Verizon expands int’l text messaging

BEDMINSTER, N.J.—Verizon Wireless, the leading wireless service provider in the U.S., has expanded the reach of its international text messaging service to include more than 28 countries and more than 400 million wireless users worldwide. With Verizon Wireless’ international text messaging service, customers can send and receive inter-country text messages to and from customers of participating wireless companies around the globe, including the largest service provider in Mexico.

Verizon Wireless initially rolled out international text messaging in 2002.

Many of Verizon Wireless’ 40 million customers use text messaging to stay connected to friends and family living in the United States and abroad. In the first quarter of 2004 alone, Verizon Wireless customers sent and received more than 2.1 billion text messages.

“The worldwide demand for text messaging continues to grow and Verizon Wireless is staying ahead of this demand by enabling our customers to stay in touch with people worldwide,” said Jim Straight, vice president of Internet and Multimedia Services for Verizon Wireless. “Verizon Wireless customers can use text messaging as an easy and affordable means of communication with their colleagues, friends, and family in real-time despite the distance and borders between them.”

Verizon Wireless offers text messaging service internationally to customers of participating wireless carriers in Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Germany, Greece, Guam, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Saipan, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and Venezuela.

Verizon Wireless has selected Inphomatch, the leading provider of mobile messaging services and global messaging interoperability, to provide the company’s international text Messaging.

Verizon Wireless customers within the U.S. can send and receive text Messages with customers of participating carriers in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Canada for the same price as texting within the United States. Customers can pay as they go for text messaging, which is just $0.02 for each message received and $0.10 for each message sent, or select from bundled plans for $2.99 per month for 100 messages, $4.99 per month for 250 messages and $9.99 per month for 1,000 messages sent or received. The rate for other international text messaging with customers of participating carriers is $.25 for each message sent and $0.02 for each message received. For more information, visit http://www.vtext.com.

Verizon Wireless products and services are available in more than 1,200 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, at participating RadioShack and Circuit City locations and on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com.

Verizon Wireless is the nation’s leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 40 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone.

Find more information on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com. To receive broadcast-quality video footage of Verizon Wireless operations, log onto http://www.thenewsmarket.com/verizonwireless.