[September 08, 2008]

Verizon Wireless Rolls Out Evolutionary Store Design in South Portland, Maine

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless is breaking new ground in the U.S. wireless retail experience today with the introduction of its evolutionary store design in South Portland, Maine. The 6,000 square foot store, located at 365 Gorham Road, offers consumers a high- tech and hands-on experience with wireless voice, data, music and video services.

The store design -- incorporated in new Verizon Wireless stores around the country in 2008 -- features a bright new design and integrates a number of innovative systems and operational enhancements designed to streamline the sales process and enhance the customer experience, including:

-- Notebook computers demonstrating BroadbandAccess, the company's high- speed wireless Internet service geared toward mobile professionals, business customers, and on-the-go college students.

-- More than 55 working models of handsets, PC cards and other devices for customers to try.
-- A greeter kiosk that allows customers to check in once they enter the store and list their wireless needs, so representatives can quickly assist them.

-- A Bill Payment Kiosk that allows customers to make account payments quickly and easily using checks, cash or credit/debit cards.

-- Customer Service and Technical Support personnel, making it easy for customers to get account information, customer service and address technical issues from trained in-store staff.

"The South Portland evolution store provides increased customer service and shopping convenience to area residents," said Verizon Wireless District Manager Steve Klaiber. "Increasing demand for Verizon Wireless' products, such as wireless broadband Internet, is driving our network and store expansions across New England."

Verizon Wireless has invested more than $45 billion since it was formed to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services like BroadbandAccess and V CAST. Regionally the company has invested over $2.2 billion into its New England network, including over $100 million during the first six months of 2008. As a result of these investments, every Verizon Wireless cell site in New England provides wireless broadband connectivity.

"We've always believed that even the most advanced cell phone is only as good as the network it runs on," said director for Network Systems Performance for Verizon Wireless, Richard Enright. "We continue to aggressively invest into our wireless networks across New England to increase coverage and capacity for our customers."

The new Verizon Wireless Communications Store 365 Gorham Road in South Portland, Maine is open Monday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and can be reached at (207) 773-1033.

The new store design has been introduced in more than 100 new locations around the country, including Augusta, Maine and Boston, Massachusetts. The new design will be introduced in additional locations -- either new or existing -- throughout the rest of 2008.

Strong demand for Verizon Wireless services continued during the second quarter of 2008 as the company added 1.5 million net new customers and, for the fifteenth consecutive quarter, reported the lowest customer turnover (highest customer loyalty) rate in the wireless industry.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 68.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 70,000 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.

Verizon Wireless

CONTACT: Michael Murphy of Verizon Wireless, +1-781-932-1213,Michael.murphy@verizonwireless.com; or David Thomson of ThomsonCommunications, +1-978-808-7700, David@thomsoncommunications.com

Web site: http://www.verizonwireless.com/

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