Shakira U.S. Arena Tour Kicks Off With a Technology Boost From Verizon Wireless

Bringing one of the world's hottest artist to the stage, Verizon Wireless today announced it will be presenting Shakira's "Oral Fixation" North American tour this summer and leveraging wireless technology to ensure her fans have a unique concert experience. The "Oral Fixation" North American tour begins on August 9 at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, TX and culminates on September 25 with a performance at the Dodge Arena in McCallen, TX.

In a music and wireless industry first, Shakira will send a multimedia personal video invitation customized to each city she goes to, inviting her fans to come hear her play in their local arena. Fans with Verizon Wireless phones will have the option to text or click through to purchase and win tickets. Some Shakira concertgoers will receive a multimedia message barcode ticket sent to their Verizon Wireless phones. When they arrive at the concert, the wireless bar code tickets will be scanned to get them into the show.

Fans will also help Shakira determine what songs she performs on the tour. Verizon Wireless customers will be able to text which favorite Shakira songs they feel should be played on the "Oral Fixation" tour. Several lucky winners will get the opportunity to go backstage and see what the "Oral Fixation" tour looks like behind-the-scenes.

In a career that spans nearly a decade and has seen more than 33 million albums sold worldwide, singer/songwriter, five-time GRAMMY(R) winner Shakira is without a doubt one of the most galvanizing live performers onstage today. The Colombian-born Shakira is well known for her energetic live rock shows, which feature her band and the kind of hi-tech stage production that is without rival among contemporary performers.

Energized by her Top Ten hit "Hips Don't Lie," which debuted exclusively on the Verizon Wireless V CAST service, Oral Fixation Vol. 2 is firmly planted in the Top Ten of the album charts and has already sold well over a million copies in the United States alone. With "Hips Don't Lie," Verizon Wireless and Shakira made mobile music history with the simultaneous world premiere of the full-length song, music video, ring tone, ring back tone, wallpaper and behind-the-scenes footage of the video shoot for the single prior to it being available in stores or at Web retailers.

"As an artist, I am always looking for new creative mediums," said Shakira. "The Verizon Wireless V CAST service gives me a unique platform to offer different musical expressions that fans can access instantaneously through their mobile phones."

Shakira is also known for using wireless technology to reach her fans. She was among the first music artists to introduce exclusive content to Verizon Wireless V CAST customers last year. To ensure that as many fans as possible can participate in the "Oral Fixation" tour, Shakira and Verizon Wireless are taking their relationship to the next level by bringing unprecedented interactivity between Shakira and her fans.

"Verizon Wireless has been an industry leader when it comes to extending the wireless experience beyond voice. A music fan today can use a Verizon Wireless phone to download ring tones, ring back tones, wallpaper and now tickets to their favorite rock concert," said John Harrobin, vice president of marketing for Verizon Wireless. "Wireless technology and phones are now an integral part of the concert experience, and Shakira recognizes it is a phenomenal way to connect directly with fans."

"Verizon Wireless is really at the forefront of the mobile music matrix. They have been a collaborator in effectively launching two new Shakira albums in two languages this year," said Ceci Kurzman, Shakira's manager. "Their multimedia offerings allow us to have a completely integrated business model that supports all the forms of music we can offer."

To keep up to date with Shakira's latest music, fans can continue to download her full-length songs, ring tones, ring back tones and music videos to their Verizon Wireless phones through the company's V CAST service. For more information on V CAST Music from Verizon Wireless, please visit http://www.verizonwireless.com/music.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 51.3 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

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