LITTLE ROCK, Ark., March 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Residents of Northwest Arkansas will have a new choice when it comes to their wireless carrier beginning Saturday, March 15. Verizon Wireless announced today that its expansion to the northwest corner of the state is complete, which means that people in Northwest Arkansas will have access to wireless devices, accessories and services from America's most reliable wireless network.
The company's expansion has added a total of 48 advanced digital, Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) cell towers to the region since December 2007. The towers introduce Verizon Wireless' digital voice and BroadbandAccess data services to the area, which includes Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville and the surrounding areas.
The expansion is another step in Verizon Wireless' growing presence in Arkansas. The company first entered Arkansas in December 2005, and since then it has invested more than $89.5 million in the state.
"We are very excited to be able to introduce the people of Northwest Arkansas to the Verizon Wireless experience of unparalleled products and services partnered with unbeatable customer service," said Luis Cruz, region president for Verizon Wireless. "Northwest Arkansas is one of the fastest growing regions, not only in Arkansas, but in the entire country, and Verizon Wireless is proud to be a part of that growth."
On Saturday, a full array of Verizon Wireless devices, accessories and services, including the extremely popular Voyager by LG and V CAST video and music, will be available to residents of Northwest Arkansas at 11 new locations, including:
-- Bentonville -- Wal-Mart, 406 S. Walton, Bentonville 72712 -- Wal-Mart Headquarters, Walton Blvd., Bentonville 72712 -- Fayetteville -- Wireless Experts at Northwest Arkansas Mall, 4201 N. Shiloh Drive, Fayetteville 72703 -- Wal-Mart, 2875 W. 6th St., Fayetteville 72704 -- Wal-Mart, 3919 N. Mall Ave., Fayetteville 72703 -- Best Buy, 464 E. Joyce Blvd., Fayetteville 72703 -- Rogers -- Wireless Experts, 4500 W. Walnut - Suite 2, Rogers 72756 -- Wal-Mart, 210 W. Walnut, Rogers 72756 -- Wal-Mart, 4208 Pleasant Crossing Blvd., Rogers 72758 -- Best Buy, 2220 Promenade Blvd., Rogers 72758 -- Springdale -- Wal-Mart, 2004 S. Pleasant, Springdale 72764 HopeLine
In addition to its network, Verizon Wireless also introduced its HopeLine program to the region by announcing that Peace at Home Family Shelter in Fayetteville will be the recipient of a $3,500 HopeLine Grant. The grant will go toward initiating a children's art therapy program to help children who have been exposed to domestic violence learn how to better cope with their emotions through art.
"We are extremely excited about this partnership with Verizon Wireless," said Judi Selle, CEO of Peace at Home Family Shelter. "The money from this grant will support many, many children who have experienced the ravages of domestic violence in their homes."
HopeLine is a domestic violence awareness initiative and phone recycling program through which Verizon Wireless collects no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories at all locations where Verizon Wireless products and services are sold. Phones that can be refurbished are sold for reuse and those without value are disposed of in an environmentally sound way.
Proceeds from the HopeLine program are used to provide wireless phones and cash grants to local shelters and non-profit organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention and awareness. HopeLine has awarded more than $5 million in cash grants to domestic violence agencies and organizations across the country. For more information on HopeLine, or to find out about applying to receive a HopeLine grant, go to http://www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.
For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit the Verizon Wireless Communications Stores in West Little Rock or North Little Rock, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to http://www.verizonwireless.com/.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 65.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 69,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone . For more information, go to: http://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 http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
About Peace at Home Family Shelter
The Peace at Home Family Shelter was founded in 1977 as the Project for Victims of Family Violence. The shelter has served battered women and their children in Northwest Arkansas for the past 30 years. Peace at Home Family Shelter currently operates a six-room shelter in Fayetteville, which is capable of housing up to 20 women and children every night. For more information about Peace at Home Family Shelter, go to http://www.peaceathomeshelter.org/.
