More Real-Life Test Men And Women Test Driving The Verizon Wireless Network

[Andy]

More Real-Life Test Men And Women Test Driving The Verizon Wireless Network

Company Invests $11 Million in New Test Vehicles; Invites Customers to Put Verizon Wireless Network to the Test As Well

Media Contact Info

Tom Pica
Thomas.Pica@verizonwireless.com
914-772-0757 (mobile)

03/26/2007

ORLANDO, FL and BASKING RIDGE, NJ — In a continuing demonstration of its commitment to provide customers with a superior wireless experience, Verizon Wireless, owner and operator of the nation’s most reliable wireless network, today announced, on the eve of the CTIA WIRELESS 2007® trade show, that the company has enhanced its formidable network testing capabilities by nearly doubling its nationwide fleet of drive test vehicles and its team of real-life test men and test women.

Now, 98 Verizon Wireless test engineers nationwide are dedicated full-time to driving and testing nearly one million miles in specially equipped, company-owned and -operated vehicles to measure the performance of the company’s network as well as competitors’ networks. The company had more than 50 test men and women when it became Verizon Wireless seven years ago. Verizon Wireless’ most reliable national wireless network claim is based on network studies performed by these real-life test men and test women. To read examples of Verizon Wireless’ Network Reliability Studies in locations from coast-to-coast, visit http://aboutus.vzw.com/bestnetwork/reliability.html.

The additional vehicles, which cost approximately $240,000 each when fully equipped, represent an additional investment of more than $11 million in rolling stock in the past two years to test wireless networks.

“Network quality has always been a priority for us and our network tests, conducted day after day and year after year, have consistently shown that we do operate the one and only most reliable wireless network in the U.S. with the lowest percentage of ineffective attempts and lost calls among all national carriers,” said Dick Lynch, executive vice president and chief technical officer for Verizon Wireless. “With our expanded network testing, we will now be covering more roadways and making more test calls, allowing us to continue to make decisions on network enhancements and investments that will provide optimum performance and the best service for our customers.”

Using sophisticated testing equipment, these full-time company employees – who inspired Verizon Wireless’ iconic test man advertising campaign – conduct more than three million voice call attempts and more than 16 million data tests annually on the Verizon Wireless network and the networks of our major competitors in each market. As part of the testing program, laptop computers in the vehicles generate phonically diverse “conversations” to test wireless network performance. Each call is tabulated on computerized equipment inside the test vehicle as either a successful call, an ineffective attempt (a call that is blocked) or a lost call (a call that connects, but drops). After completing the routes, network teams download the test results onto specialized computers at Verizon Wireless network test centers for compilation and analysis. The data is used not only to compare performance with competitors’, but also to help engineers plan the company’s annual network improvement program, including placement of new cell sites and expansion of existing call capabilities in growing communities. Last year, through this improvement program, over $6 billion was invested in the Verizon Wireless network.

Now, Verizon Wireless is inviting customers to “take the Verizon Wireless network for a spin” to experience the nation’s most reliable wireless network on their own. Starting March 26, customers who sign up for the America’s Choice® or America’s Choice with Push to Talk Calling Plan can “test drive” Verizon Wireless for 30 days. If at any point during the 30-day Test Drive customers are not satisfied with their experience and take their number to another wireless carrier, Verizon Wireless will refund their money for their calls, equipment, activation fee and taxes, as well as release them from their contract without an early termination fee when they return their phone within the Test Drive period.*

Verizon Wireless has invested $35 billion in the last seven years – $5 billion on average every year since the company was formed and more than $6 billion in 2006 – to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services.

As part of the company’s continuing demonstration of its commitment to provide customers with superior network performance, Verizon Wireless also announced today that the company has extended the trial period in its Worry Free Guarantee® from 15 days to 30 days. Customers will now receive a 30-day satisfaction guarantee on any product they purchase from Verizon Wireless. For additional information about the company's Worry Free Guarantee, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/g.../worryFree.jsp.

(EDITORS NOTE: Members of the news media covering the CTIA Wireless Association trade show in Orlando are invited to get a first-hand look at one of the Verizon Wireless test vehicles and talk with one of the company’s test engineers. The vehicle will be on display on March 26 in front of the Hard Rock Cafe Orlando, 6050 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32819 – check for times when one of our real-life test men will be on hand. Contact Tom Pica for details.)

*Customers’ activation fees, monthly voice access charge and any voice overage charges will be credited. Customers will remain responsible for all other charges, including surcharges, data services & downloads. An early termination fee will apply unless phone is returned. For more information, please visit http://news.vzw.com/news/2007/03/pr2007-03-23.html.

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 (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at 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 www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

http://news.vzw.com/news/2007/03/pr2007-03-26a.html

I just put Verizon to the test using an Lg 8300 in my NE location and they failed. I ended up giving the phone back and canceling the service. To bad I wasn't getting paid by them.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by MobilePrincess

I just put Verizon to the test using an Lg 8300 in my NE location and they failed. I ended up giving the phone back and canceling the service. To bad I wasn't getting paid by them.

That's what the trial periods are for: To determine whether or not a service works for you, so I'm glad you made good use of it.

Originally Posted by Andy

That's what the trial periods are for: To determine whether or not a service works for you, so I'm glad you made good use of it.

I agree. It only took me 2 days out of the 30 that they have now begun to offer to customers to figure that out. I guess their 30 day trial would be good for someone who traveled more in that time frame.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by MobilePrincess

I agree. It only took me 2 days out of the 30 that they have now begun to offer to customers to figure that out. I guess their 30 day trial would be good for someone who traveled more in that time frame.

I agree- it really does not take you long to figure out if the new phone will work at your house/work and the places in between. The only good thing I see with the longer trial periods is that you can try out the service at your friends and extended family that may live further away and that you don't see every day.
Also, Verizon's new 30 day Test Drive is a new marketing thing of theirs- and I promise you it will work well for them, knowing Verizon's excellent marketing.

[macsesso]

Originally Posted by MobilePrincess

I just put Verizon to the test using an Lg 8300 in my NE location and they failed. I ended up giving the phone back and canceling the service. To bad I wasn't getting paid by them.

Do you miss Verizon considering you spend time reading and posting here?

[Fire14]

I have an idea, maybe they can save some money & get more "real life" testers by giving all of us here Verizon phones to test & report on.
I bet for the cost of 1 of these vehicles, they could do this.

Originally Posted by Fire14

I have an idea, maybe they can save some money & get more "real life" testers by giving all of us here Verizon phones to test & report on.
I bet for the cost of 1 of these vehicles, they could do this.

This sounds like a great idea to me. And if people liked the service then they would get to keep the phone free of charge.

[MOTOhooligan]

I've always wanted to be a drive tester. Get me a Honda Fit with an iPod adaptor, fill the back with drive test equipment, give me a map and let me loose.


I can see the license plate now: MOTOHLGN

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

so they are just letting random concumers test out the coverage?

Originally Posted by SmArTeStChIlD421

so they are just letting random concumers test out the coverage?

It's not random at all. It's all part of Verizon's new "Test Drive" service in which "all" new customers can try out Verizon's service free of charge for 30 days and if they don't like the service then they can port their number out and all the calls that they made will be on Verizon. (certain restrictions apply).

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

hmmmmm................so when you order service you just tell them that you want to be part of that "Trst Drive" service and they will let you do it?...............thats cool..........i like Verizon but the way they lock their phones irks me a little........therefore i dont think i would do this anytime soon...........if Sprint were to do this.............i would do it in an instant even if there wasnt anything in it for me.........

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by SmArTeStChIlD421

hmmmmm................so when you order service you just tell them that you want to be part of that "Trst Drive" service and they will let you do it?...............thats cool..........i like Verizon but the way they lock their phones irks me a little........therefore i dont think i would do this anytime soon...........if Sprint were to do this.............i would do it in an instant even if there wasnt anything in it for me.........

No, the test drive is that Verizon hired more people with van's equiped to test their network against the other carriers across the country.

What MobilePrincess was talking about is Verizon's new 30 day trial period, where if it doesn't work for you & you port your number to another carrier, they won't charge you for the phone, calls or other charges (with the exception of Vcast & downloads).

Originally Posted by Fire14

No, the test drive is that Verizon hired more people with van's equiped to test their network against the other carriers across the country.

What MobilePrincess was talking about is Verizon's new 30 day trial period, where if it doesn't work for you & you port your number to another carrier, they won't charge you for the phone, calls or other charges (with the exception of Vcast & downloads).

Fire14, Verizon's new trial period that I was referring to in my last post is called "Test Drive". I have their new "Test Drive Manual" sitting right here in front of me. I think Verizon should change the name of one of the test programs because it is a little confusing.

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by MobilePrincess

Fire14, Verizon's new trial period that I was referring to in my last post is called "Test Drive". I have their new "Test Drive Manual" sitting right here in front of me. I think Verizon should change the name of one of the test programs because it is a little confusing.

You are right, I did notice that they have decided to call it that. Sorry for the confusion I caused & for my own confusion.

I guess most people don't think or know about their network test drivers, so it shouldn't cause the common, non-hobbiest (or whatever you want to call us) these confusions.

Originally Posted by Fire14

You are right, I did notice that they have decided to call it that. Sorry for the confusion I caused & for my own confusion.

I guess most people don't think or know about their network test drivers, so it shouldn't cause the common, non-hobbiest (or whatever you want to call us) these confusions.

You didn't cause the confusion Fire. Verizon did.

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

it would be nice if a cellular company would employ their own customers to run test vehicles............if they did this they could create a great map and they could even submit weather data with the decibels and postion to help Verizon determine what the RF will be like during storms or fog and things like that..........and they could even factor in geography.........sure its a lot of data but that is one unstoppable coverage map

Originally Posted by SmArTeStChIlD421

it would be nice if a cellular company would employ their own customers to run test vehicles............if they did this they could create a great map and they could even submit weather data with the decibels and postion to help Verizon determine what the RF will be like during storms or fog and things like that..........and they could even factor in geography.........sure its a lot of data but that is one unstoppable coverage map

I agree. I also think that all of the posters here at WA should be chosen to be their testers.

[macsesso]

Originally Posted by MobilePrincess

I agree. I also think that all of the posters here at WA should be chosen to be their testers.

(tongue firmly in cheek) If this happened and Verizon handsets were given to them for testing, some of the GSM fanboys would find out how poor their service is and need counseling like the GEICO caveman.

[mmmmna]

Originally Posted by macsesso

(tongue firmly in cheek) If this happened and Verizon handsets were given to them for testing, some of the GSM fanboys would find out how poor their service is and need counseling like the GEICO caveman.

Err, I just "left" (EON) Cingular/AT&T (GSM, right?) on a RAZR V3 and am now on Verizon using an LG VX9900 enV, I'd say you were a CDMA fanboy without GSM experience. Tongue firmly sticking out!
I can honestly say my experiences between GSM and CDMA2000 are almost the same, except when signals get weak here; the way GSM broke up was only by way of faster burbling (a few times each second), compared to the way CDMA broke up with slower burbling (a few times every ten seconds). They both fail at almost the same distances from the local towers, they both have almost the exact same dead spots but are equal in other aspects. I believe (in my experiences) LG makes a lower quality audio section in their phones versus Motorola, so any intelligibility issues I've seen are likely the phones fault.

But, you are entitled to your opinions, since you have your own experiences to base them on!