J.D. Power And Associates Ranks Verizon Wireless Highest In Satisfaction For Small-/Mid-Sized Business Customers

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – May 3, 2011 –

Verizon Wireless has been ranked highest among wireless providers in small- and mid-sized business customer satisfaction in the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Business Wireless Customer Satisfaction Study(SM) released last week. The study found that Verizon Wireless outperformed its competitors and was the only provider that ranked “significantly above segment average at 95% confidence level” in the following categories: performance and reliability, sales representatives/account executives, billings and offerings and promotions. Home-based business customers who participated in the study reported that they were most satisfied with Verizon Wireless’ performance and reliability and sales representatives/account executives.

“Small businesses rely on mobile devices and wireless networks to move their companies forward,” said Mike Lanman, president, Enterprise and Government Markets, Verizon Wireless. “Our strategy for these segments is to offer customers high-performing products and reliable services that provide game-changing productivity improvements and revenue opportunities.”

The study’s performance and reliability category addressed areas including call quality, timeliness of voice mail and text message notifications, ease of connecting calls on the first try, freedom from dropped calls and ease of making calls from various locations. Verizon Wireless small business specialists and sales representatives were rated on knowledge, courtesy, concern for customer needs, responsiveness to requests and questions, and effectiveness of communicating new services, promotions and changes.

The study’s billing index ranked providers on usefulness of information on the bill, variety of methods to pay bills as well as timeliness in receiving statements. The offerings and promotions rating was determined by: wireless plans variety; additional services offered and incentives that recognize loyalty; effectiveness of informational and promotional materials; diverse portfolio of phones and equipment to choose from; and geographic coverage area.

Small- and mid-sized business customers in industries such as financial services, healthcare, construction and transportation can benefit from Verizon Wireless’ products and services including:

The nation’s fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network*An expanding lineup of wireless devices, including Android™ and BlackBerry® smartphones, tablets, netbooks, laptop computers, Mobile Hotspots and USB modemsCost-saving wireless solutions such as Push to Talk, Field Force Manager and Fleet AdministratorMachine-to-machine services that support asset management and telematicsSupport from small business specialists in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores throughout the country and technology support 24 hours a day, seven days a week

J.D. Power and Associates surveyed wireless service decision makers at more than 3,100 U.S. businesses between November 2010 and February 2011.

For more information about Verizon Wireless’ products and services for small and mid-sized businesses, visit www.verizonwireless.com/smb, call 1-800-VZW-4BIZ or see a small business specialist at any Verizon Wireless Communications Store.

* The company’s “most reliable network” claim is based on network studies performed by test men and test women who conduct more than 3.5 million voice call attempts and more than 19 million data tests annually on Verizon Wireless’ and other national wireless carriers’ networks while traveling more than one million miles in specially equipped, company-owned quality test vehicles. For more information about Verizon Wireless testing, go to http://aboutus.vzw.com/bestnetwork/reliability.html.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 104 million total wireless connections, including more than 88 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit 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.

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Verizon Combines the Power of 4G LTE with the Cisco Cius Tablet to Improve Mobile Enterprise Collaboration

NEW YORK – July 13, 2011 –

The ancient Greeks relied on them. So did Moses when it came to accomplishing one of his most significant deliverables. And now businesses are equipping mobile workforces with tablets of their own to boost productivity and speed customer service.

To meet this newest trend in tablet use, Verizon is combining the power of its 4G LTE network with the Cisco Cius™ to help customers decentralize and accelerate decision-making for better business outcomes.

The Cisco Cius will be available to Verizon enterprise and government customers around the world later this summer, and those located domestically will be able to combine the device with a Verizon Wireless 4G LTE mobile hot spot. Designed for the enterprise, the Android-based Cisco Cius combines voice, video, collaboration and virtualization capabilities on one device.  When powered by Verizon's 4G LTE network, mobile workers will be able to easily use bandwidth-intensive video applications - including between devices - for more effective collaboration.

"Mobile applications over intelligent high-speed networks will continue to eliminate barriers in the workplace," said Mike Smith, vice president for Verizon enterprise communications, network and mobility sales. "We're forecasting a perfect storm where advanced enterprise tools such as the Cisco Cius mesh with the speeds made possible by 4G LTE to make the virtual office a more robust reality than ever." 

Putting Tablets to Work

In general, industries such as retail, financial services, healthcare and government can employ tablets to change the pace of their business.

Retail:  Sales associates can employ tablets while out on the floor to look up product and inventory information for customers, in addition to processing transactions on the spot. Financial Services:  Bankers and financial advisors can take advantage of the video capabilities of tablets for face-to-face meetings with clients, saving the time it takes to meet up at physical locations. Health care:  Medical professionals can use tablets to collaborate on patient care and speed critical decision-making. Government:  Tablets can increase productivity of government users - from military to civilian government field workers to emergency first responders - allowing them to enter information or share it quickly with remote offices to complete the business of government more efficiently.

Through Verizon's Managed Mobility portfolio, enterprise customers can securely deploy a wide range of devices to employees.  Capabilities include device management; expense tracking management; lock and wipe features for protecting sensitive data; and mobile delivery of popular business and consumer apps from the cloud.  In addition, the company offers a full suite of professional services to help organizations create policies and design mobility programs to suit varied requirements. 

Verizon is a global network communications leader in driving better business outcomes for enterprises and government agencies.  Verizon delivers integrated IT and communications solutions via its global IP and mobility networks to enable businesses to securely access information, share content and communicate.  Verizon is rapidly transforming to a cloud-based "everything-as-a-service" delivery model that will put the power of enterprise-class solutions within the reach of every business.  Find out more at www.verizonbusiness.com.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 104 million total connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 196,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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Latest J.D. Power And Associates Study Ranks Verizon Wireless Highest In Customer Care

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – July 28, 2011 –

Verizon Wireless, provider of the nation’s largest and most reliable 3G network and the fastest, most advanced 4G LTE network in the world, has been ranked highest in customer care among the major national wireless phone service providers in J.D. Power and Associates’ 2011 Wireless Customer Care Performance StudySM– Volume 2, released today.

Verizon Wireless received a score of 770, which led the segment and was above the industry average.  The study was based on feedback gathered from wireless customers of the four major U.S. providers by J.D. Power and Associates in the first six months of 2011.

“Our goal at Verizon Wireless has consistently been to offer an outstanding customer experience, and our standing in this latest survey is yet one more signal that our customers vote us the best wireless company in the U.S.,” said John Stratton, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Verizon Wireless.  “We will continue to work hard to ensure that our customers can count on the best network; the best service, and the best lineup of smartphones, tablets and other innovative and reliable wireless devices from the best wireless company: Verizon Wireless.”

Verizon Wireless offers customers many reasons to choose and stay with the company. Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest and most reliable wireless voice and 3G data network and the fastest, most advanced 4G LTE network in the world, and offers quality products and services backed by its award-winning customer service.  For more information about Verizon Wireless, visit www.verizonwireless.com.

The company’s “most reliable network” claim is based on network studies performed by test men and test women who conduct more than 3.5 million voice call attempts and more than 19 million data tests annually on Verizon Wireless’ and other national wireless carriers’ networks while traveling more than 1 million miles in specially equipped, company-owned quality test vehicles.  For more information about Verizon Wireless testing, go to: http://aboutus.vzw.com/bestnetwork/reliability.html.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 106.3 million total wireless connections, including 89.7 million retail customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD).  For more information, visit 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.

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Motricity to Power Garnier International's New Master Mobile Marketing and Advertising Site

Garnier International customers will soon be able to access the company's beauty expertise and advice via their mobile devices thanks to Motricity's (Nasdaq:MOTR) mobile marketing and advertising platform. The mCore platform allows Garnier to engage customers through a new digital touch point connecting the Garnier brand with consumers like never before.

"We're thrilled to partner with Motricity to launch Garnier's new mobile platform," said Patrick Chambon, new media marketing director for Garnier International. "The new master mobile marketing and advertising site will allow us to engage our customers via an innovative and interactive channel enhancing brand reach and customer loyalty."

Garnier will utilize Motricity's mobile marketing and advertising platform mCore to provide real-time, interactive and personalized experiences helping the consumer select the appropriate product. Moreover, Motricity's mobile solution allows Garnier to extend their global footprint and brand through a mobile platform.

"The opportunity for brands to leverage the rapid adoption of hundreds of millions of smartphone and next generation devices with targeted mobile advertising, marketing and rich media as a means to reach their customers and drive additional revenue is unprecedented," said Ryan Wuerch, chief executive officer of Motricity. "Garnier is a leading global brand and we're enthused to provide them with the mobile solutions to offer their customers compelling and engaging mobile experiences."

About Motricity

Motricity (Nasdaq:MOTR) empowers mobile operators, brands and advertising agencies to maximize the reach and economic potential of the mobile ecosystem through the delivery of relevance-driven merchandising, marketing and advertising solutions. Motricity leverages advanced predictive analytics capabilities to deliver the right stuff, to the right person at the right time. Motricity provides their entire suite of mobile data service solutions through one, integrated, highly scalable managed service platform. Motricity's unique combination of technology, expertise and go-to-market approach deliver definitive return-on-investment for our mobile operator, brand and advertising agency customers. For more information, visit www.motricity.com or follow the company on Twitter@motricity.

The Motricity, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7813

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Motricity To Power palmOne Software Connection

Relationship to enhance mobile content user experience for palmOne customers

Motricity, the premier provider of mobile content to consumers, today announced it will power palmOne, Inc.'s Software Connection storefront (http://software.palmone.com), providing palmOne customers with an enhanced user experience and broad content catalog for palmOne™ devices such as Treo™ smartphones and Tungsten™ and Zire™ handhelds.

palmOne's Software Connection is a leading eCommerce storefront where palmOne™ mobile device owners access additional value-added software and digital media titles to maximize their device experience. The storefront offers thousands of software and digital media titles from categories such as personal productivity, wireless e-mail solutions, interactive gaming, media and MP3 players, health, finance, travel, enterprise and more which customers can add to their device to create an individualized mobile experience.

"We selected Motricity because of its proven eCommerce and mCommerce expertise in marketing, merchandising and delivering an excellent mobile user experience. We value their commitment and depth of knowledge about each individual customer," said John Hartnett, senior vice president - Americas at palmOne, Inc. "Motricity's strength in delivering consumer-focused experiences through a solid, scalable platform will help enable palmOne to expand aggressively in mCommerce and mobile marketing."

Supporting all major device types, manufacturers and content types, Motricity's Fuel platform helps deliver the right content to the right mobile device at the right time. Using Motricity's Fuel platform, palmOne plans to more efficiently personalize, segment and target mobile content to its customers while providing a superior end-user experience.

* A more robust customer account feature which will enable users to create and view wish lists or watch lists for freeware and shareware software, review their purchase and free software trial history, manage gift certificates and customize their palmOne Software Connection profile.
* Enhanced recommendation tools that enable customers to shop related software titles such as, "Customers who bought this also bought..."
* Improved search and sort benefits to give customers faster and easier access to the software they need.
* A solution built on a carrier-grade platform to provide higher-level service availability.

"We are extremely honored to be palmOne's choice for powering its Software Connection and supporting its future mCommerce strategy. palmOne is a leader in developing innovative mobile devices such as Treo smartphones and Tungsten and Zire handhelds, and we are excited to deliver a full, robust experience to its customers through the software and accessories that create an individual's mobile lifestyle," said Ryan Wuerch, chairman and chief executive officer at Motricity. "By delivering exceptional eCommerce and mCommerce experiences to palmOne mobile customers, Motricity will be showcasing once again the strength of its Fuel platform and services."

This announcement underscores Motricity's leadership in the mobile content delivery market. Motricity now powers consumer storefronts for the three largest Palm OS® focused portals in the industry; palmOne; PalmSource, provider of the Palm OS platform; and PalmGear.com, the largest Palm OS based consumer site with more than 25,000 Palm OS downloadable software titles.

Motricity is the leader in turning ideas into reality by extending technology, innovative mobile solutions and services to leading carriers and enterprise customers globally. Motricity drives the delivery of personalized mobile data offerings which increase user adoption, data usage, ARPU and brand recognition through compelling end user experiences.

Motricity powers over $2B of mobile content revenues annually for 8 of the top 10 and billions of user impressions for carriers and many leading enterprise customers. With more than 300 custom mobile deployments, Motricity's expert team is behind some of the most innovative mobile content offerings over the last 12 years, serving as the "brand behind the brand" for customers such as AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Alltel, CNN, FOX News, A&E and Conde Nast.

Its long standing relationships with carriers, content providers and handset manufacturers put the company in a unique position at the center of the mobile ecosystem. Partners depend on the company's technological superiority, broad carrier relationships and ability to simplify complexity, which delivers quick time to implementation and cutting edge campaigns.

Products and services range from mobile portals and storefronts to messaging aggregation. Motricity is headquartered in Bellevue, WA and has offices in Durham, NC, the U.K., France and the Netherlands.

For more information, visit http://www.motricity.com »

palmOne, Tungsten, Zire and Treo are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to palmOne, Inc. or its subsidiaries

Laurie Bowser-Sever
Motricity
(919) 287-7345 (office)
laurie.bowser-sever@motricity.com

Shawn Ramsey-Kroboth
SRK Communications on behalf of Motricity
(919) 621-0737
shawn@srkcommunications.com

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Cyprus Fire That Killed Eight Spread From Power Station to Munitions Store - Bloomberg

An explosion on the coast of Cyprus that may have killed at least eight people was caused by a fire at a power station that spread to a munitions dump at a naval base, state radio CyBC reported.

The blast in Zygi on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean island happened after the fire spread to two containers loaded with munitions that were seized in 2009 from a ship, CyBC said. Eight people were killed, CyBC reported, citing the Cyprus News Agency. Cyprus Fire Department authorities couldn’t immediately confirm the number of casualties.

Fifty firefighters and 10 fire trucks are battling the blaze, said a fire official, who declined to be identified by name.

The Cyprus Power Authority, the island’s state-run electricity company, asked consumers to reduce power usage and not use air conditioners after the fire damaged the distribution network, according to an e-mailed statement.

The munitions that exploded may have come from the Russian- owned, Cypriot-flagged vessel Monchegorsk that was intercepted by Cyprus in 2009. The U.S., Britain and France said at the time that the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines chartered the vessel to send weapons-related material, including what they described as “bullet shells” and anti-tank munitions, to Syria. Iran said the seizure of the arms shipment was illegal.

To contact the reporter on this story: Stelios Orphanides in Athens at sorphanides@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew J. Barden at barden@bloomberg.net

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