Silicon Valley Customers Can See, Touch and Experience the Latest Wireless Phones and Devices

WALNUT CREEK, Calif., March 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Wireless users in San Jose who are looking to get hands-on experience with cutting-edge voice, data, music and video devices have a new place to call home.

Verizon Wireless is celebrating the grand opening of its new "evolution" communications store in San Jose and one of the first in the nation to seek LEED® certification.  The store offers consumers hands-on interaction with wireless voice, data, music and video services in a sleek, new full-service environment.  The new store is located at 150 South King Road in San Jose.

Wireless customers can sample a wide array of fully-activated new phones and devices first hand for a total wireless experience. What's more, data users can learn how to stay connected in more places with Mobile Broadband; learn about Mi-Fi (your own personal Wi-Fi hotspot); experience the new Netbooks; and find out about smartphone platforms including RIM, Android, Windows Mobile, and Palm.

LEED® Certification

The new San Jose store is among the first Verizon Wireless retail locations in the nation to apply for LEED certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).  

The store's design optimizes water and energy use, enhances indoor environmental quality and reduces waste through specifications and responsible procurement and construction practices.  The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

"Our new, green store in the West Valley provides plenty of space for both shopping and customer service, in keeping with our commitment to deliver innovative voice and data plans, exciting new devices and services and the best possible wireless experience," said Kevin Zavaglia, Verizon Wireless region president.

Learn more about Verizon Wireless' company-wide "green" initiatives at http://aboutus.vzw.com/Green_Initiative/overview.html.

In addition to these green  features, our new San Jose store includes the following convenience features:

• Interactive "demo zone" guided by knowledgeable staff
• Integrated systems and operational enhancements designed to streamline the sales process and increase customer satisfaction
• Check-in kiosk enables customers to sign in on arrival and stay informed via monitors that track their place in the queue for service
• Roomy and easy to locate technical assistance and customer support areas with interactive displays

Verizon Wireless regularly invests in its wireless network to provide customers with the reliable, high-quality service they expect from the company. Verizon Wireless' ongoing network investment now totals more than $5.7 billion in California and more than $55 billion nationally over the past ten years.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 91 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (Nasdaq and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit 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.

About LEED®

The LEED Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.  LEED® and related logo is a trademark owned by the U.S. Green Building Council and is used by permission.

About USGBC

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a 501(c)(3) non profit composed of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings and communities that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.  The U.S. Green Building Council developed the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless