Verizon Wireless Officially Converts Former Alltel Store As Company Integration Continues In Pima County, Arizona

Former Alltel customers in greater Tucson now receive Verizon Wireless customer service, sales support and billing.

TUCSON, AZ — In just 10 months since completing its purchase of Alltel, Verizon Wireless reached several major milestones in the integration of the two companies with the re-merchandising and re-branding of a store in Tucson and a conversion of its billing systems.

Verizon Wireless and former Alltel customers in retained markets have already been enjoying the added value of Friends & Family® (formerly My Circle from Alltel) and a Mobile to Mobile calling family of more than 80 million customers.

Expanded network of Verizon Wireless Communications Stores in Southern Arizona
The former Alltel store at 4405 N. Oracle Road in Tucson was re-branded and remodeled into a Verizon Wireless “Evolution” Communications Store. The Evolution design includes large demo zones, technical support counters, electronic greeter kiosks and more – to enhance the overall customer experience with a full-service environment.

Customers have access to best-in-class devices including the BlackBerry® Storm™, Tour™ and other global smartphones; MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot, HP 1151NR Netbooks, and many more.

As part of the conversion, Verizon Wireless also relocated the former Alltel store on Broadway to a new Evolution Communications Store at 5855 E. Broadway Boulevard in Tucson.

For more information on all Tucson area locations, hours of operation and more visit www.verizonwireless.com.

Billing conversion complete across the nation: customers now receive Verizon Wireless bills
Following last weekend’s billing conversion, former Alltel customers in Tucson may visit any Verizon Wireless store in Arizona or across the country for sales and service.

Customers in Southern Arizona can also now access “My Verizon” at www.verizonwireless.com for online self-service and support 24-hours a day, seven days a week. In addition, customers will receive service and technical support from highly skilled representatives based in one of six Customer Service Centers in the Western United States, including the former Alltel center in El Paso, Texas.

“The bringing together of two great companies was carefully planned and executed with a goal to provide customers with the best that both Alltel and Verizon Wireless have to offer,” said Tony Heyman, region president for Verizon Wireless.

“When customers see that Verizon Wireless logo on their phone or on the storefront, they can feel confident they’re with the company dedicated to providing them the very best experience in wireless.”

The best gets better: network integration underway
Verizon Wireless is upgrading and reconfiguring former Alltel cell sites and other network infrastructure across Pima County to work as part of the larger and more advanced network. Continued investment and ongoing enhancements will be made to the Arizona network throughout the process, including integration of key cell sites.

Former Alltel customers in Tucson are already enjoying faster speeds when accessing the Internet, email and corporate data as a result of a completed upgrade to the existing EV-DO network to Rev.A technology.

This work is part of the company’s ongoing investment to keep improving and strengthening the nation’s largest and most reliable 3G wireless network. A side-by-side comparison of 3G network coverage maps shows that Verizon Wireless has more 3G coverage than the three other major carriers with five times more 3G coverage than AT&T.

Verizon Wireless has spent more than $755 million on network enhancements throughout Arizona since 2000 when the company was formed.

A partner in the community
Verizon Wireless also expanded its HopeLine® phone-recycling program in Southern Arizona that turns unused wireless phones into support for victims of domestic violence. Through the program, no-longer used wireless phones, batteries and accessories from any wireless service provider can be recycled at Communications Stores nationwide. Equipment can also be donated to HopeLine by mail for recycling. Download a postage-paid mailing label at www.verizonwireless.com/hopelinemailinglabel.