History of Verizon Wireless
Complete history
| July 28, 1998 | Bell Atlantic and GTE
Corporations agree to merge. |
| Sept. 21, 1999 | Bell Atlantic and Vodafone
AirTouch Plc agree to form a new national wireless business by
combining their operations. |
| Dec. 6,
1999 |
The U.S. Department of Justice approves the combination of Bell Atlantic and Vodafone AirTouch Plc's U.S. wireless operations, |
| Dec. 22,
1999 |
Bell Atlantic and
Vodafone AirTouch Plc announce they have acquired the 20 percent
interest owned by TXU Communications for $357 million, expanding their
coverage. |
| Jan. 24,
2000 |
Vodafone AirTouch Plc shareholders approve the merger with Bell Atlantic. |
| Jan. 26,
2000 |
The senior leadership team for the new national wireless company is announced. |
| Feb. 1, 2000 | Bell Atlantic, GTE Corp. and ALLTEL Corp. sign agreements to combine wireless infrastructures in 13 states. |
| March 9,
2000 |
Bell Atlantic and Vodafone AirTouch Plc receive the final state approval for their wireless merger from Nevada regulatory authorities. |
| March 14, 2000 | Vodafone AirTouch Plc announces that AirTouch Communications, Inc. has received an exemptive order from the SEC 1940 Investment Company Act in relation to Vodafone AirTouch's proposed U.S. joining with Bell Atlantic. |
| March 30, 2000 | The FCC approves the combination of the Bell Atlantic Vodafone AirTouch Plc domestic wireless operations including the sale of Bell Atlantic's Southwestco operations to ALLTEL Corp. |
| April 3,
2000 |
Bell Atlantic and Vodafone
AirTouch Plc sign an agreement by combining the operations of Bell
Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Communications and PrimeCo Personal
Communications LP. |
| April 4,
2000 |
Day one for Verizon Wireless. |
| June 30, 2000 | Bell Atlantic and GTE
merge to create Verizon Communications. |
| October 26, 2000 | Verizon Wireless forms the
Wireless Data & Internet Services Division. |