Qwest taps Verizon as wireless carrier

Qwest announced Monday that it has signed a five-year deal with Verizon Wireless to market and sell Verizon's wireless services and handsets beginning this summer.

The two companies said the deal will give Qwest's broadband, video and voice customers access to Verizon Wireless handsets, smartphones and BlackBerry devices. Additionally, Qwest customers will also be able to use Verizon's wireless broadband services for their e-mail and Internet access.

The agreement will also give Qwest residential customers the option to bundle Verizon Wireless services with Qwest phone, Internet and television services as part of a single package, or to get their wireless services billed separately to them by Verizon Wireless. The companies said these options will become available to residential customers "once billing systems are coordinated."

The companies also plan to work together to bid for both enterprise and government wireless contracts, as well as collaborate to develop converged fixed-mobile services that would integrate Qwest's landline infrastructure with Verizon's wireless network.

"Verizon Wireless' strong reputation in innovation, network quality and reliability… was very attractive in our decision to deliver state-of-the-art mobile solutions to consumer business and government customers," said Qwest CEO Ed Mueller. "Qwest's strategies for success certainly will benefit from this deal and we look forward to a solid relationship with Verizon Wireless."

Neither company would disclose financial terms of the five-year agreement. A Qwest spokesperson said that more details of the Verizon-Qwest agreement would be made available during Tuesday's 2008 first-quarter earnings call.

Qwest, a telecom carrier and ISP, offers Internet, phone and digital cable television services primarily in Western and Midwestern states.