Verizon Wireless Launches Digital Service in Flagstaff; Network Enhancement Enables Mobile Web Services for Arizona Wireless Users.

Business Editors and High-Tech Writers

TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 17, 2000

Verizon Wireless Monday activated a digital network for Flagstaff, Sedona and Prescott, just in time for the national launch of its wireless Internet service -- Mobile Web.

The availability of digital service offers consumers and business customers in Flagstaff, Sedona and Prescott, and those traveling to those cities, a long list of benefits, including enhanced wireless voice features, the latest data services, better reception, fewer blocked and dropped calls, longer battery life, enhanced privacy and extra protection against cloning fraud.

Consumers in Flagstaff, Sedona and Prescott, as well as those in Greater Phoenix Valley area and Tucson, can be among the first to sign up for Mobile Web, a new offering that provides easy-to-use access to the Internet and the option to customize the information delivered to the handset. A customer can receive an alert when a stock hits a certain price and make a trade; can access home and business e-mail and respond.

"The good news is that now residents and visitors of Flagstaff, Sedona and Prescott will be able to enjoy clearer calls with less background noise and longer battery life on their phones," said Jerry Gallegos, Desert Mountain regional president,Verizon Wireless.

"We are excited about delivering all of the benefits of digital service to area residents and visitors and about being able to offer them wireless Internet access that will open up a world of possibilities for them. The additional capacity the digital technology provides will help us respond to area growth and the popularity of these communities as vacation destinations."

Previously, Verizon Wireless offered only analog service in the area. Now that both digital and analog service 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 coverage, and have the option to upgrade to a digital phone to enjoy the features and benefits of digital service.

The expansion of Verizon Wireless' digital coverage area in Arizona is part of the $3 billion capital investment program for 2000 that the company announced during its April launch, to support its simple, national, affordable product strategy.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the United States, 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. (NYSE:BEL), Vodafone AirTouch Plc (LSE:VOD) (NYSE:VOD), and GTE Corp. (NYSE:GTE). 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, with headquarters in New York City and Bedminster, N.J., 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.

Editor's Note: Verizon Wireless, formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Bell Atlantic Corp., Vodafone AirTouch Plc, and GTE Corp., incorporates the former AirTouch Cellular properties in Arizona.