New York: Verizon Wireless said on Thursday that some employees had gained unauthorized access and viewed a personal cell phone account held by President-elect Barack Obama but now inactive.
The company said the device in question was a simple voice phone, not a Blackberry or other device designed for e-mail or other data services.
In a statement, Verizon Wireless President and Chief Executive Officer Lowell McAdam apologised to Obama and said all employees who had had access to Obama's account, whether authorized or not, were put on immediate leave with pay.
The company will take disciplinary action against those who accessed Obama's account improperly.
