Lights, Camera, Collaborate! Verizon Business Helps Organizations Sharpen their Focus With Managed Cisco TelePresence

As organizations worldwide turn to advanced collaboration tools to boost productivity and save time, Verizon Business is teaming with Cisco to deliver a new managed service that makes using immersive video meetings as simple as making a phone call.

Whether it's extending access to health care in rural areas, keeping governments and utilities running smoothly during extreme weather or working with global suppliers to close contracts, Verizon Immersive Video Conferencing Service for Cisco TelePresence^TM enables customers to break down the barriers of space and time with the touch of a button on the telepresence system.

Immersive video goes far beyond traditional video conferencing by replicating face-to-face interaction so realistically it makes participants feel as though they are in the same room, even though they may be thousands of miles apart. The new managed offering, available in April, expands Verizon Business' existing portfolio of unified communications and collaboration solutions - from conferencing to unified messaging to video-to-the-desktop and immersive video-to-the-conference room.  At the same time, Verizon is building and deepening its relationship with Cisco as the two companies, among the industry's leaders, bring advanced unified communications and collaboration offerings to market.

"As businesses expand beyond their traditional office walls, we have found that deploying advanced collaboration tools such as telepresence can have a big impact on an organization's performance," said Anthony Recine, vice president of network and communications solutions for Verizon Business. "Our new service facilitates the reservation, builds the visual bridge and manages the overall experience, so customers can zoom in on the encounter, whether they use their own facilities or an established public room."

Meetings are supported by two Verizon Business Exchanges, which run on Verizon's Private IP network infrastructure and use Cisco TelePresence technology to  give users enterprise-class redundancy, reliability and security.  If one exchange is interrupted, the video connection will automatically transfer to the other exchange, enabling customers to simply touch a button to re-establish service.

Customers can take advantage of complete setup and management, including pre-connected and configured video circuits, and the ability for users to make reservations online or by phone.  Two Verizon Business Video Network Operations Centers will provide concierge services to set up and manage meetings round-the-clock.

Mark Weidick, vice president and general manager, Telepresence Business Unit, Cisco, said: "Verizon Business and Cisco are collaborating to bring the future of work to reality with high-quality video Cisco Telepesence collaboration for everyone, everywhere.  Intercompany Cisco TelePresence gives organizations the ability to use Cisco TelePresence to meet with key suppliers, customers and partners to drive competitive advantage, faster time to market and better collaboration in their businesses."

A demonstration of immersive video capabilities is available at the Verizon booth (#923) at VoiceCon trade show, March 22-25 in Orlando.

(View a video of Verizon's visual communications solutions here.)

With more than 30 years of experience, Verizon Business is a leading provider of collaboration and unified communications services, enabling organizations to effectively collaborate for increased productivity while reducing costs and carbon emissions associated with business travel.   Verizon Business offers some of the most advanced meeting tools available today as well as UC&C professional consulting services to help organizations tailor the best UC&C strategy to meet their specific goals.

About Verizon Business
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 91 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of approximately 222,900 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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