Verizon Wireless Hosts Its Second Reprogramming Fair
To Help Northern Indiana Customers Stay Connected

Customers Encouraged to Take Advantage of Fair,
Prepare Wireless Phones Now for Mandatory 10-Digit Dialing

MISHAWAKA, Ind., May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless is hosting the second of three Phone Reprogramming Fairs May 10-12 to prepare its customers for the approaching start date for mandatory 574 and 260 area code dialing in Northern Indiana. The fair will be held at five store locations:

The new area codes have been in effect since January 15, 2002 but customers were given a transition period to adjust to the new practice. The transition period ends and mandatory 10-digit dialing begins June 14.

Verizon Wireless customers that continue to use 219 do not need to have their phones reprogrammed. However, Verizon Wireless wants to make sure all of its customers are aware that the new 574 area code affects wireless phone numbers with the following prefixes: 229, 245, 274, 276, 286, 360, 361, 370, 453, 457, 527, 528, 529, 536, 595, 596, 780, 849, 850, 863 or 869. Similarly, the new 260 area code affects wireless phone numbers with the following prefixes: 341, 343, 347, 349, 350, 375, 402, 403, 409, 413, 414, 415, 417, 433, 437, 438, 450, 463, 499, 615, 667, 668, 726, 729, or 894. Customers with these prefixes need to have their phones reprogrammed or they will not be able to make calls after June 14. To reprogram their phones, Verizon Wireless customers may:

  1. Visit a Verizon Wireless store at anytime to have the reprogramming done. Reprogramming is free and should take just a few minutes.
  2. Attend the May 10-12 Phone Reprogramming Fair. Refreshments will be part of the three-day event.
  3. Attend the third Phone Reprogramming Fair, May 24-26, at the same five store locations.

"A similar Phone Reprogramming Fair was held in April, and we were thrilled by the number of people who attended," said Tracy Nolan, regional president for Verizon Wireless. "Our customers value the ease and convenience of using wireless phones to keep in touch with family, friends and business associates. And we value our customers. So, we're doing our best to inform them of the change and prepare them for mandatory area code dialing that begins in June."

Nolan added that Verizon Wireless has used several methods in recent months to educate its customers on the impending change and steps they can take to avoid service interruptions as the area code dialing is put into permanent practice. These efforts included a reminder message in monthly billing statements to those customers who will be affected, newspaper ads and direct-mail postcards announcing upcoming programming fairs.

About Verizon Wireless 

Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 30 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE:VOD; LSE). Find more information on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com .