Verizon Wireless Customers Can Defeat the Mother Ship with STAR EXCEED Game from dwango wireless; STAR EXCEED by dwango wireless Now Available on Get It Now

Business Wire, July 16, 2003

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

BEDMINSTER, N.J. & HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 16, 2003

Verizon Wireless, the nation's largest wireless provider and a leader in mobile data, today announced that its customers with certain Get It Now(SM)-enabled phones can reach for the stars and defeat enemies with dwango(R) wireless' STAR EXCEED(TM), the newest game available on Get It Now. The game is the first dwango wireless application to be offered by Verizon Wireless.

Quickly gaining in popularity, Get It Now from Verizon Wireless is a virtual store with hundreds of applications available for download over the air - without requiring users to hook up to a PC, call customer service, or go into a Verizon Wireless Communications Store. dwango wireless is a leading developer and publisher of wireless applications and technology for users of next-generation wireless devices.

STAR EXCEED is a top-down vertical shooting game. Players use rapid-fire lasers and lock on to targets with missiles to track and shoot. The goal is to defeat the mother ship at the end of each of the five levels of play to continue. STAR EXCEED can be found in the Fun & Games shopping aisle of Get It Now. Other shopping aisles include Messaging, Info and Flix & Pix.

"The launch of STAR EXCEED on Verizon Wireless' Get It Now brings a great game to the country's best wireless network," said Robert E. "dwangobob" Huntley, founder and chief executive officer of Dwango North America, Inc. "We are happy to bring this offering to Verizon Wireless customers."

"STAR EXCEED is another example of the popular games, ring tones, productivity applications and more added every Wednesday that have made Get It Now such an enormous success," said Jim Straight, vice president of wireless Internet and multimedia services for Verizon Wireless. "STAR EXCEED is a fast-paced game that offers a fun break in the day. We expect it to be very popular and look forward to more games and entertainment applications from dwango."

Download charges for Get It Now applications vary and airtime charges apply when browsing, downloading and using certain applications. Customers need a Get It Now-enabled handset and Verizon Wireless' award-winning digital service to access the Get It Now virtual store. Get It Now customers can download a free five-use demo of STAR EXCEED and for a one-time fee of $3.15 have unlimited access. Customers need a select Get It Now-enabled handset and Verizon Wireless digital service to access the Get It Now virtual store.

Get It Now phones are available in more than 1,200 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, at participating RadioShack stores, or on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. For more information about Get It Now, visit www.verizonwireless.com/getitnow.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 33.3 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, N.J., Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com.

About Get It Now

Get It Now from Verizon Wireless puts a virtual software store inside a wireless phone. Customers with Get It Now-capable phones can download applications over the air and purchase them from their phones. getTXT, getIM and getEMAIL help customers stay in touch and communicate with others. getGAMES keeps customers entertained, while getGOING applications, made for today's mobile lifestyle, offers restaurant location services with maps, directions and more. View and share digital photos with getPIX, check out Web cams with getFLIX or identify incoming callers by assigning a unique ring with getTONES. getALERTS keeps customers informed while getBROWSING lets them access the Web from their wireless phone.

About Dwango North America and dwango wireless

Dwango North America is based in Houston. dwango wireless, the Seattle-based software development center for Dwango North America, develops and publishes wireless applications and technology for users of next-generation mobile devices. Dwango North America has an exclusive North American license for all of Dwango Japan's current and future wireless intellectual property. The company is capitalizing on its expertise and experience as a leader in the Japanese ringtone, media and mobile games market to build similar offerings for the rapidly growing North American market. For more information on Dwango North America and dwango wireless, please visit www.dwango.com or call 713-914-9600.

dwango is a registered trademark of Dwango Co., Ltd. STAR EXCEED is a trademark of Dwango North America, Inc.