On-The-Go Entertainment App Bitbop Available Soon on Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE Mobile Broadband Network

On-The-Go Entertainment App Bitbop Available Soon on Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE Mobile Broadband Network

Premier On-Demand TV and Movie Service Will Come Preloaded and Be Featured in V CAST Apps

LAS VEGAS and BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Jan. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- From the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Fox Mobile Group, which was recently acquired by Jesta Group, today announced that Bitbop (www.bitbop.com and m.bitbop.com), the on-demand mobile TV and movie service, will be available to Verizon Wireless subscribers on the 3G and 4G LTE Mobile Broadband networks. In addition, Fox Mobile Group is pleased to offer dedicated functionality for 4G LTE subscribers such as higher-quality video streams and downloads to enhance the mobile video viewing experience.

Bitbop, which launched last summer in the United States on BlackBerry® and Android smartphones, offers premium programming from most of the top networks and cable channels (www.bitbop.com/networks).

"The speed, reliability and availability of Verizon Wireless' LTE rollout provide the ideal environment to deliver premium TV and movie content to the consumer," said Chris Hoerenz, chief marketing officer, Fox Mobile Group. "We value Verizon Wireless as a partner not only because it emphasizes the end-user experience by providing best-of-breed applications and services to their subscribers, whether Verizon Wireless-built and branded or from its developer community, but also because of the company's continued commitment to building a dynamic and prolific developer community."

Added Joe Bilman, executive vice president of global products and chief architect of Bitbop, "We designed Bitbop to be able to leverage advances in bandwidth as well as handset technology, specifically resolution and screen size. Verizon Wireless is taking LTE to the next level, and this is tailor-made for us."

The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network, launched in December 2010, is the fastest, most advanced 4G network in the United States, providing speeds up to 10 times faster than Verizon Wireless' 3G network. Consumer devices with a wide range of applications are expected to be available by mid-2011, and Bitbop is slated to be made available via preload on select handset models and through V CAST Apps, Verizon Wireless' mobile storefront. Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network currently reaches one-third of all Americans, with plans to expand the network to the company's entire 3G coverage area over the next three years.

Bitbop, recently named by PC World as one of its "101 Best Mobile Apps" and among its list of "12 Best BlackBerry Apps," will be showcased at CES in Verizon Wireless' booth (#35216 in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center). For more information about Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network, visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte. For more information about Verizon Wireless at CES, visit www.verizonwireless.com/ces or follow the company on Twitter at http://twitter.com/verizonwireless.

For more information on Bitbop, go to Facebook® at www.facebook.com/bitbop or Twitter at http://twitter.com/bitbop.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 80,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, Nasdaq: 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 Bitbop

Bitbop is a new wireless subscription service delivering on demand mobile TV and movies directly to U.S. consumers' smart phones. The company's state-of-the-art platform puts the flexibility of a home-based media center right in the user's pocket. Bitbop's service is accessible from any 3G/4G or wireless network and features unlimited streaming or downloading of selected content from quality partners. http://www.bitbop.com/networks. For more information and updates on Bitbop, visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/bitbop and Twitter at www.twitter.com/bitbop.

About Fox Mobile Group

Fox Mobile Group (FMG) is a global leader in mobile content distribution, production and services, offering more of the benefits of mobile entertainment to consumers and business partners than anyone else. FMG distributes and produces more mobile entertainment to more people and business partners in more ways and in more places than anyone else in the world. The Fox Mobile Group trademark is used with permission under a license from Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless

CONTACT: Debra Lewis, Verizon Wireless, +1-908-559-7512, Debra.Lewis@verizonwireless.com; or Paula Batson, Fox Mobile Group/Bitbop, +1-917-873-8294 (mobile), paula.batson@foxmobile.com

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

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