Verizon sees few changes to US wireless business

Verizon's $130 billion deal with Vodafone is huge for both companies, although Verizon customers in the US are unlikely to see any big changes to their bills or their service.

Verizon Chairman and CEO Lowell McAdam said that the company's US wireless businesses are working well now, and that he would move slowly on any changes to its structure. "We're very bullish on the growth outlook for the US wireless marketplace," he said. In the most recent quarter, Verizon Wireless added 941,000 devices to its contract-based plans, exceeding expectations and extended a strong run. But almost all of Verizon's wireless gains were customers upgrading to higher-priced plans or adding more devices, rather than an influx of new customers. Verizon said it expects regulators to approve the deal since it already controls its US wireless business. It also needs shareholder approval. It expects the deal to close during the first quarter of next year.