Verizon Wireless revealed that it added 1.8 million retail subscribers in the second quarter--the eighth consecutive quarter in which the company has added more than 1.5 million retail net customers. Verizon Wireless said it believes, based on publicly available information, that it has the most retail customers of any wireless carrier, with 52.6 million retail customers of its total 54.8 million customers. The announcement looks to be a shot at competitor Sprint Nextel as Verizon is playing up the fact that it doesn't have to rely on MVNOs to bring in big customer numbers. Verizon will report second-quarter earnings on August 1.

For more about Verizon Wireless' subscriber additions in the second quarter:
- see this release