Verizon Endorses Collaborative Effort to Address Theft of Mobile Devices and Protect Consumers

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CTIA-The Wireless Association, the Federal Communications Commission and law enforcement officials on Tuesday (April 10) announced plans to provide resources to consumers to address mobile-device theft. Those resources include implementation of a database to prevent reactivation of stolen smartphones, and additional customer education about avoiding and reducing the impact of device theft. The following statement should be attributed to Kathleen Grillo, Verizon senior vice president, federal regulatory relations:

"Verizon Wireless has a long-standing commitment to protect our customers if their mobile device is stolen, including such resources as an internal system that does not allow devices reported as stolen to be activated on the Verizon Wireless network.  We support the broader, industrywide solutions announced today. We will work with policymakers and collaborate with other providers, device manufacturers, and application and software developers to increase consumer protections, and to empower consumers with additional resources to help ensure stolen devices cannot be used or accessed illegally." 

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with nearly 108 million total connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with $111 billion in 2011 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 194,000.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.  

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SOURCE Verizon