Verizon Wireless Celebrates Communications Store Grand Opening in St. Joseph

Verizon Wireless Celebrates Communications Store Grand Opening in St. Joseph

Network Enhancement Brings Advanced Digital Services, Including Mobile Web, To Area

October 16, 2000

October 16, 2000, 2000-OVERLAND PARK, KA -

Today marks the grand opening of the Verizon Wireless Communications Store in St. Joseph, Missouri and the launch of digital service in the area.

Verizon Wireless digital service offers consumers and business customers benefits including enhanced wireless voice features, Caller ID, better reception, more privacy and longer battery life. And, customers now can sign up for Verizon Wireless' popular wireless Internet access service known as Mobile Web. The service provides easy-to-use access to the Internet and the option to customize information delivered to the handset.

Verizon Wireless' new store, located at the Swiss Highland Center, features a variety of products and services, including the company's popular all-inclusive SingleRate service and a premier line of digital wireless phones, data products and accessories. The staff of trained professionals at the store can assist individuals in selecting equipment, making decisions on calling plans or setting up Mobile Web service.

"We are excited about delivering the benefits of digital service to area residents," said Kirk Golbach, regional president for Verizon Wireless in Kansas and Missouri. "And our new store offers customers convenient access to our products and services."

Now that both digital and analog service from Verizon Wireless is available, customers with dual-mode (analog/digital) phones will be able to take advantage of digital service immediately. At the same time, analog customers will continue to enjoy their existing service, and have the option to upgrade to a digital phone to enjoy the features and benefits of digital service.

Tony Sidoti is the manager of the new Communications Store. The store is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with more than 25 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. and GTE Corp --now Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) -- and Vodafone Plc (LSE:VOD; NYSE:VOD). The new company includes the assets of Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, GTE Wireless, PrimeCo Personal Communications and AirTouch Paging. The new company has 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: http://www.verizonwireless.com/mediacenter.

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