Push to Talk Transforms BlackBerry Tour From Verizon Wireless Into a Powerful Business Communications Tool for Field Workforces

Push to Talk Transforms BlackBerry Tour From Verizon Wireless Into a Powerful Business Communications Tool for Field Workforces

Feature Will Be Available Starting March 30

IRVINE, Calif., March 29 -- Verizon Wireless today announced that Push to Talk will be available for the BlackBerry® Tour(TM) 9630 smartphone on March 30.  It will be available for both BlackBerry® Internet Service and BlackBerry® Enterprise Server customers using the BlackBerry Tour smartphone.

"Extending Push to Talk to the BlackBerry Tour from Verizon Wireless offers business customers a single device for instant communication plus the enterprise-grade security and robust business communications capabilities people have come to expect from a BlackBerry smartphone from Verizon Wireless," said Mark Bartolomeo, vice president - global enterprise marketing for Verizon Wireless.  "These features, coupled with the nation's most reliable wireless network, mean customers have the ultimate in productivity tools."

Customers can add Push to Talk to their service plans by calling 1-800-VZW-4BIZ or online via My Business Account at http://www.verizonwireless.com/myverizon or Verizon Enterprise Center at https://enterprisecenter.verizonbusiness.com/.  BlackBerry Internet Service customers - typically consumers - may request the service by calling 1-800-2 JOIN IN or visiting the My Verizon site online at http://www.verizonwireless.com/myverizon.

Once Push to Talk is added to their service plans, customers can download the application from the Application Center or through VZStart on their handsets.  The convenience key on the left side of the device will automatically become the Push to Talk button when the application is downloaded.

Verizon Wireless offers a number of Push to Talk phones, including the CASIO® G'zOne Rock(TM), CASIO® G'zOne Brigade(TM), Samsung Convoy(TM) and Motorola Barrage(TM).  Push to Talk provides instant two-way communication for field workers in industries ranging from construction to public safety and offers the following benefits:

  --  Communicate with one person or a team with the push of a button
  --  Initiate and participate in group calls with up to 50 participants
  --  Check colleagues' availability for a Push to Talk call with the
      Presence feature
  --  A single device and phone number for both Push to Talk and voice calls
  --  Online contact management tool for the entire organization

For a limited time only, starting March 30, Verizon Wireless will offer free Push to Talk service when customers activate a qualifying voice plan and BlackBerry data plan.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services for business, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com or contact a Verizon Wireless Business Sales Representative at 1-800-VZW-4BIZ.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 91 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ)(NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (NASDAQ:VOD).  For more information, visit http://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 http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.

Source: Verizon Wireless
   

CONTACT:  Ken Muche of Verizon Wireless, +1-949-286-8193,
Ken.Muche@VerizonWireless.com

Web Site:  http://www.verizonwireless.com/