Verizon Wireless Launches High-Speed Wireless Network in Lima, Ohio

Verizon Wireless Launches High-Speed Wireless Network in Lima, Ohio

Customers Can Now Get High-Speed Wireless Internet and Email Services, and Download Video Clips and Songs to Handsets

LIMA, Ohio, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless announced today it has expanded the national rollout of its Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) third generation (3G) wide-area network to portions of Allen, Auglaize and Hardin counties including Lima, Ada, Beaverdam, Cridersville and Elida.

The launch of the wireless broadband network 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 high-speed wireless service, with average user speeds of 400-700 kilobits per second (kbps), 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 will equip Verizon Wireless' business customers to experience a truly untethered mobile office experience, enabling them to wirelessly access their calendars, the Internet, email 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 full access to 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 can access information when they are on the road -- at customer locations, at job sites or in taxis -- with BroadbandAccess. Customers can download a 1 megabyte email attachment (for example, a small PowerPoint(R) presentation or large PDF file) or receive three digital pictures (each 400 x 600 pixels) in less than 20 seconds. Also, customers who travel outside the BroadbandAccess coverage area with an EV-DO device will switch seamlessly to Verizon Wireless' existing NationalAccess network and experience average data transmission speeds between 60 and 80 kbps with bursts up to 144 kbps.

"Our BroadbandAccess service gives our business customers three key advantages in wireless communication -- speed, mobility and security," said Roger Tang, president-Ohio/Pennsylvania 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 the handset 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 can download song tracks directly to their Verizon Wireless handsets or to PCs equipped with Windows(R) XP operating software. The V CAST Music on demand service includes access to a catalog of more than 1.5 million songs.

Coverage

In Allen, Auglaize and Hardin counties, Verizon Wireless' BroadbandAccess and V CAST service coverage spans approximately 205 square miles and covers major routes throughout the area, including Interstate 75 from Cridersville northeast to Beaverdam, State Route 81 from just north of Lafayette east to Ada, State Route 309 from Elida southeast into Lima, State Route 117 from just southeast of Conant east into Lima, State Route 117 from Lima southwest to the Lima Allen County Airport, and U.S. Route 30 from State Route 115 east to Beaverdam. In recent months, the company also built out its EV-DO service in Ohio to portions of Ashtabula, Hancock, Lucas, Marion, Seneca, Wood and Wyandot counties including the cities of Ashtabula, Findlay, Marion, Tiffin and Toledo.

"Lima and the surrounding area are vital markets with dynamic, tech-savvy businesses and consumers," Tang said. "The launch of our broadband network here provides our customers with access to the very latest wireless technology."

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 $35 billion nationally in the last seven years -- $5 billion on average every year since the company was formed -- to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services. The company has invested more than $960 million in the past seven years in its Ohio network.

Verizon Wireless was the first national wireless provider to commercially launch a high-speed wireless broadband network in the United States. The Lima area is the latest to be added to Verizon Wireless' EV-DO network coverage area, now available to more than 200 million people. Verizon Wireless' broadband network was introduced in Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, in January 2005.

Product Offering

BroadbandAccess is available for $79.99 monthly access with a new one- or two-year customer agreement. For a limited time, 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.

Wireless PC Cards for BroadbandAccess customers include the Verizon Wireless PC 5740, Verizon Wireless V620 and Kyocera KPC 650. A new Novatel Wireless V640 card is available for laptop owners with ExpressCard/34 or ExpressCard/54 slots rather than with a traditional PCMCIA slot.

In addition, several handsets have the ability to "tether" to a laptop's USB port with the purchase of a Mobile Office Kit. BroadbandAccess-powered PDAs offered by Verizon Wireless include the Motorola Q(TM) , the Palm(R) Treo(TM) 700w and the Palm Treo 700p. Popular BlackBerry(R) options include the new 8703e, the 7250 and 7130e.

To access V CAST Music, video and games, customers need a V CAST-enabled handset and must be on a Verizon Wireless calling plan. Currently, nearly 20 music capable handsets are available, including the popular Chocolate by LG, the LG VX8600, the Motorola RAZR V3m and MOTOKRZR K1m.

Customers with a V CAST Music-enabled handset and a calling plan can pay as they go to download songs directly to their phone for $1.99 per song plus airtime, download songs to their PC for $0.99, and transfer their existing compatible digital music collection to their V CAST Music-enabled handset or memory card at no charge from their PC. Purchases from the handset include two copies of every song, one for the handset and one for the PC.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a local Verizon Wireless Communications Store or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 57 million customers. The largest U.S. wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 60,000 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.

Source: Verizon Wireless

CONTACT: Laura Merritt of Verizon Wireless, +1-614-560-2605, or
laura.merritt@verizonwireless.com, or George Heddleston, 1-866-667-9110, or
gheddleston@woh.rr.com, for Verizon Wireless

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

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