25 June 2004

Telenor Interactive and Verizon Wireless have announced an agreement under which Telenor Interactive will continue to provide premium text message voting capabilities to Verizon Wireless.

"Through Telenor's Media Platform, Verizon Wireless subscribers can interact with their favorite media outlets - participating via their mobile phones with popular TV shows and text voting on music selections, such as Detroit's hit music station 93.1 DRQ," said Jim Straight, vice president of wireless Internet and multimedia services for Verizon Wireless.

Verizon Wireless customers who use the premium text message service will be charged a premium fee per message above any standard TXT Messaging service charge, which is just $0.02 for each message received and $0.10 for each message sent.

Customers can also select from bundled plans to send and receive standard TXT Messages of $2.99 per month for 100 messages, $4.99 per month for 250 messages and $9.99 per month for 1,000 messages.

"Premium text message services are already a hit with television and radio audiences and are an effective way of generating additional revenue for carriers and media companies," says Steinar Svalesen, CEO of Telenor Interactive.

"Our relationships with Verizon Wireless and our media partners will help to spur the adoption of all text messaging services across North America."