PROVIDENCE, R.I., Feb. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless customers in Rhode Island can now access e-mail, everyday corporate data, the Internet and more at faster speeds, and upload files five to six times faster than before as the company rolls out the next-generation of its high-speed broadband network across the Commonwealth. Based on CDMA 1x Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A) technology, the enhanced wireless broadband network now reaches Verizon Wireless customers in and around Providence, Cranston, Warwick, Barrington, Bristol, Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport, Narragansett and in other communities throughout Rhode Island. Service is also available on Block Island and at T.F. Green Airport. Rev. A provides customers sending and uploading data with uplink speeds even faster than the company's award-winning national EV-DO network, which is already widely available throughout the state.

The company's existing EV-DO network enables customers to access BroadbandAccess on their laptops, e-mail on their PDAs, and V CAST Video and Music on their wireless phones. The company's national wireless broadband network, the first in the nation, is already available to more than 200 million Americans in 242 major metropolitan areas and 180 major airports from coast to coast.

"Verizon Wireless is committed to delivering superior network reliability and services," said Ken Dixon, New England region president, Verizon Wireless. "The faster uplink speeds will greatly benefit customers that upgrade to Rev. A compatible devices."

The company's flagship business data service, BroadbandAccess, will run faster and more efficiently with the new network enhancements. Customers in enhanced coverage areas can take advantage of a better customer experience when using Web-based applications. For example, BroadbandAccess customers in enhanced wireless broadband coverage areas can expect average download speeds of 450-800 kilobits per second (kbps) and average upload speeds of 300-400 kbps, translating to being able to download a 1 Megabyte e-mail attachment -- the equivalent of a small PowerPoint(R) presentation or a large PDF file -- in less than 15 seconds and upload the same size file in less than 25 seconds, significantly faster than customers of wireless service providers who use non-EV-DO Rev. A technology.

The first two devices from Verizon Wireless that take advantage of faster speeds provided by these new network enhancements are the new compact USB720 wireless modem and the AirCard 595 PC Card from Verizon Wireless, which are fully compatible and backward compatible with the company's enhanced and existing wireless broadband networks and the company's NationalAccess network (based on CDMA 1xRTT technology). Rhode Island customers interested in purchasing either device can contact a business sales representative at 1-800-VZW-4-BIZ; the devices are also available online at http://www.verizonwireless.com/.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to http://www.verizonwireless.com/.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving more than 59 million customers. The largest US wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 65,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at 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.

CONTACT: Michael Murphy, +1-781-932-1213, or Wendy Bulawa,
+1-617-851-3426, both for Verizon Wireless

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