On Air Wireless To Become Part Of Verizon Wireless
Customers to Benefit from Broader Services, Expanded Wireless Network of New National Company
May 1, 2000
| Media Contact: | John O'Malley Jill Lyon |
May 1, 2000-ROCHESTER, NY -
Verizon Wireless, formerly Bell Atlantic Mobile, today announced its subsidiary, On Air Wireless
will become part of the new coast-to-coast wireless carrier effective immediately. On Air
Wireless customers will become Verizon Wireless customers, and have access to the full range of
the company's products and services, including its new flat-rate nationwide SingleRate
sm pricing with no long distance and roaming charges.
On Air Wireless offers wireless phone and paging service through 17 retail locations in Buffalo,
Rochester and Syracuse. The carrier has 55 employees. Verizon Wireless was formed last month when
Bell Atlantic Mobile merged its U.S. wireless operations with Vodafone AirTouch Plc and PrimeCo
Personal Communications.
Tracy Nolan, president of Verizon Wireless' Upstate New York region, said, "By adding On Air
Wireless to the Verizon Wireless family, we will be able to build on the presence On Air has
established in the marketplace and bring high-quality wireless service to more customers. The
addition of 15 On Air Wireless retail stores means more convenient locations for Verizon Wireless
customers to purchase products, services and accessories."
On Air Wireless customers will have the option of remaining on their current service plan or
signing up for a new Verizon Wireless plan.
On Air Wireless' retail locations will become Verizon Wireless communication stores early this
summer at the same time former Bell Atlantic Mobile stores change to Verizon Wireless.
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About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with more than 16
million wireless voice and data customers and nearly 4 million paging customers. The new
coast-to-coast wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of
Bell Atlantic Corp. (NYSE:BEL) and Vodafone AirTouch Plc (LSE:VOD; NYSE:VOD). The new company
includes the assets of Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, PrimeCo Personal Communications
and AirTouch Paging. Verizon Wireless will be further strengthened by the addition of the
wireless assets of GTE Corp. (NYSE:GTE) when it completes its merger with Bell Atlantic. When the
merger is complete, the new company will have a footprint covering nearly 90 percent of the U.S.
population, 49 of the top 50 and 96 of the top 100 U.S. markets.
Verizon Wireless, headquartered in New York City and Bedminster, NJ, is 30,000 employees strong.
Reporters and editors can find more information about the company in its Media Center on the Web
at: www.verizonwireless.com/mediacenter.
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