BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- For the 17th consecutive quarter, Verizon Wireless led the wireless industry in customer loyalty according to data released by the nation's largest wireless carriers over the past few weeks. Verizon Wireless, the leading wireless company with the nation's largest and most reliable wireless network, reported the lowest customer churn (turnover) in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Churn is an important measure of customer loyalty and represents the percentage of customers who leave their carrier in a month. Fourth-quarter financial performance announcements -- the latest was released today -- included the following customer churn rates (for postpaid and prepay customers):

         Carrier                Total Customers              Postpaid
                             (Prepay and Postpaid)           Customers
         Verizon Wireless            1.35%                     1.05%
         Carrier X                   1.6%                      1.2%
         Carrier Y                   N/A                       2.16%
         Carrier Z                   3.3%                      2.4%

As the wireless customer loyalty leader over the past 17 quarters, Verizon Wireless offers customers many reasons to choose and stay with the company. Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest and most reliable wireless voice and 3G data network and offers quality products and services backed by its award-winning customer service. To increase the coverage and capacity of its premier nationwide network and to add new services, Verizon Wireless has invested more than $50 billion since it was formed -- $5.5 billion on average every year. In each of the last four years, Verizon Wireless invested $6.5 billion or more to expand and advance its network.

For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving more than 80 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE 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.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless