Verizon Wireless, builder and operator of the nation’s most reliable wireless network, announced today that VZ NavigatorSM (Version 4) is now available on select consumer phones. First announced during CTIA WIRELESS 2008, the newest version of VZ Navigator allows customers in 75 cities from coast to coast to access information about traffic incidents on major roadways, obtain traffic updates and find detours around traffic congestion and accidents. More cities are expected to be added in the coming year. In addition, the new version of VZ Navigator offers a 3D perspective view of maps, a movie and events finder, weather reports and forecasts, and gas prices at nearby gas stations.
Verizon Wireless’ VZ Navigator service is a location-based service (LBS) application that utilizes location-based technology and real-time and historical information feeds. The new version of VZ Navigator offers customers the following features:
Traffic Integration – Customers in 75 cities can access routes that are calculated using both historical and real-time reported traffic information. Historical information allows customers to see on average whether the traffic is impacted by traffic lights, heavy traffic or school zones. Incident and flow information tells customers how traffic is flowing and includes details about reported accidents, disabled vehicles and congestion. VZ Navigator’s historical data covers over 750,000 miles of roads in 48 states. The traffic tracking center continually monitors conditions along the customers’ routes, sending proactive alerts to drivers about conditions ahead of them on their chosen routes. Detour options allow users to compare estimated times of arrival and conditions before selecting a new route.
Local Movies and Events – Customers can now search for show times, critics’ ratings and other details for movies, concerts, plays, sporting events, and other social events based on the physical location of their phones.
3D Perspective View – Enhances navigation by displaying maps from angles customers would see through car windshields, making it easier to visualize turn-by-turn directions.
Gas Finder – Provides customers with information on the location of gas stations close to their physical locations and even provides gas prices as reported by many gas stations in the area. Once a customer selects a station, VZ Navigator can also provide turn-by-turn directions to the selected gas station.
Weather – Provides current weather conditions and forecasts based on the physical location of the customer’s phone without manually inputting an address.
Lee Daniels, vice president of consumer product development for Verizon Wireless, said, “With the new features of VZ Navigator, Verizon Wireless customers now have a powerful navigation device that not only gives them directions but also provides the latest traffic information and more. The expanded services on VZ Navigator are another example of how we provide our customers with a great value for their wireless dollar – on the most reliable wireless network in the country.”
Pricing and Availability
VZ Navigator (Version 4) is available today for $9.99 for unlimited monthly access or $2.99 for one-day use on select Get It Now®-enabled phones in the Get Going section under Travel & Guides or Featured Apps. Airtime or megabyte charges and specific terms of use apply when browsing, downloading and using the application. Traffic integration is only available in certain areas.
Verizon Wireless customers who currently have a subscription to VZ Navigator can upgrade on select phones by simply selecting Options from the main screen of VZ Navigator then selecting Check for Updates. At launch, the following phones are able to access VZ Navigator (Version 4): G’zOne Type-V and G’zOne Type-S; Kyocera K323; The V™, enV™, enV2TM, Chocolate, Venus™, and Voyager™ by LG, LG VX5300, LG VX5400, LG VX8300, LG VX8350, LG VX8600, LG VX8700, and LG VX9400; Nokia 6205 and Nokia 2605; MOTOKRZR™ K1m, MOTORAZR™ maxx Ve, MOTORAZR2 V9m, MOTORAZR™ V3c, MOTORAZRTM V3m, MOTOSLVR L7c, MOTO™ Z6c world edition, and Motorola W385; and Alias™ by Samsung, Verizon Wireless Juke by Samsung, Samsung SCH-a930, Samsung SCH-a990, Samsung SCH-u410, Samsung SCH-u540, and Samsung SCH-u620.
For more information on VZ Navigator, visit www.verizonwireless.com/vznavigator. For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.
Verizon Wireless, builder and operator of the nation’s most reliable wireless network, announced today that the highly anticipated BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330 smartphone from Research In Motion (RIM) is now available through Verizon Wireless’ online store and through business sales channels. This sophisticated, silver smartphone will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, including those in Circuit City, on May 12.
The BlackBerry Curve is the smallest and lightest full-QWERTY BlackBerry smartphone and is packed with rich multimedia capabilities and services, allowing customers to stay connected to work, family and friends while on-the-go. The BlackBerry Curve 8330 smartphone also includes the following capabilities and key features:
- BlackBerry® Internet Service – access up to 10 supported POP3 and IMAP personal and corporate e-mail accounts, including most popular ISP e-mail accounts
- BlackBerry® Professional Software for small businesses and BlackBerry® Enterprise Server for enterprise deployments – advanced security and IT administration within IBM® Lotus® Domino®, Microsoft® Exchange and Novell® GroupWise® environments
- VZ NavigatorSM – get visual and audible directions to a destination, locate businesses and other places in an area, get a map of a location, bookmark favorite spots and recent searches, and even share locations with others.
- Customers will be able to upgrade to the new VZ Navigator (Version 4) in the coming weeks, which will provide traffic updates, information on traffic incidents and detours around traffic congestion and accidents in 75 cities from coast to coast
- Small and light design that is easy to handle and use; measures 4.2” x 2.4” x 0.6” and weighs only 4 ounces
- Large, vibrant 320 x 240 display, with light sensing technology that automatically adjusts brightness for optimal viewing in outdoor, indoor and dark environments
Responsive, highly-tactile full-QWERTY keyboard and RIM’s intuitive trackball navigation system - Premium phone features including: noise cancellation technology to offset background noise; Speaker Independent Voice Recognition (SIVR) for Voice Activated Dialing (VAD); dedicated “send,” “end” and “mute” keys; and low-distortion speakerphone
- Bluetooth® 2.0, with support for hands-free headsets, stereo headsets (Bluetooth stereo audio profile A2DP/AVRCP), car kits and other Bluetooth accessories
- 2.0 megapixel camera with support for video recording, a self-portrait mirror, enhanced flash and 5x zoom (microSD™ memory card required for video recording, sold separately)
- Easy access to the popular Facebook® for BlackBerry® Smartphones application
- 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack and dedicated volume controls
- Advanced media player and enhanced desktop media manager software that makes it easy to move media files between a PC and the BlackBerry Curve 8330 smartphone via High Speed USB 2.0 – USB Data Cable comes in-box
- microSD/SDHC memory card slot, providing plenty of additional storage (cards up to 8 GB are currently available)
- HTML Web browser delivers a fast, rich browsing experience and supports streaming video from sites like m.youtube.com (3GPP RTSP streaming protocol over EV-DO)
- Removable, rechargeable battery, rated for up to 260 minutes of talk time and up to 11 days of standby time
- In-box accessories include: a stereo headset, USB cable, travel charger and premium tote sleeve
The BlackBerry Curve 8330 smartphone is available for $269.99 (updated) after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. An additional $100 credit toward the purchase of the handset is available for customers who sign up for qualifying voice and data plans at the time of purchase. Customers who purchase a Verizon Wireless Nationwide voice plan can also subscribe to the E-Mail and Web for BlackBerry plan for an additional $29.99 per month while those opting for a data-only plan can pay $34.99 per month for unlimited e-mail and access to the Internet via BlackBerry Internet Service.
For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com. Business customers should call 1-800-VZW-4BIZ or contact their Verizon Wireless Business Sales Representative.
The enV2 is the perfect handset for on-the-go texters and music and video fans. In addition to its pocket-sized good looks, the phone is available in two sleek finishes – black and maroon. The following features and capabilities are available on the enV2:
- V CAST Music – access more than three million songs from both well-known and independent artists to download over-the-air and play on the phone
- V CAST Video – download or stream video clips from the best names in news, sports and entertainment
- VZ NavigatorSM – visual and audible directions to a destination, locate businesses and other places in an area, get a map of a location, bookmark favorites and recent searches, and even share locations with others
- Mobile Web-capable – customizable, enhanced wireless access to the latest in news, sports, weather and more
- Media Center-capable – download games, ringtones, wallpapers and more
Instant Messaging using AIM®, WL Messenger®, and Yahoo!® - Mobile Email-capable – access to e-mail services including Yahoo! Mail, Windows Live Mail, AOL, AIM, and Verizon.net accounts; or configure POP3 and IMAP accounts
- Full QWERTY keypad with large-sized external keys
- 2.4” internal screen
- 2.0 megapixel camera and camcorder:
Verizon Wireless grabs the rays of the sun and transforms them into free, clean, power. Using solar power across the nation, Verizon Wireless charges local batteries for to insure continuos power for even on those cloudy days. Pictured here, a remote desert location in California helps Verizon customers in the middle of no where have conversations with the backing of green. Not money but as in the clean eco-friendly way of powering the cell towers. Verizon has eight solar powered sites in the western United States, some that require helicopters to gain access to.
Verizon Wireless, the builder and operator of the nation’s most reliable wireless network, and VOCEL, publisher of premium branded mobile phone applications, today announced the availability of The Pill Phone, a new Get It Now® application that provides Verizon Wireless customers with detailed drug information and automatic dosing reminders – right on their phones.
The mobile version of the best-selling medication reference guide, The Pill Book, The Pill Phone application is available exclusively through Verizon Wireless. With The Pill Phone’s Pill Lookup feature, Verizon Wireless customers have access to critical information on more than 1,800 medications and prescription drugs that are commonly prescribed by physicians, including indications, dosing, side effects, drug interactions, photos of medications, and more.
The Pill Phone also offers a Medication Reminder feature, which allows customers to schedule automatic reminders to take their doses at the appropriate times. With the Medication Reminder feature, customers can stay on their familiar medication schedule at home and even when they are traveling. The Pill Phone has received FDA 510 (k) clearance and is protected under U.S. Patent No. 7,340,503.
“The Pill Phone helps our customers leverage technology to manage their health by providing educational information and dosage reminders,” said Mark Bartolomeo, vice president of enterprise data sales for Verizon Wireless. “Our health and wellness conscious customers want to be able to access important health information and The Pill Phone can serve as a valuable resource to help them access this information while on-the-go.”
Verizon Wireless customers can purchase and download The Pill Phone from the Get Going or Tools on the Go virtual shopping aisle of the Get It Now virtual store by clicking on “Get New App” and then “Mind, Body & Soul.” The Pill Phone is currently available for a $3.99 monthly subscription on a number of popular Get It Now-capable phones, including the Chocolate and the enV by LG, the LG VX9400, the MOTORAZR™ maxx Ve, and the Alias™ by Samsung. Airtime or megabyte charges apply for sending and receiving data using Get It Now, depending on the plan. Customers need a Get It Now-enabled phone and Verizon Wireless digital service to access the Get It Now virtual store.
For more information on The Pill Phone, or to see an interactive demo, visit www.pillphone.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 www.verizonwireless.com.
First unveiled during CTIA WIRELESS 2008, the Verizon Wireless XV6900 is a stylish, compact and versatile touch-screen smartphone that gives busy professionals the high-speed connectivity of the Verizon Wireless broadband network. In addition to its luxurious white package, the XV6900 includes:
- EV-DO, 1XRTT-capabilities
- Touch technology allows finger and stylus input
- Virtual, all-touch QWERTY keyboard with additional input options
- Five-way ENTER/NAVIGATION button
- 2.0 megapixel camera with auto-focus, zoom and video capture
- Built-in speakerphone
- One-touch access to e-mail, text messages, calendar appointments and contacts, weather conditions and forecasts
- Equipped with Windows Mobile® 6 Professional with access to Microsoft® Office Word Mobile, Excel® Mobile, and PowerPoint® Mobile; Adobe® Reader® LE PDF viewer
- View, edit, create Word and Excel files; view only PowerPoint and PDF files;
- view, extract, create Zip files
- Web browsing with Internet Explorer® Mobile
- Windows Media® Player 10
- Instant Messenger capabilities with AIM®, MSN®, and Yahoo!®
- Bluetooth® v. 2.0 with support for stereo, hands-free, and headset profiles
- microSD™ memory card slot with support up to 8 GB
- Voice command-capable
- Security locking features
- Text, picture and video messaging
- BroadbandAccess Connect-capable
- Wireless Sync-capable
- ActiveSync® (v.4.5) and Windows Mobile Device Center®
- Support for Office Outlook Mobile and Microsoft Exchange® with Direct Push
- 256 MB ROM / 128 MB RAM
- 2.8” TFT-LCD touch-screen with LED backlight: 240 x 320 pixel; 64K color TFT
- 3.98” (l) x 2.35” (w) x 0.56” (d)
- 3.95 ounces
- Battery: 1100mAH standard, and 1880 mAH for XT Battery
Standard battery usage times:
- Usage: 210 minutes
- Standby: 250 hours
- XT battery usage times:
- Usage: 360 minutes
- Standby: 427 hours
- SAR: Head – 1.250 W/kg; Body – 0.457 W/kg
The XV6900 is available for $349.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. An additional $100 credit toward the purchase of the handset is available for customers who sign up for qualifying voice and data plans at the time of purchase.
For more information on the XV6900 and other Verizon Wireless products and services, customers may visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com. Business customers should call 1-800-VZW-4BIZ or contact their Verizon Wireless Business Sales Representative.
Verizon Wireless is breaking new ground in the U.S. wireless retail experience with the introduction of its evolutionary store design in more than 280 company-owned and -operated Communications Stores nationwide.
The stores offer consumers a high-tech and hands-on experience with wireless voice, data, music, and video services. The store design features a bright new design and integrates a number of innovative systems and operational enhancements designed to streamline the sales process and enhance the customer experience.
“With these stores, Verizon Wireless takes the next step in wireless retailing. We are committed to providing customers with a unique and engaging shopping environment as well as easy access to support services,” said Jack Plating, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Verizon Wireless. “Our new stores feature an evolutionary approach. The sales and customer service areas are designed to engage shoppers and deliver a great experience for new customers as well as current customers.”
Verizon Wireless has already rolled out the design in more than 100 locations nationwide (for a complete list, visit http://news.vzw.com and click on the title of this release) and plans to introduce the new design in more than 180 additional locations – either new or existing – by the end of the year.
Among the features in many of the new stores* are:
From CTIA WIRELESS 2008, Verizon Wireless, the nation’s leading wireless service provider, and “TMZ,”, the number one new first-run syndicated television program of the 2007–2008 season, are teaming up to bring “TMZ” TV to mobile phones for the first time via a new “TMZ” branded channel on Verizon Wireless’ V CAST Video service. The “TMZ” television program is based upon the entertainment news Web site TMZ.com, a joint venture of Warner Bros. Television Group’s Telepictures Productions and AOL.
Beginning today, commercial-free video segments from the “TMZ” television program will be available to mobile users for the first time as Verizon Wireless debuts a “TMZ” channel on V CAST Video. The channel features clips from the hottest segments on “TMZ,” 24 hours after their daily broadcast in the television program. “TMZ” TV will be available on Verizon Wireless V CAST Video-enabled handsets in the Entertainment section under the Flix & Gossip category. Verizon Wireless is the inaugural on-deck distribution partner for the launch of “TMZ” TV.
“TMZ” TV will be presented in a series of video clips so that customers can catch up with their favorite show – even if they are on-the-go, with just a few minutes to spare.
Brett Bouttier, Senior Vice President, Digital, Warner Bros. Television Group, said, “The TMZ brand is now fully accessible on three screens to its loyal audience and exposed to everyone, everywhere. Verizon Wireless’ V CAST Video service is a top notch video platform and a perfect fit for a TMZ branded channel that keeps clips from the daily TMZ television series always at the fingertips of our ever-expanding audience.”
Jennifer Byrne, director of V CAST Video and social media for Verizon, said, “Our goal with V CAST Video is to bring leading entertainment to our customers. The debut of ‘TMZ’ TV on V CAST Video fits perfectly with that vision, offering our customers the latest in entertaining and compelling content.”
“TMZ” debuted in Sept. 2007 with the Fox Owned Television Stations – including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago – serving as the show’s primary launch group. “TMZ” immediately became the number one new first-run syndicated series of the season, and in its most recent week of national ratings (March 17–23, 2008), it delivered a 2.3 Household rating and topped all syndicated magazine programs in ratings among Adults 18-34 (1.2), Women 18-34 (1.4, tied) and Men 18-34 (1.0).
Customers with select V CAST-enabled phones can check out V CAST whenever they want for just $3.00 for 24-hour use or by signing up for the $15.00 V CAST VPak monthly subscription, which also includes access to Verizon Wireless’ ESPN MVP, Get It Now® and Mobile Web 2.0SM services. Customers get unlimited basic video, including “TMZ” TV, but application download fees apply for 3D games and premium video. There are no airtime or megabyte charges to download, stream or watch V CAST content with any V CAST subscription.
For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.
Verizon Wireless is moving the industry forward with the introduction of game-changing voice and data plans. The builder and operator of the nation’s most reliable wireless network today announced the immediate availability of new Nationwide Unlimited Anytime Minute Plans. The plans give customers all their calls – anytime to anyone in the U.S., including landline phones – at a flat rate for $99.99 monthly access. BroadbandAccess Plans are also being enhanced so customers now have two choices for Internet browsing, e-mail access and downloading files. The new BroadbandAccess plans, available on March 2, will offer customers monthly data plan options of 50 Megabytes (MB) or 5 Gigabytes (GB) (5,120 MB).
“Verizon Wireless is changing the way customers think about wireless,” said Mike Lanman, Verizon Wireless chief marketing officer. “The new flat rate voice plans truly free customers from the worry of counting minutes, while the new data plan options allow more customers to experience the freedom of mobile broadband. These enhancements are also an acknowledgement that wireless has evolved and more people than ever depend on it as a primary means of communication in every aspect of their lives.”
BroadbandAccess, the company’s flagship data service, allows customers to experience average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits per second and average upload speeds of 500-800 kbps, which means customers can download a 1 MB e-mail attachment in about eight seconds and upload the same-sized file in less than 13 seconds. Customers will be able to take full advantage of these speeds with two options: 50 MB data usage for $39.99 monthly access or 5 GB data usage for $59.99 monthly access.
“These new flat rate plans make mobile broadband more affordable than ever,” said Lanman. “The $39.99 plan is perfect for the occasional or light data user, while the $59.99 plan meets the needs of the majority of heavy data users. The plans are easy to understand and give customers the technology they need to manage their lives – both business and personal.”
Verizon Wireless can make this industry leading move because it has invested nearly $44 billion since it was formed – $5.5 billion on average every year – to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services. The company was also the first to offer customers a guarantee that pays for equipment and service if customers are not satisfied within 30 days and want to move their service to a different carrier.
“Wireless service is a powerful tool that has vastly changed the way we live. Verizon Wireless decided to take the next step by evolving our plans to meet the needs of customers who depend on our service to stay connected. We have enhanced our pricing portfolio because some customers just needed more freedom for their wireless dollar,” Lanman added.
For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, inclusive of those within Circuit City, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or visit www.verizonwireless.com.
Verizon Wireless, owner of the nation’s most reliable wireless voice and data network, and Palm, Inc. (NASDAQ: PALM) today announced the immediate availability of the Palm® Treo™ 755p smartphone in exclusive deep blue-green. Beginning today, customers may purchase the Treo 755p online at www.verizonwireless.com
Compared to its Treo 700p predecessor, the Treo 755p has a sleeker design with an internal antenna and a soft-touch feel. Featuring a large, high-resolution, color touch-screen for quick stylus access to applications, the Treo 755p offers a full QWERTY keyboard for easy e-mail creation, Web browsing and text messaging. It also includes features such as a 1.3 megapixel camera and built-in support for Microsoft® Word®, Excel®, and PowerPoint® documents and PDF documents. Customers can view and edit Microsoft Word and Excel files, and view PowerPoint and Adobe PDF files. Running the Palm OS®, the new Palm Treo 755p from Verizon Wireless gives mobile professionals the tools they need to help maximize productivity.
Built-in Support for Direct Push Technology for E-mail
The Treo 755p offers VersaMail® 3.5.45 with built-in Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync® support for Microsoft Direct Push Technology that delivers e-mail and calendar updates from a home or office PC using Outlook®. Businesses connected to a Microsoft Exchange Server get fast, automatic wireless updates of e-mail, calendar and contact information with added IT security and remote manageability.
Treo 755p users also have the option of using Verizon Wireless’ Wireless Sync for quick and easy access to personal or corporate e-mail, contacts, calendar, and tasks from their home or office PC. Customers can sync up to 10 POP3 or IMAP e-mail accounts, including AOL®, Yahoo! ® Premium and more with their Treo 755p. Wireless Sync supports Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Notes® and IBM Lotus Domino®.
Fast Speeds with Verizon Wireless’ Broadband Network
Verizon Wireless customers using the Treo 755p have the benefit of Verizon Wireless’ EV-DO high-speed network to send and receive data. Verizon Wireless’ broadband network is the most reliable national wireless broadband network in the country and available from coast to coast.
For customers interested in using their Treo 755p smartphones as modems with a Verizon Wireless BroadbandAccess Connect service plan to send and receive data from notebook PCs, the Treo 755p can easily take advantage of the 600 kbps to 1.4 mbps typical download speeds of the Verizon Wireless EV-DO network. The Treo 755p comes with built-in 60 MB of user-available memory and can be enhanced by using the miniSD™ slot to add separately purchased memory cards of up to 4 GB for storing data, photos, music, and video.
Integrated Google Maps for Mobile
With Google Maps™ installed right out of the box, Verizon Wireless customers using the Treo 755p can get directions; perform local searches; and view moveable/scalable maps, satellite imagery, and traffic updates while on-the-go. Customers can also map a contact’s address directly from the contact listing simply by selecting the “maps” button.
Pricing
The Palm Treo 755p from Verizon Wireless is available for $399.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and new two-year customer agreement. Customers who purchase a qualified voice plan along with a data plan may be eligible for an additional $100 credit making the Treo 755p $299.99 for those customers.
Verizon Wireless Nationwide E-mail plans for the Treo 755p begin at $79.99 for 450 anytime voice minutes and unlimited e-mail. For more information on any Verizon Wireless product or service, visit www.verizonwireless.com .