
	Verizon Wireless (officially Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless) is the largest mobile network operator in the United States, providing wireless services to 115.78 million subscribers as of Q4 2012.

	Headquartered in Basking Ridge, New Jersey the company is a joint venture of American telecommunications firm Verizon Communications and UK-based Vodafone.

	Verizon Communications holds 55 percent ownership and Vodafone hold the remaining 45 percent ownership of the joint venture. On April 3, 2000, Verizon Communications began operations as the result of the merger between Bell Atlantic Mobile and GTE Wireless.

	In September 1999, UK-based Vodafone AirTouch Plc. had announced a $90-billion joint venture with Bell Atlantic to establish a wireless service provider. The venture received regulatory approval in six months, and began operations as Verizon Wireless on April 4, 2000.
