Verizon Cuts Rates for Calls from the Philippines to Friends and Family in Hawaii

HONOLULU -- Verizon Long Distance has slashed prices for Hotline Hawaii, a collect-calling service that helps families and friends in the Philippines stay in touch with Verizon Hawaii customers. Hotline Hawaii calls are now just 21 cents per minute plus an operator assistance charge of $3.50 per call. Original rates were $1.40 per minute plus a $3.00 operator assistance charge.

"We hope our customers will encourage their family and friends in the Philippines to use Hotline Hawaii when they call collect to take advantage of the terrific savings," said Debbie Lau Okamura, Verizon's group manager of Asian markets.

To use Hotline Hawaii, callers in the Philippines dial a special toll-free number, 105-18, when placing calls from any Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company telephone to a Verizon Hawaii customer. The call is routed to a Verizon Hawaii operator who will verify that the charges are accepted, then connect the call. There are no costs to the caller in the Philippines, and no sign up fees or plan requirements.

Verizon supports Asian Community at Mabuhay Festival 2002

This year Verizon is a proud sponsor of the Filipino community's Mabuhay Festival, a weeklong cultural celebration currently in progress. Customers are invited to stop by Verizon's booth at the Filipino Fiesta this Saturday, June 15, at Kapiolani Park, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., where they can learn more about Hotline Hawaii, play games and win prizes.

For more information about Verizon's Hotline Hawaii service or long distance savings plans, customers may call 1-866-545-7269 (Ilocano) or 1-866-545-7268 (Tagalog). Customers can also visit a Verizon PhoneMart store.

Verizon Hawaii customers who subscribe to long distance calling plans Hello World, World Savers Plus -- Residential, or World Savers Plus -- Business will be billed at those plan rates and their associated surcharges when using the Hotline Hawaii service.

Verizon Long Distance is the nation's fourth-largest long-distance provider, offering a full menu of calling plans and products to more than eight million customers in 42 states.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 133.8 million access line equivalents and approximately 29.6 million wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. With more than $67 billion in annual revenues and nearly 248,000 employees, Verizon's global presence extends to more than 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

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