Verizon Wireless Launches ``Palm'' Phone, Service in Florida;
First Device To Combine Palm OS-powered PDA, Wireless
Phone Available In South Florida Stores This Week
individual.com
[ Tom, if Palm doesn't package their device with a CDMA phone, others will offer the equivalent ]
MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 6, 2001--Taking the
lead among wireless carriers, Verizon Wireless announced
today that it has launched the first wireless service in Florida
and across the nation for the new generation of "smart
phone"--a Web ready device that combines a wireless phone
with a personal digital assistant (PDA) powered by Palm OS(R)
software.
The first Palm PDA/wireless phone on the market -- the
Kyocera 6035 Smartphone - will be available to Verizon
Wireless customers at most South Florida Verizon Wireless
stores by the end of this week. The handset features wireless
Web access, a large screen and supports the installation of
hundreds of applications compatible with Palm OS(R) software.
The tri-mode handset supports CDMA digital PCS, CDMA
digital cellular and analog. Combined with the most extensive
network across the nation, Verizon Wireless customers can
be connected virtually anywhere.
The Kyocera 6035 has the ability to support thousands of
Palm-certified software applications, giving users the ability to:
-0- *T
-- Utilize Palm's powerful electronic organizer
-- Send and retrieve email
-- Manage secure, online transactions
-- Play games
-- Access several mapping programs
-- Read e-books
-- Edit and read spreadsheet and word processing programs,
including Excel and Word
-- View pictures with an electronic camera *T
"We are offering our customers the ultimate in convenience
and functionality -- a powerful PDA and a wireless phone in a
single package that is small enough to fit in a suit or coat
pocket," said Mike Lanman, Florida region president of Verizon
Wireless. "Our customers look to Verizon Wireless for
innovation and leadership and we are excited to be the first
carrier to bring them an entirely new way to stay connected."
The Smartphone is expected to retail at $499 with a one-year
service contract.
With Verizon Wireless' Mobile Web and now as the first
carrier to offer wireless service for Smartphones, Verizon
Wireless customers have two options for how they access
Web-based information while they are on-the-go. About
Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications
provider in the U.S., with 27.5 million wireless voice and data
customers. The new coast-to-coast wireless provider was
formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of
Bell Atlantic Corp. and GTE Corp. -- now Verizon
Communications (NYSE:VZ) -- and Vodafone (NYSE:VOD)
(LSE:VOD). The new company includes the assets of Bell
Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, GTE Wireless, PrimeCo
Personal Communications and AirTouch Paging. The company
has a footprint covering nearly 90 percent of the U.S.
population, 49 of the top 50 and 96 of the top 100 U.S. markets.
Verizon Wireless, headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, is 38,000
employees strong. Reporters and editors can find more
information about the company on the Web at
verizonwireless.com.
Note: A Photo is available at URL:
businesswire.com
CONTACT: Verizon Wireless, Tampa, Fla. | Chuck Hamby
813/615-4803 or 813/404-6029 |
Chuck.hamby@verizonwireless.com | or | Weber Shandwick,
Miami | Ed Gilhuly, 305/663-3126 or 305/807-6906 |
edg@weber-pr.com |
