Rensselaer County Residents to Benefit from Verizon Wireless Network Expansion

ALBANY, N.Y., April 24 /PRNewswire/ -- In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for local residents in Rensselaer County, Verizon Wireless has expanded its network with a new cell site in Pittstown. The new site improves coverage and capacity along Route 7 from Parker School Road to Lake Lorraine Way, Route 129 from Route 7 to Williams Road, and Route 109 from Route 7 to Quaker Road.

This network expansion is part of the company's aggressive multi-billion Dollar network investment each year to stay ahead of the growing demand for Verizon Wireless voice and data services. Verizon Wireless has invested nearly $44 billion since it was formed -- more than $5 billion on average every year -- to increase coverage and capacity and to offer customers the most reliable service available in the nation.

Services include wireless data services such as picture messaging, text messaging, V CAST and V CAST Music, ESPN MVP and BroadbandAccess, the company's high-speed wireless broadband network geared toward mobile professionals and business customers. It provides average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits per second (mbps), and average upload speeds of 500-800 kbps.

Strong demand for Verizon Wireless services continued during the fourth quarter of 2007 as the company added 2 million new customers. Verizon Wireless is the leader in wireless customer loyalty, reporting the lowest customer turnover (highest customer loyalty) rate in the industry -- 1.2% in the fourth quarter -- for the 13th consecutive quarter.

The company's 'nation's most reliable wireless network' reputation is based on network studies performed by real-life test men and test women throughout the country who inspired the "Can you hear me now" national advertising campaign. These engineers drive nearly 100 specially equipped vehicles over 240,000 miles on average each quarter on Interstate, US and state highways, as well as major roads and surface streets. Test vehicles are equipped with computers that automatically make more than 750,000 voice call attempts and more than four million data tests annually on Verizon Wireless' network and the networks of other carriers.

Last year, Verizon Wireless introduced its 30-day Test Drive, an industry first that lets customers experience its network virtually risk-free for 30 days. If customers are not satisfied with their experience and take their number to another carrier, Verizon Wireless will refund their money for calls, equipment, activation fee and taxes. For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to http://www.verizonwireless.com/.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 65.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 69,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: http://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 http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.