IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 16, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Verizon Wireless, the largest provider of wireless services in the nation, has extended availability of its popular long-distance to Mexico calling plan until Nov. 2, 2003. The plan allows customers in the western U.S. to call Mexico from their local calling areas for 10 cents a minute with a monthly service charge of $2.99.
The high-value offer is available to new customers who sign a one- or two-year service agreement. Existing customers also can take advantage of the offer by renewing or extending their current contracts.
Additional Verizon Wireless products and services targeted specifically to Latinos include the following:
-- Spanish-language Web site: www.verizonwireless.com/espanol -- Get It Now(SM), blah! and Latin ring tones - Modtones under "Latin Garage." -- Spanish directory assistance (411) across California and in 12 cities in seven other states: Tucson and Phoenix, Ariz.; Denver, Colo; Las Vegas, Nev.; El Paso, Texas; Albuquerque, N.M.; Eugene and Portland, Ore.; Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane, Wash.; and Salt Lake City, Utah. -- Expanded roaming areas throughout Mexico. -- Spanish voice mail (Spanish menu prompts established through customer voice mail) is available in many parts of the country, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and El Paso, Texas. -- Beginning with the October billing cycle, customers may choose to receive their monthly bills in Spanish as part of a national Verizon Wireless program.
Additionally, the company recently announced that it had invested more than $250 million in its network in Southern California since the beginning of 2003. Improvements have impacted nearly every network mile from Ventura County to the Mexican Border and enhanced the company's wirelesss reach and capability in the most populated region of the United States.
Emboldened by its successes and by consumer demand for high-quality products, especially in the Latino market, the investment also enabled Verizon Wireless to launch two new services this summer. Push to Talk and Picture Messaging are becoming the most demanded handsets among both business and consumer sectors.
Verizon Wireless customers can communicate easily and dependably with a walkie-talkie service that allows them to identify who's available for conversation. In addition, Picture Messaging enables users to take pictures with what is now the industry's easiest and most efficient handset, requiring just four "clicks," or taps on the keypad, to take and transmit a photo with or without a text message.
The company's Latino initiatives also have included serving as a major sponsor for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund's (HSF) Golf Tournament for the past six years, which has helped to provide scholarships to the Latino community for higher education.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 34.6 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE:VOD) (LSE:VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com.