Verizon Wireless Installs Temporary Cell Site In Queens, New York, For US Open 2007

Cell on Wheels Will Handle Increased Wireless Usage Expected as 650,000 Fans Converge on National Tennis Center for Two-Week Event.

NEW YORK, NY — In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for tennis fans traveling to the US Open in the coming weeks, Verizon Wireless is activating a temporary cell site in Queens.

The Cell on Wheels (COW) is a fully functional, generator-powered mobile cell site that enhances wireless capacity, allowing more customers to use their wireless phones concurrently to make calls, send and receive text and picture messages, access the Internet, and download games and Ringtones. The company placed the COW in the parking lot of the US Open this week to handle the expected influx of calls and messages sent by fans as more than 250 of the world’s top tennis players compete in the two-week event. The US Open will be held from August 27 through September 9, 2007.

“The US Open is the best attended annual sporting event in the world,” said Charles Hand, president of the New York Metro region. “By activating this temporary cell site, our network is prepared to handle the increased activity that comes with the record crowds. We anticipate a big surge in voice calls, text messages and picture messages as fans use their wireless devices to capture and share the this year’s event.”

The temporary cell site is part of Verizon Wireless’ continuous effort to stay ahead of the growing demand for Verizon Wireless voice, data and mobile entertainment services. The company invested more than $40 billion across the nation in the past seven years to increase coverage and capacity, and to offer customers the most reliable service available in the nation.