NEW YORK (Reuters) – Verizon Communications Inc said on Thursday its quarterly revenue rose 4.8 percent after its acquisition of Vodafones 45 percent share in their prior joint venture for $130 billion gave the company access to greater amounts of cash flow. The No. 1 U.S. mobile provider earned $5.98 billion, or $1.15 cents per share, in the first quarter, compared with $4.86 billion, or 68 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter. Revenue rose to $30.8 billion. (Reporting By Marina Lopes)