Device Arena

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.”

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Alcatel-Lucent announced an agreement for Alcatel-Lucent to support the expansion of AT&T’s UMTS/HSPA (Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service/High Speed Packet Access) wireless network. The expansion includes the deployment of Alcatel-Lucent’s UMTS/HSDPA Distributed NodeB solution, which provides operators with the flexibility to deploy third-generation (3G) radio network elements in a wide array of locations including the sides of buildings, existing cell sites, remote locations and more, helping operators build out their networks more quickly and cost-effectively.

This advanced mobile network project will enable AT&T to expand capacity while offering sophisticated next-generation services, including advanced multimedia, mobile broadband and converged services such as audio and video streaming, video sharing and high-speed mobile Internet access on 3G handsets. The technology also will help decrease AT&T’s operating expenditures due to the cost saving features of this compact, easy-to-deploy, low-power solution.

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Verizon Wireless announced today that it has expanded the national rollout of its high-speed wireless network to portions of Holmes and Ashland counties including the towns of Millersburg, Loudonville, Nashville, Paint Valley, and Walnut Creek. The expansion includes State Route 39 from Loudonville east to Walnut Creek.

“Ohio is home to many vital markets with dynamic, tech-savvy business people, students, visitors, and residents who want to stay connected,” said Roger Tang, president – Ohio/Pennsylvania/West Virginia region, Verizon Wireless. “The launch of our broadband network in Millersburg and nearby communities provides our customers with access to the very latest wireless technology.”

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Ericsson and Russian operator VimpelCom have signed an agreement for the supply and implementation of a WCDMA/HSPA network, plus associated services, to cover seven out of nine macro regions across Russia, including Moscow, the North Caucasus, Siberia, Volga, Northwest Russia, South Russia and the Urals.

Under the five-year agreement, Ericsson will supply a WCDMA/HSPA radio access and core network, including circuit-switching and packet-switching, and subscriber management system Home Location Register (HLR). Ericsson will also be responsible for a range of telecom services, including deployment and integration, systems integration, operation and maintenance assistance, technical support and training.

The move will enable VimpelCom to offer advanced multimedia and high-speed mobile broadband services, such as Mobile TV and video calls, to its subscribers.

Ericsson is currently powering 86 of the 174 commercial HSPA networks launched worldwide, with many additional ongoing deployments.

Nokia and PopCap Games, the leading developer and publisher of casual games, will bring connected mobile Java games to the SNAP Mobile platform. The award winning Chuzzle is the first game to be re-developed by PopCap under a multi-game agreement.

“SNAP Mobile is all about bringing fun multiplayer Java games to the masses,” said Paul Whitaker, Head of Business Development for SNAP Mobile, Nokia. “With a catalog of broadly appealing games, PopCap titles are a perfect addition to our growing portfolio.”

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NEW YORK - An innovative, reliable and competitive alternative to cable TV is coming to more New York consumers as Verizon expands its industry-leading FiOS TV service, which is provided on the nation’s most advanced fiber-optic network straight to customers’ homes.

Verizon is now taking orders for FiOS TV in parts of the Town of Ramapo communities of Hillcrest, Ladentown, Monsey, Tallman, Viola, Northeast Ramapo and Western Ramapo in Rockland County, and in the Long Island village of Bellerose.

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Nokia and Glu Mobile Inc. announced its initial line-up of games to be launched on the N-Gage platform in 2008. The titles launching are based on two major forthcoming films from Warner Bros. Pictures, SPEED RACER and The Dark Knight, as well as Super Slam Ping Pong, a new original Glu title in the spirit of Glu’s runaway hit, Super K.O. Boxing!

“We’re pleased to bring these key titles from Glu to N-Gage,” said Alex Galvagni, senior vice president product development and chief technology officer, Glu Mobile. “N-Gage is a great innovation in mobile gaming technology, and this line-up of games from Glu utilizes the platform capabilities to offer richly rewarding game experiences.”

“These three titles are valuable additions to the N-Gage platform, and will deliver exciting gaming experiences for N-Gage players,” said Gregg Sauter, Director of 3rd party publishing, Nokia. “We’re delighted to further our relationship with Glu Mobile - their catalog of games is extremely strong and offers something for everyone.”

Epsom Downs Racecourse announces today that Vodafone will step in to sponsor The 2008 Derby on Saturday 7 June, for one final year. In January 2007 Vodafone announced that after thirteen years, it would not be renewing its sponsorship of The Derby. However, with only a few months to go and no title sponsor secured for this years’ event, Vodafone will return to support one of the most prestigious races in horse racing. As part of the sponsorship agreement, Vodafone will also sponsor the Princess Elizabeth Stakes, which will also move to the Saturday. The remaining races over the two day Festival will be split between other sponsors.

Nick Blofeld, Managing Director of Epsom Downs Racecourse commented: “We are thrilled that Vodafone has decided to sponsor the 2008 Derby and The Princess Elizabeth Stakes. We have taken the commercial decision to divide the sponsorship opportunities for the 2008 Derby Festival, offering Vodafone the opportunity to renew their sponsorship of the Derby this year and inviting other partners to sponsor the remaining races across the two days of the Festival. I would like to thank Vodafone for their support at this time.”

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BOSTON - A total of 190 nonprofit groups in Massachusetts received nearly $2.1 million from the Verizon Foundation in 2007, enabling the organizations to improve literacy skills, create new and diverse approaches to technology-based education, and help domestic violence victims rebuild their lives.

Additionally, hundreds more nonprofit organizations received $1 million through the Verizon Volunteer and Matching Incentive programs, bringing total foundation support for Massachusetts to more than $3.1 million.  Verizon volunteers also donated more than 36,000 hours of personal time to community programs.

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Telecommunications company BITĖ Lietuva in cooperation with Vodafone and Research In Motion (RIM) today announced the launch of the BlackBerry wireless solution in Lithuania.

The BlackBerry solution is renowned for its secure push-based wireless access to email and other applications. When an email arrives at the user’s account, the message is automatically delivered to the BlackBerry smartphone. In addition to wireless email access, BlackBerry smartphones enable customers to make calls, send and receive messages (SMS, MMS, and Instant Messaging), browse the Internet and access their organizer as well as thousands of business and lifestyle applications.

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