Verizon Expands Wireless Broadband Network in Michigan

[Ironwalt]

Press Release Source: Verizon Wireless


Verizon Wireless Expands Wireless Broadband Network Across More of Traverse City and Petoskey, Mich.
Monday December 17, 9:00 am ET
High-Speed Network Gives Customers Access to Fast Wireless Internet, Email, Mobile Music and Videos in More Places


TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless announced today that it has expanded the national rollout of its high-speed wireless network across the rest of its Traverse City and Petoskey coverage area.
As a result of the expansion, the following cities, towns and points of interest-in addition to the Grand Traverse Bay area-are now equipped with Verizon Wireless' high-speed wireless network: Alanson, Alden, Bay Shore, Bay View, Benzonia, Beulah, Boon, Brutus, Cadillac, Carp Lake, Charlevoix, Conway, Copemish, Eastlake, Eastport, Elberta, Elk Rapids, Filer City, Frankfort, Honor, Interlochen, Kalkaska, Kewadin, Kingsley, Lake Ann, Le Roy, Leelanau Shores, Levering, Mackinaw City, Mancelona, Manistee, Manton, Mayfield, Mesick, Oden, Omena, Pellston, Petoskey, Rapid City, Reed City, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, South Boardman, Stronach, Suttons Bay, Thompsonville, Tustin and Torch Lake.

The expansion also provides continuous coverage along U.S. Route 131 from Mancelona south to Kalamazoo. Additionally, it includes the following major roads:


-- U.S. Route 31 between Charlevoix and Mackinaw City and U.S. Route 31
just north of Bear Lake to Torch Lake
-- Michigan Road 115 from Cadillac to Benzonia


"This is a vital market with dynamic, tech-savvy business people and consumers who want to stay connected," said Greg Haller, president- Michigan/Indiana/Kentucky Region, Verizon Wireless. "The expansion of our broadband network across the rest of our Traverse City and Petoskey coverage area provides our customers with access to the very latest wireless technology in more places."


Verizon Wireless customers in this area can enjoy two prime services:

-- BroadbandAccess, the enhanced high-speed wireless service that equips
Verizon Wireless' business customers with a truly untethered mobile
office experience, enabling them to wirelessly access their calendars,
the Internet, email and critical business information residing behind
their companies' firewalls; and
-- V CAST, a consumer-oriented multimedia service that gives customers
access to the most comprehensive selection of downloadable music, high-
quality videos and the coolest 3D games found anywhere.


BroadbandAccess

Based on Evolution-Data Optimized Revision A (EV-DO Rev. A) network technology, BroadbandAccess provides mobile workers with the ability to access their corporate information as if they were attached to this data via a high- speed wired connection but with the freedom of true mobility. Developed with a range of users in mind, the service enables large enterprises, small to medium-sized businesses and mobile professionals to conduct business anytime, anywhere in the BroadbandAccess coverage area via a secure, true high-speed data connection.

With BroadbandAccess, business customers, residents and visitors can expect average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits per second and average upload speeds of 500 kbps to 800 kbps. That means they can download a 1 megabyte email attachment-the equivalent of a small PowerPoint® presentation or a large PDF file-in about eight seconds and upload the same-sized file in less than 13 seconds.

BroadbandAccess also enables Verizon Wireless customers to download files approximately 10 times faster than customers of wireless service providers that use different broadly deployed network technologies. Furthermore, customers who travel outside the enhanced BroadbandAccess coverage area with an EV-DO device will switch seamlessly to the company's NationalAccess service.

"Our enhanced BroadbandAccess service gives our customers three key advantages in wireless communication-speed, mobility and security," Haller said. "With these advantages comes an increase in productivity and bottom-line business benefits."

V CAST: Video and Music

The company's wireless broadband network also enables its V CAST multimedia services, which offer customers the ability to download full-song tracks, play cutting-edge 3D games and stream video clips straight to the handset with top transmission speeds. With content updated daily, customers can watch dozens of on-demand videos, including breaking news, weather updates, sports highlights and the hottest entertainment clips.

With V CAST Music, Verizon Wireless has built a massive full-song mobile music store that contains more than 2.5 million songs-from well-known as well as independent artists-that customers can download over-the-air, directly onto their V CAST Music-enabled wireless phones.

Investment

The multi-million dollar expansion includes the installation of high-tech wireless hardware and software in wireless transmission sites throughout the area. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $40 billion since it was formed- more than $5 billion on average every year-to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services. More than $1 billion of this investment was spent in Michigan.

Verizon Wireless was the first national wireless provider to commercially launch a high-speed wireless broadband network in the United States, which is available to more than 210 million people across the country. In Michigan, Verizon Wireless' broadband network is also available across much of west Michigan, including Big Rapids, Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Holland, Kalamazoo and Muskegon; southeastern Michigan; the greater Flint area; Lansing; Jackson; Mount Pleasant; Port Huron; Clare; and mid-Michigan, including Saginaw, Bay City and Midland. Verizon Wireless' broadband network was first introduced in Michigan in July 2005 in southeastern Michigan.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to Cell Phones, Cell Phone Plans, Cell Phone Accessories - Verizon Wireless.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 63.7 million customers. The largest U.S. wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 68,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ - News) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD - News News). Find more information on the Web at Cell Phones, Cell Phone Plans, Cell Phone Accessories - Verizon Wireless. 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 www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.




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Source: Verizon Wireless

[cellular_freak]

This is good news that they're still investing in Michigan and building out their network here, but they need to eventually build out their network here in the thumb!!! They have the PCS licences!!! Or they can buy Thumb Cellular, that makes more sense!! Who would you go to, to request they make an aquisition like this. It'd be just a small one, but it'd be very logical! LOL.

[cheddar]

Originally Posted by cellular_freak

This is good news that they're still investing in Michigan and building out their network here, but they need to eventually build out their network here in the thumb!!! They have the PCS licences!!! Or they can buy Thumb Cellular, that makes more sense!! Who would you go to, to request they make an aquisition like this. It'd be just a small one, but it'd be very logical! LOL.

Seems like Alltel would have bought Thumb Cellular if Pigeon was selling.

[cellular_freak]

Originally Posted by cheddar

Seems like Alltel would have bought Thumb Cellular if Pigeon was selling.

What makes you say that?

The only reason I say Verizon is because Verizon surrounds Thumb Cellular on all sides. Verizon is in Bay, Saginaw, Genesee, Lapeer, and St. Clair counties: all of which border the thumb. Alltel on the other hand is only in Bay and Saginaw counties.

[Alienware_51]

Does Alltel have EVDO in this area already??

[cellular_freak]

It doesn't look as though they do:

Alltel MobileLink Coverage

[cheddar]

Originally Posted by cellular_freak

What makes you say that?

The only reason I say Verizon is because Verizon surrounds Thumb Cellular on all sides. Verizon is in Bay, Saginaw, Genesee, Lapeer, and St. Clair counties: all of which border the thumb. Alltel on the other hand is only in Bay and Saginaw counties.

Verizon has basically ignored Michigan up until recently. Alltel on the other hand has good coverage in Michigan and has focused on rural areas similar to the Thumb.

[RadioFoneGuy]

Alltel does have EVDO working in Northern Michigan but have not update their maps. I believe they may be having some issues. I have heard and have tested this first hand. A few customers have EVDO capable devices but are only clocking speeds of 144 K (which we all know is Alltels bandwidth for 1X) I witnessed a friend with a newer Motorola EVDO capable phone tether to his laptop on 3 different towers while showing EVDO on the phone and went to a couple of websites and clocked less than 150k. What I think it is IMO option is the phone will show EVDO is available but EVDO has to used dedicated time slots so if these timeslot are full it will revert you back to 1X on spread spectrum.

Verizon has ignored Northern Michigan big time untill last year they build 100 towers in a years time after buying some PCS spectrum from LEAP. There coverage is limited to in town and highway coverage and they dont have a dealer network except for packaged deals sold at Best Buy.

If you look at Thumb Cellular they are land locked due to not having the spectum to go else where. If you look at their parent companies web site they bought a ton of 700 mhz that covers the majority of Michigan during the first round of 700 auctions. The site claims they are going to use it for Wi-Fi.

[Alienware_51]

Whooa look at the map now!! they musta just updated it today!!!

[Buickman]

Their new map is a little deceiving, because at least here in MN it also shows Sprint's EVDO.

[cellular_freak]

Originally Posted by RadioFoneGuy

If you look at Thumb Cellular they are land locked due to not having the spectum to go else where. If you look at their parent companies web site they bought a ton of 700 mhz that covers the majority of Michigan during the first round of 700 auctions. The site claims they are going to use it for Wi-Fi.

Really? They actually bought 700 MHz spectrum? I wonder if they would deploy it in the thumb . . . . . Either way, it just seems like that would make them really attractive to buy out. Whether it be Alltel or Verizon.

[RadioFoneGuy]

You can look up last years 700 mhz auctions on the FCC website. You would think Alltel or Verizon would have bought them out years ago, there locked down to your 3 county area hense the name thumb cellular. There small but have some pretty loyal customers similiar to Dobson and Centennial.

[Ironwalt]

Press Release Source: Verizon Wireless


Verizon Wireless Activates New Cell Site in Holland, Mich.
Friday December 21, 8:35 am ET


HOLLAND, Mich., Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless has activated a new cell site in Holland that improves Verizon Wireless' voice and data network in north Macatawa and the northwest part of downtown Holland.

With the improved network coverage, more customers can use their wireless phones to make calls; send and receive email and text, picture and video messages; download music, games and ringtones; and view high-quality videos while enjoying clearer reception and fewer dropped calls.

"Network reliability is the No. 1 reason that customers choose and stay with Verizon Wireless," said Greg Haller, president-Michigan/Indiana/Kentucky Region, Verizon Wireless. "Getting through on the first try and maintaining a connection are important to our customers. We continue to optimize our network so that it remains reliable."

This new cell site is part of Verizon Wireless' continual effort to expand coverage, increase capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voice and data network in Michigan and throughout the country. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $40 billion since it was formed-more than $5 billion on average every year-to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services. More than $1 billion of this investment was spent in Michigan.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 63.7 million customers. The largest U.S. wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 68,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ - News) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD - News News). Find more information on the Web at Cell Phones, Cell Phone Plans, Cell Phone Accessories - Verizon Wireless. 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 www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.




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Source: Verizon Wireless