Wireless Phone Users To Experience Clearer Reception, Fewer Dropped Calls At Major League Baseball's All-Star Game And Fanfest In Detroit, Michigan

DETROIT, MI — With Major League Baseball's All-Star Game and FanFest just two weeks away, Verizon Wireless has fine-tuned its network to handle the additional call volume expected during the five days of festivities.

The company recently installed temporary equipment on several existing cell sites throughout downtown Detroit that boosts calling capacity by 30 percent. The network improvements enable more customers to use their wireless phones concurrently to make calls, send and receive TXT and Picture Messages, and download games and ring tones while enjoying clearer reception and fewer dropped calls.

Additionally, throughout the five-day period Verizon Wireless will dispatch its real-life, local test man, Rick Thompson, who will drive around downtown Detroit testing the company's network to ensure reliability.

"A major reason our customers choose Verizon Wireless and stay with us is because we offer the nation's most reliable network," said Greg Haller, president—Michigan/Indiana/Kentucky Region, Verizon Wireless. "That is why we make such a commitment to ensure that our network stands up to its excellent reputation-for everyday use and during major events like the All-Star Game."

Reliable service is fundamental to customer loyalty, and Verizon Wireless boasts the highest customer loyalty in the industry. During the first quarter of 2005, only 1.33 percent of its customers disconnected their service, which is well below the industry average.

These temporary network upgrades made for its wireless users during the 76^th All-Star Game and events proceeding July 12 in downtown Detroit are part of Verizon Wireless' continuous effort to increase capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voice and data network in Michigan and across the country. Since its inception in 2000, the company has consistently spent more than $4 billion annually-and more than $5 billion last year-to expand and improve its network nationwide. Approximately $110 million of this investment was spent in 2004 to stay ahead of the growing demand for Verizon Wireless products and services in Michigan.

Editors Note:
Test Man Ride-Along Program
The specially equipped Verizon Wireless test vehicles simultaneously test as many as eight wireless providers, using a computerized program to generate phonically diverse "conversations" as well as data transmissions. Members of the media, who are interested in setting up an interview or ride-along with a local member of the Verizon Wireless team of real-life test men and women, can contact Michelle Gilbert at (248) 915-3680 or via email at Michelle.Gilbert@VerizonWireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 45.5 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, N.J., 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.

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