EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Improved Verizon wireless and broadband services are currently available here as part of a three-month Verizon Wireless demonstration.

The purpose of the demonstration is to provide Edwards with Verizon's voice and data capabilities and to demonstrate Verizon's broadband wireless services and products in meeting the base's communication needs.

"This demonstration will allow Edwards to test and gather data for analysis of wireless devices such as push-to-talk phones, blackberries with CAC capabilities, wireless cards for laptop internet connectivity and a variety of services," said Van Ribultan, a computer scientist with the 95th Communications Group. "It provides Verizon wireless broadband services to the base for government and personal use."

The demonstration will be conducted over a three-month period from September to November, he said.

One Verizon antenna is mounted at the tower at building 2600, he said. Signal strength will span the main base and extend towards the North and West gates.

"Edwards currently has Nextel as the cell phone carrier and is committed to their services until the end 2008," Mr. Ribultan said. "However, existing Verizon customers that saw marginal signal strength will see significant improvement in Verizon's signal during the demonstration period."

Since the Verizon system is a temporary test, regulations require the removal of the Verizon system after the demonstration. At that time, Verizon's signal strengths will return to their pre-existing levels, he said.

For more information the Verizon Wireless demonstration, contact Van Ribultan at 275-7205.