Verizon Wireless Announces National Availability of Express Networksm Service; Offers Landmark Flat-Rate Data Pricing

Verizon Wireless Announces National Availability of Express Network^sm
Service; Offers Landmark Flat-Rate Data Pricing

May 20, 2002

BEDMINSTER, NJ - Verizon Wireless
today jump-started the high-speed wireless data marketplace and staked claim to
high-use enterprise business customers by announcing a landmark "all-you-can eat"
flat-rate calling plan for unlimited Express Network^sm connectivity
and use.

Verizon Wireless also announced the Tuesday, May 21, availability of its 1X
Express Network in 29 additional markets coast to coast, expanding upon its
already extensive footprint and creating the country's first and only national
high-speed wireless data network. The Express Network expansion wave now allows
for millions of Americans across the country to access the most expansive and
robust high-speed wireless data network available. Extending its commanding
lead in the high-speed wireless data arena, Verizon Wireless has the first national
high-speed data network, reaching more people than any other wireless service
provider in the United States.

Denny Strigl, president and CEO of Verizon Wireless, said, "Verizon Wireless
has built and defined the high-speed wireless data marketplace in the U.S.,
and given our aggressive Express Network rollout to key markets, it is the right
moment to leverage our national service to offer flat-rate pricing for this
service. The Verizon Wireless strategy of building world-class wireless networks,
then offering customer value, will stimulate demand and drive penetration of
high-speed data services. Tuesday's significant market launches and our clear
pricing advantage combine to make the Verizon Wireless Express Network the only
good choice for high-speed wireless data service."

John Stratton, vice president and chief marketing officer of Verizon Wireless,
said, "Verizon Wireless is defining the enterprise market for high-speed wireless
data services. Based on feedback from current, new and potential customers,
we know we are providing value to the enterprise and we will continue to leverage
our time-to-market advantage to capture more market share in the business market."

Beginning Tuesday, May 21, the Express Network is available to customers in
Southern California including the five-county Greater Los Angeles Area, as well
as San Diego and Imperial Counties; in the Kansas City and Overland Park area
- west to Wichita and east to Topeka and suburban Missouri; Milwaukee's metro
area; Vermont's three largest cities: Burlington, Waterbury and Montpelier;
additional Texas markets including: Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, McAllen
and Brownsville; Orlando and its surrounding areas up to Lake Mary and down
to Kissimmee; several locations throughout Ohio including: Columbus, Akron,
Toledo and Cleveland; major markets surrounding Detroit, Michigan including
Lansing and Ann Arbor; as well as the upstate New York region including the
state capital, Albany.

Verizon Wireless Express Network customers can expect average data transmission
speeds between 40 and 60 kilobits per second (kbps) with bursts up to 144 kbps
- similar to or better than speeds users experience when dialing in from their
home PC.

"Some of our competitors have made quick grabs for headlines as they trickle
out a few markets with their initial data services," said Stratton. "Others
offer traveling vans with displays of services they hope to offer in the future.
Today, we invite those business and individual customers who are anxious to
increase productivity with high-speed wireless Internet access to stop by their
local Verizon Wireless store and learn first-hand what you can do today with
our Express Network."

New Pricing Plans

Verizon Wireless today also announced a new, affordable calling plan for Express
Network customers. Beginning in June, data-hungry customers can download unlimited
data on the Express Network for a flat rate of just $99.99 monthly access with
some restrictions. Customers can sign up for one of two types of plans. Time-based
usage plans begin at $35 monthly access for 150 minutes of connection, which
may be used for either voice or data calls, up to $55 and $75 monthly access
that include 400 and 600 minutes respectively. For enterprise customers, Verizon
Wireless offers pricing based on megabyte usage for heavy data users with rate
plans starting at $35 monthly access for 10 MB, $55 monthly access for 20 MB,
and $75 monthly access for 40 MB of data sent and received. Both price plans
culminate at $99.99.

Equipment Choices

Business and individual Express Network customers can choose the right equipment
that best suits their needs. The Verizon Wireless 2235 handset from Kyocera,
the VX1 by LG and the 9155-GPX from Audiovox, are each compact wireless phone
options with varied pricing and features. These wireless phones function as
a modem and when used with a compatible Mobile Office connectivity kit, sold
separately, and laptop, to access the Express Network. The latest all-in-one
device that enables consumers to use the same device to make voice calls, access
the Express Network or Mobile Web is the Thera-the newest Windows Powered Pocket
PC, by Audiovox, which is also a dual-band wireless phone. Thera is a powerful
mobile computing device that can access data on several platforms. For customers
who value the form factor of a PC card, the AirCard 555 from Sierra Wireless
can be used with laptops and select PDAs.

Express Network Service Area

The Verizon Wireless Express Network -only national high-speed wireless Internet
access service - is available to customers in the following areas:

• The Eastern seaboard, including other major Northeast regions: Norfolk,
  VA to Washington, DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, New York, now
  including Albany, Buffalo and Rochester, through to Boston in Portland, Maine;
  and Vermont's three largest cities: Burlington, Waterbury and Montpelier
• Midwest: Chicago, St. Louis and Gary, Indiana; several locations throughout
  Ohio including: Columbus, Akron, Toledo and Cleveland; in the greater Kansas
  City area, including Overland Park, Topeka and St. Joseph, Missouri, and in
  Wichita; major markets in and around Detroit, Michigan including Lansing and
  Ann Arbor and Milwaukee's metro area
• Major Texas markets: Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Corpus
  Christi, McAllen and Brownsville
• The east and west coasts of Florida: Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton,
  West Palm Beach, Lakeland, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Key West and the greater
  Orlando area
• West: in the technology-savvy Silicon Valley and San Francisco Bay Area
  of Northern California; Salt Lake City, Utah; in Portland, Oregon; throughout
  all of Southern California, including the cities of Los Angeles, San Bernardino,
  San Diego and Palm Springs.

###

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications.
The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 30
million 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 http://www.verizonwireless.com.

Click
for Express Network Markets