Verizon Wireless Adds Fuel to the Hot Mobile Gaming & Media Market

June 5 /PRNewswire/ -- From the SUPERCOMM exhibition and conference in Atlanta and the BREW 2002 Developers Conference in San Diego, Verizon Wireless today announced plans to launch a new suite of services that will transform the wireless phone into a mobile media station for consumers craving entertainment, up-to-the-minute information and fun distractions 24/7. The first wave of services will hit on June 17th with the company's national rollout of downloadable applications on QUALCOMM's Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless (BREW) platform. With BREW-enabled handsets, Verizon Wireless customers across the country have a virtual software store available at their fingertips. Customers will be able to download a variety of gaming, entertainment and productivity applications onto their phones, over the air, using BREW. Applications offered on June 17th will include obsessive games such as EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf and JAMDAT Bowling from JAMDAT Mobile Inc.; entertainment services such as Mattel, Inc.'s Magic 8 Ball; and musical ring tones from Moviso LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vivendi Universal Net USA.

Verizon Wireless is the first and only wireless service provider in the U.S. offering downloadable applications over the air, using BREW. The company initially launched BREW services commercially on March 18, 2002 in San Diego.

"With cool services like JAMDAT's Bowling game, Mattel's Magic 8 Ball and the updated Date Ball, Verizon Wireless remains the leader in gaming and entertainment services," said John Stratton, vice president and chief marketing officer of Verizon Wireless, speaking at the BREW 2002 Developers Conference in San Diego, CA. "This is a huge step in offering a suite of services that have already proven to be tech-crowd pleasers. Our BREW-enabled handsets are great for playing games and sending photos -- and oh yeah, you can still place the best-quality voice call in the country on them."

Starting today, customers can learn more about BREW and see a demo at http://www.verizonwireless.com/brew . Beginning June 17, customers can purchase a BREW-capable phone at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and participating RadioShack locations throughout the country, or online at http://www.verizonwireless.com/ .

"Verizon Wireless has focused on building out and enhancing our national digital network for precisely this type of offering," said Jack Plating, president of the South Area for Verizon Wireless, at the SUPERCOMM exhibition and conference in Atlanta, GA. "The combination of QUALCOMM's BREW and Verizon Wireless' comprehensive, nationwide network enables customers to use their handsets to shop for fun and fast software applications to download, choose new applications as often as they like, and delete ones they no longer use, offering them the latest in wireless convenience and flexibility."

Productivity and Fun
Want to use "down time" to be productive? With Summus' exego application, users can send a photo as well as use BREW applications to track meals, hotels, rental car and other travel expenses that send the reports to corporate email accounts with Rocket Mobile's MobileExpense. Want to have a little fun while waiting in line? Download a game such as solitaire or play virtual golf at Pebble Beach with EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf. Get answers to your most burning questions by asking the Magic 8 Ball.

Pricing
Verizon Wireless customers with a BREW-capable phone can browse and purchase applications by selecting the "BREW Shop" option on their phone. Customers may demo many different applications before they purchase, and typically select from a variety of license pricing options depending on the applications. For example, 99 cents for 10 plays, or a $10 monthly subscription that provides unlimited use for the duration of the subscription.

Game-lovers may take advantage of a monthly subscription that includes unlimited plays if that pricing option is available.

Airtime charges apply during the selection and download process, which requires a digital Verizon Wireless network connection and a BREW-capable phone. Depending on the application size, this process may take seconds or a few minutes. Once downloaded, applications that do not require a wireless connection can be accessed at anytime, anywhere without incurring airtime charges. Purchased applications will appear on the customer's monthly Verizon Wireless service bill.

Hot Handsets
BREW will be available on the Verizon Wireless Z-800 with full color display ($399.99 with a two-year service agreement), and the Kyocera 3035e ($49.99 with a two-year service agreement). Both phones are tri-mode, and include several attractive features, such as a micro-browser for wireless Internet and email access using Verizon Wireless' Mobile Web, two-way text messaging and predictive text-input software for quick and simple text messaging using Verizon Wireless' Mobile Messenger, and more.

Find more information on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com/ .

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Web site: http://www.verizonwireless.com/
http://www.verizonwireless.com/brew