Verizon Wireless Expands Availability of Ringback Tones; Customers Can

    Business Editors/Lifestyle Editors/Technology Editors

    PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 11, 2005--Verizon Wireless, the first national carrier to offer Ringback Tones -- short clips of real music that replace the standard ring callers hear when they call the Verizon Wireless phone of a Ringback Tone subscriber -- has expanded the availability of the service to include Arizona. The service is now available in most western states.
    "The first time you call somebody who has Ringback Tones on their phone, it's a nice surprise. Just imagine listening to a cool song when you call someone on their wireless phone instead of hearing the same ring we've heard all these years," said Tami Erwin, regional president of Verizon Wireless.
    Customers can browse from an initial catalog of more than 2,400 songs in 13 different music genres from Warner Music Group and SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, including rap/hip-hop, soundtracks, metal/alternative, R&B/soul, '80s, classic rock, pop/rock, country, club hits, '70s, oldies, '60s and holiday.
    Set-up options include a standard Ringback Tone (including the Verizon Wireless standard Ringback Tone), or customers can choose to have different Ringback Tones play for different callers based on the caller ID, group list or the time of day.
    "While we are dedicated to bringing innovative services to the marketplace in the best possible way for our customers to use, it's also great to have been the first national wireless carrier to offer Ringback Tones. Ringback Tones have proven very popular in other parts of the world and we are thrilled to be working with SK Telecom on this project," said Jim Straight, vice president of wireless data and multimedia for Verizon Wireless. "As the first wireless company in the world to offer Ringback Tones, Korea's SK Telecom has been a real help to us as we developed this service. We look forward to continuing to work with them."
    To get Ringback Tones, customers can go to the Ringback Tones Web site at www.verizonwireless.com/getitnow/ringbacktones. On the Web, customers can register, browse the categories and preview Ringback Tones before they buy. Customers can also sign up to receive a TXT alert whenever selected artists release new Ringback Tones by visiting the "My Alerts" section of the site and selecting TXT notifications. Standard text messaging rates apply to these TXT alerts.
    Customers can also sign up for Ringback Tones right from their TXT Messaging-capable phones. Sign-up is easy. Send the TXT message "RBT" to address "728." Reply to accept the service and send the TXT message "List" to "728" to receive a list of Ringback Tones available for purchase. A list of song ID codes will be sent to the phone as a TXT message and customers can purchase a Ringback Tone by sending the song ID code as a TXT message to "728." Standard text messaging rates apply.
    From that point on, all callers will hear the new Ringback Tone. Customers can manage who gets to hear their Ringback Tone, purchase additional tones and manage their accounts by visiting www.verizonwireless.com/getitnow/ringbacktones.
    Ringback Tones are available to Verizon Wireless customers for a fee of $0.99 per month. Each Ringback Tone purchased is $1.99, which provides unlimited use for one year. Both the monthly fee and tone purchases appear on the customer's monthly bill.
    Verizon Wireless products and services are available at more than 1,900 Verizon Wireless stores nationwide, including Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and stores within Circuit City, as well as at authorized retailers including Best Buy and participating RadioShack locations. Customers can also find information and purchase Verizon Wireless products and services online at www.verizonwireless.com.

    Editor's Note:

    By calling any of the Verizon Wireless media demo phone numbers listed below, members of the media can hear a Ringback Tone directly. Long-distance charges may apply for calls placed outside of the Seattle metro area. For print-quality, high-resolution Ringback Tone stills, visit www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

    206-795-2730 (alternative rock)
    206-276-0664 (classic rock)

    About Verizon Wireless

    Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 43.8 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, N.J., Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To receive 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.

--30--GW/ix*

CONTACT: Verizon Wireless, Phoenix Jenny Weaver, 480-763-6321 Jenny.Weaver@VerizonWireless.com

KEYWORD: ARIZONA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS TELECOMMUNICATIONS PRODUCT SOURCE: Verizon Wireless

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