Verizon Wireless Reminds Business Customers That Wireless Can Play a Vital Role in Disaster Preparation Plans

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., May 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless works year-round to prepare for natural disasters or other emergencies, so business customers can rely on its wireless network to keep them and their employees connected, productive and competitive -- even when the unexpected strikes.

"Wireless communication is especially important when disaster strikes -- whether a natural disaster, community emergency, or an emergency affecting a single business," said Jack Plating, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Verizon Wireless.

Verizon Wireless offers the following tips for businesses to consider before operations are interrupted:

    -- Maintain an updated contact list, including mobile and home phone
       numbers and e-mail addresses, for all employees.
    -- Identify an alternative number or voice mail where calls can be
       forwarded if your office is closed or employees are evacuated. Set up a
       hotline number for employees, employees' families, customers and
       partners to call for updates on the business situation and emergency
       plan.
    -- Make sure every employee knows how to use text messaging to
       communicate. Text messages are more likely to get through, especially
       when wireless networks are overwhelmed just before, during and
       immediately after a natural disaster like a hurricane landfall or
       tornado warning.
    -- Equip key employees with laptops with Verizon Wireless BroadbandAccess
       service.  When office computers or servers are destroyed by fire or
       under water, or when electrical power is knocked out to your office,
       Verizon Wireless' BroadbandAccess service enables businesses and mobile
       professionals to conduct business anytime, anywhere in the
       BroadbandAccess coverage area via a secure, high-speed data connection.
    -- Be truly mobile by making sure company mobile phone and BroadbandAccess
       users have chargers that can be plugged into auto cigarette lighters
       for all their devices.  When there's a widespread power outage,
       business people can power their devices in their cars.
    -- VZ Navigator(SM) (Version 4) is a Verizon Wireless service that can
       provide enhanced directions to help drivers navigate around traffic
       jams and other delays that can occur in weather-related crises such as
       floods, hurricanes or wildfires.


    Other general business continuity planning tips include:
    -- Inventory critical equipment and applications, and assess any
       vulnerability. Determine the best location for these services to help
       reduce catastrophic outages and ensure rapid recovery response time.
       Alternatives in addition to wireless backup range from physical
       relocation of equipment to outsourcing.
    -- Build redundancy to support critical operations. A combination of
       diverse network routing, in addition to wireless data capabilities, and
       the ability to duplicate mission-critical applications is essential to
       communications and the continuity of business operations.
    -- Train and educate your employees. An organization is only as good as
       its people. Design an effective distributed work business model and
       ensure employees have the training and tools to do their jobs -- either
       in the office, on the road or at home. Perform skills set assessments
       to understand staffing requirements necessary to support continuous
       operations.
    -- Review, test and refresh -- continuously. Once a plan has been
       developed, it must be reviewed, tested and refreshed. A business
       continuity plan is a living document and a critical business asset.
       Plans should be routinely updated and tested throughout the year.

Verizon Wireless' reputation as the nation's most reliable wireless network is supported by industry-leading redundancy and maintenance measures. Verizon Wireless currently has more than 200 business continuity/disaster recovery plans in place, covering all of the company's critical business functions to help keep customers connected and operating during any kind of emergency. The Verizon Wireless business continuity team conducts emergency drills throughout the year to increase the company's response capabilities.

Verizon Wireless' emergency response capabilities have been tested and proven during many difficult situations including the wildfires of 2007 and 2008, recent tornadoes in the Midwest and South, flooding in the Northwest, and the extraordinary hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005. The Verizon Wireless network in Florida withstood the impact of eight hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 and delivered top performance compared with other communication networks that were more adversely affected.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 67.2 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 69,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications NYSE: VZ and Vodafone NYSE: VOD LSE: VOD. For more information, go to: 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.