more details about the contest are available on www.univision.com, uniclave (keyword): "Estrellas"). Fans can also sign-up to receive the hottest gossip on the contestants via TXT Alerts, participate in trivia, polls and more.

"Estrellas del Futuro/Reggaeton" is broadcast as a major segment within "Sabado Gigante" ("Gigantic Saturday"), the longest-running variety show in television history that continues to bring viewers three hours of non-stop entertainment every Saturday night with legendary host "Don Francisco." As part of the agreement, Verizon Wireless is now the exclusive wireless provider of "Sabado Gigante" and receives on-air mentions by "Don Francisco" and other show personalities.

The V CAST exclusive "Estrellas del Futuro/Reggaeton" content can be accessed in the V CAST Showcase channel by clicking on the Univision section.

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

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 49.3 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless 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.

Source: Verizon Wireless

CONTACT: Carlos G. Giron, Mgr - Latino Public Relations of Verizon
Wireless, +1-908-306-4976, Carlos.Giron@VerizonWireless.com, or Emeli Gomez,
Director of Marketing of Univision Online, +1-310-410-5607,
egomez@us.univision.com

Web site: http://www.verizonwireless.com/

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