Cell Headset Sales Up 900%

GREENVILLE, S.C.--Cellular telephone headset sales are up nearly 900 percent in the Carolinas region served by Verizon Wireless. Over an eight-month period, 11,401 headsets were sold this year, compared to the 1,154 headsets sold from January to August of 1999.

“Verizon Wireless’ sales force has been trained to encourage customers to utilize hands-free technology to make the use of wireless phones while driving easier and, ultimately, safer,” said Jerry Fountain, Verizon’s regional president for the Carolinas.

“Verizon Wireless has made a concerted effort to educate our consumers on the importance of utilizing hands-free wireless technology while driving,” said Fountain. “I’m proud that our sales record clearly demonstrates the emphasis we have placed on doing our part to improve driver safety.”

The company also gave away 2,164 headsets during its recent Customer Appreciation Week in the Carolinas Region. Each customer who activated a new line of service during Customer Appreciation Week received a headset.

Verizon is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with 26.3 million wireless voice and data customers and 3.5 million paging 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 called Verizon Communications--and Vodafone. 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, headquartered in Bedminster, N.J., has 32,000 employees.

For more information, contact ww.verizonwireless.com.