Verizon Wireless

 History
Verizon Wireless location in Miamisburg, Ohio.

Verizon Wireless traces its roots to Bell Atlantic Mobile, NYNEX Mobile Communications, AirTouch Communications, PrimeCo Communications, and GTE Mobilnet. Bell Atlantic Mobile and NYNEX Mobile Communications merged in 1995 to create Bell Atlantic – NYNEX Mobile,[9] and in 1997 their namesake Baby Bell parents followed suit to form the new Bell Atlantic and their wireless subsidiary was renamed Bell Atlantic Mobile. Bell Atlantic Mobile and NYNEX Mobile Communications were created from Advanced Mobile Phone Service, Inc., which was a subsidiary of AT&T created in 1978 to provide cellular service nationwide. AMPS, Inc. was divided among the RBOCs as part of the Bell System Divestiture.

Meanwhile, in June 1999, AirTouch Communications of San Francisco merged with UK-based Vodafone Group Plc, forming Vodafone AirTouch Plc. In September 1999, Vodafone AirTouch announced a $90-billion joint venture with Bell Atlantic Corp. to be called Verizon Wireless, and which would comprise the two companies' U.S. wireless assets: Bell Atlantic Mobile and AirTouch Paging. This wireless joint venture received regulatory approval in six months, and began operations as Verizon Wireless on April 4, 2000. On June 30, 2000, the addition of GTE Wireless' assets, in connection with the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE to form Verizon Communications, made Verizon Wireless the nation's largest wireless communications provider. Verizon held that position until Cingular's acquisition of AT&T Wireless in 2004, and again after their acquisition of Alltel in 2009.[10] For the joint venture, Verizon Communications owns 55%, which is held through its subsidiaries Bell Atlantic Mobile Systems LLC and GTE Wireless, Inc., which hold 24.2% and 30.8% respectively, and UK-based Vodafone Group (formerly Vodafone AirTouch) owns 45% through its subsidiaries PCS Nucleus, L.P. and JV PartnerCo, LLC which owns 6.2% and 38.8% respectively.[7][11] The name "Verizon," a portmanteau, is derived by combining the word "veritas," a Latin term that means "truth," and the word "horizon." Together, they are supposed to conjure images of reliability, certainty, leadership, and limitless possibilities.[12] Verizon Wireless would mark the debut of the "Verizon" name; that name would pass on to the Bell Atlantic/ GTE merger on June 30, 2000 which would become known as "Verizon Communications".
[edit] Acquisitions and divestments
For more details on this topic, see List of mobile network operators.

    At the end of 2006, Verizon Wireless bought out West Virginia Wireless, a regional GSM cell phone company.
    On July 30, 2007, Rural Cellular Corporation (Unicel) announced it agreed to be acquired by Verizon Wireless (a CDMA carrier). Verizon said that it plans to convert RCC's GSM customers to CDMA technology, but it will continue to operate RCC's current GSM network in order to generate roaming revenue. The sale is expected to close in early 2008, pending approvals from the FCC and potentially the Department of Justice, to ensure that the acquisition won't be anti-competitive in some geographic areas. On October 4, 2007, Rural Cellular Corporation Shareholders Approve Merger Agreement with Verizon Wireless "ALEXANDRIA, Minn., October 4, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) – Rural Cellular Corporation ("RCC" or "the Company") (NASDAQ:RCCC) today announced that its shareholders voted to approve the merger agreement providing for the acquisition of Rural Cellular Corporation by Verizon Wireless for approximately $2.67 billion in cash and assumed debt."
        In November 2007, a few Rural Cellular (Unicel) Subscribers mounted an effort to stop this sale of Unicel because "Cell Phone Service Will Change" and "GSM Service Will End".[citation needed]
        On August 1, 2008, the FCC voted to approve the deal. Per the Department of Justice, Verizon will divest certain properties in New York, Vermont, and Washington in order to complete the acquisition.[13]
    In mid 2007, Ramcell of Oregon made a deal to sell its assets to Verizon Wireless, Integration of local company to increase coverage area in Southern Oregon began in late 2010
    On January 22, 2008 SureWest Communications announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell the operating assets of its Wireless business to Verizon Wireless.
    On June 5, 2008, Verizon Wireless announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Alltel for US$5.9 billion, plus the assumption of debt, in a deal that will create the biggest mobile phone company in the U.S. surpassing AT&T. Based on Alltel's projected net debt at closing of $22.2 billion, the aggregate value of the deal is $28.1 billion. The FCC approved Verizon's purchase of Alltel Wireless by a vote of 5–0 on November 4, 2008.[14] The FTC approved of the acquisition on December 10, 2008.[15] On January 9, this deal was finalized, making Verizon Wireless the largest carrier in the country.
    November 2008 Verizon Wireless purchased 2 markets in Kentucky formerly belonging to Dobson Communications from Att. This purchase closed the I75 corridor from Lexington, KY to Tennessee in which Verizon was lacking service. It also added about 40,000 customers to the Verizon wireless network.
    On May 8, 2009, AT&T announced an agreement to sell five Centennial Wireless service areas in Louisiana and Mississippi to Verizon Wireless, pending upon FCC approval of AT&T's acquisition of Centennial.[16]
    Also on May 8, 2009 AT&T announced a definitive agreement to acquire wireless assets from Verizon Wireless for $2.35 billion in cash. Under terms of the agreement, AT&T will acquire wireless properties, including licenses, network assets and 1.5 million current subscribers in 79 service areas, primarily in rural areas across 18 states. Verizon Wireless is required to divest these properties as part of the regulatory approvals granted for its purchase of Alltel earlier this year. The states represented are: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming. [1]
    On February 17th, 2012, Verizon announced the purchase of Southeastern New Mexico wireless markets belonging to Plateau Wireless. The purchase will expand Verizon Wireless' brand and network footprint in southeastern New Mexico to the counties of Eddy, Chaves, Lea and a portion of Lincoln that it doesn't already serve with it's own native network

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