Oakland, California, Customers Receive More 3G Coverage With New Verizon Wireless Cell Site

WALNUT CREEK, Calif., March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Oakland residents, businesses and visitors are enjoying improved service thanks to a new Verizon Wireless cell site.  The site expands 3G wireless coverage in the Oakland area north on MacArthur to Maple Street, south to Highway 580, east on 35th to Sutter and west to Jordan.

The increase in coverage and capacity also means the network can carry more calls, e-mails, text and picture messages in more places, and offer greater wireless access to the Web.

The company's ongoing network investment in California now totals nearly $5.7 billion.  Nationally, Verizon Wireless has invested more than $55 billion since it was formed -- $5.5 billion on average every year -- to increase the coverage and capacity of its premier nationwide network and to add new services. The result is the nation's largest, most reliable 3G network that powers services such as Mobile Broadband and Email.

Businesses of any size can tap into the power of Mobile Broadband.  The service allows users to connect to the Internet wirelessly while on the go to download music over-the-air, and access e-mail or corporate data.  

Small business owners interested in Mobile Broadband, and other wireless solutions, can visit http://business.verizon.net where they will find:

• An online forum to share experiences and connect with other business owners
• Access to Small Business Specialists in each Verizon Wireless store
• Discounts and promotions to help businesses stretch their budgets
• Summaries of mobile solutions like email, wireless Internet and Push to Talk service
• 24/7 tech support

Verizon Wireless tests its network and those of its competitors.  The company determines if voice calls and data connections are successful on the first attempt and stay connected.  

Nationally, Verizon Wireless' real-life test men and women drive 91 specially equipped vehicles almost 1,000,000 miles annually.  They drive on Interstate, U.S. and state highways, as well as major roads and streets in high-population areas, based upon U.S. Census counts.  Vehicles are equipped with computers that automatically make more than three million voice call attempts and more than 16 million data tests annually on Verizon Wireless' network and the networks of other carriers.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 91 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, Nasdaq: VOD). For more information, visit 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 www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless