Verizon Wireless and Zipit Wireless Debut Two-Way Paging System at HIMSS 2011 Conference

ORLANDO, Fla., BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and GREENVILLE, S.C., Feb. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- From the 2011 Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference in Orlando, Fla., Verizon Wireless and Zipit Wireless, a pioneer in next generation connected platform solutions, today introduced the Zipit® Enterprise Critical Messaging Solution™, a two-way paging system available exclusively from Verizon Wireless.  The solution consists of a unique messaging device, a cloud-based hosted environment and a communications infrastructure designed to meet the needs of pager customers including those in the healthcare industry.  The device operates on Verizon Wireless' nationwide 3G network and Wi-Fi networks to provide the broadest possible coverage to ensure that messages get delivered.  

The two-way technology in the device and the communications infrastructure of the solution overcome a limitation with existing pager solutions: the inability to confirm that a message has been sent, delivered to the device and read by the intended recipients.

The Zipit Enterprise Critical Messaging Solution debuts today at the HIMSS conference in Orlando (Booth 931).  Building on the conference's mission to link people, potential and progress, the solution is the next step in connecting platforms and people to create a better healthcare system.  Zipit will begin selling the device in conjunction with custom pricing from Verizon Wireless in the second quarter of 2011.  

"A key difference between existing pager technologies and the Zipit pager replacement system is the Zipit Remote Administration Portal, which provides users with detailed insight into the status of messages and ease of system management of the Zipit Now™ devices," said Michael P. Ross, vice president of sales, healthcare for Verizon Wireless.  "We've spent two years alongside Zipit Wireless working with customers to understand their existing pager communication challenges, as well as their current communications requirements, which led to the development of the Zipit connected system purposely built around the customers' needs."

Through the cloud-based system, Zipit Now devices can be updated, grouped and maintained in near real time – without the need to physically reprogram equipment.  Emphasizing reliability, the platform bridges the capabilities of the Verizon Wireless 3G network with customers' existing Wi-Fi networks for flexible connectivity options.  

"Time is critical in the modern healthcare industry, and we saw the potential to develop a technology capable of providing simple, reliable and cost-effective communications for an enterprise workforce," said Frank Greer, chief executive officer and president, Zipit Wireless.  "This new system allows rapid, verifiable communication between multiple parties and through multiple platforms, ensuring that doctors receive the urgent messages they require.  While there have been attempts to provide alternatives to pager systems, no other technology has delivered a solution that is as verifiable, cost-effective, dependable and easy-to-manage."

For more information about Verizon Wireless' products and services for the healthcare industry, please visit www.verizonwireless.com/healthcare.  More information about Zipit Wireless can be found at http://corp.zipitwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 94 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 82,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: 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 Zipit Wireless

Zipit Wireless ("Zipit") is a Greenville, SC based company that focuses on delivering fully connected, wireless IP devices that use the company's unique strengths in wireless connectivity, user-friendly device software, and server infrastructure to access Internet-based services.  The technology created by Zipit has been shipping in Zipit branded and top tier branded devices since 2004 – enabling people to connect to people and their personalized Internet content.  For more information on Zipit Wireless and our products, please visit corp.zipitwireless.com.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless