GRAND RAPIDS – Verizon Wireless on Monday said it expanded the national rollout of its wireless broadband network to Grand Rapids and downtown Holland.

In West Michigan, Verizon Wireless? broadband service now spans 572 square miles and includes Grand Rapids, downtown Holland and many surrounding communities, including: Ada, Allendale, Cascade, Comstock Park, Coopersville, Cutlerville, East Grand Rapids, Grandville, Hudsonville, Jenison, Kentwood, Lamont, Walker and Wyoming. It also covers routes between these communities along Interstates 96, 196 and 296, U.S. Highway 31, and Michigan roads 37 and 40.

The Verizon Evolution-Data Optimized is a third generation wide-area wireless network with two service speeds:

BroadbandAccess is the company?s high-speed wireless service, with average user speeds of 400-700 kilobits per second (kbps), geared toward mobile professionals and business customers.

V CAST, a consumer-oriented multimedia service that offers music and short content on demand, including cutting-edge 3D games, music videos, news, weather, sports and more.

BroadbandAccess provides mobile workers full access to their corporate information as if they were attached to the information via a high-speed wired connection, but with the freedom of true mobility. Developed with a range of users in mind, the service enables large enterprises, small to medium-sized businesses and mobile professionals to conduct business anytime, anywhere in the BroadbandAccess coverage area via a secure, true high-speed data connection.

Business customers can access information when they are on the road with BroadbandAccess. Customers can download a 1 megabyte email attachment (for example, a small PowerPoint? presentation or large PDF file) or receive three digital pictures (each 400 x 600 pixels) in less than 20 seconds.

Customers who travel outside the BroadbandAccess coverage area with an EV-DO device will switch to Verizon Wireless? existing NationalAccess network, in which customers experience average data transmission speeds between 60 and 80 kbps ? or slightly faster than dial-up speeds.

The company?s high-speed network also enables its V CAST multimedia services, offering customers the ability to download full song tracks, play cutting-edge 3D games and stream video clips straight to the handset with top transmission speeds. With content updated daily, customers can watch dozens of on-demand videos, from breaking news and weather to sports highlights, the hottest entertainment clips and more.

V CAST Music, available to customers with V CAST Music-enabled handsets, is an over-the-air mobile music service. Customers with V CAST Music can download song tracks directly to their Verizon Wireless handsets or to PCs equipped with Windows XP operating software. The V CAST Music on demand service includes access to a catalog of more than 1.4 million songs, much like Apple?s iTunes.

Verizon Wireless has invested $728 million in the past six years in its Michigan network. Verizon Wireless? broadband network was introduced in Michigan in metropolitan Detroit in July 2005.

BroadbandAccess is available for $79.99 monthly access with a new one- or two-year customer agreement. For a limited time, Verizon Wireless customers with an existing voice plan can receive unlimited BroadbandAccess service for $59.99 monthly access. A new two-year customer agreement is required.

BroadbandAccess service also is available as an integrated option on select notebook computers, including laptops from Dell, Lenovo, HP and Toshiba.

Wireless PC Cards for BroadbandAccess customers include the Verizon Wireless PC 5740, Verizon Wireless V620 and Kyocera KPC 650. A new Novatel Wireless V640 card is available for laptop owners with ExpressCard/34 or ExpressCard/54 slots rather than with a traditional PCMCIA slot.

In addition, several handsets have the ability to ?tether? to a laptop?s USB port, with the purchase of a Mobile Office Kit. BroadbandAccess-powered PDAs offered by Verizon Wireless include the Motorola QTM, the Palm Treo 700w and the Palm Treo 700p. Popular BlackBerry options include the new 8703e, the 7250 and 7130e.

To access V CAST Music, video and games, customers need a V CAST-enabled handset and must be on a Verizon Wireless calling plan. Currently, nearly 20 music capable handsets are available, including the popular Chocolate by LG, the Motorola RAZR V3m and MOTOKRZR K1m.

Customers with a V CAST Music-enabled handset and a calling plan can pay as they go to download songs directly onto their phone for $1.99 per song plus airtime, download songs to their PC for as little as $0.99, and transfer their existing compatible digital music collection to their V CAST Music-enabled handset or memory card for free from their PC. Purchases from the handset include two copies of every song?one for the handset, one for the PC.

For more information, click on VerizonWireless.Com