Verizon Avenue Offers High-Speed Internet Access Service Nationwide to Apartment and Condominium Communities

NEW YORK - Verizon Avenue, a subsidiary of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and a leading provider of telecommunications and data services to multi-dwelling units (MDUs), today launched high-speed Internet access service in New York City.

The high-speed Internet service is provided using digital subscriber line (DSL) technology located on site. Verizon Avenue high-speed Internet access also is available in Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C., with expansion to new cities and buildings in the works.

''Verizon Avenue's approach provides residents with a no-hassle means to capitalize on the exciting capabilities of broadband and gives property owners another feature to attract and retain residents,'' said Bill Wallace, president of Verizon Avenue.

Verizon Avenue has installed its Internet access equipment at a Continuum Group apartment building at 180 Montague St. in Brooklyn, N.Y. Residents can now purchase high-speed access via DSL as part of a package, along with local and long-distance phone service, or they can purchase just high-speed Internet access service by itself.

The launch is the first in New York since Verizon Communications acquired OnePoint Communications in December and named its new subsidiary Verizon Avenue.

Verizon Avenue already offers high-speed Internet access and telephone service packages to apartment and condominium residents in markets outside Verizon's service area. Now the unit will offer phone and Internet services to residents in the MDU market throughout Verizon's national footprint

''Our residents expect only the best when it comes to services and amenities. Our building is one of the first in Brooklyn Heights to offer state-of-the-art Internet services thanks to Verizon Avenue's DSL Internet service deployment.'' said Scott Aaron from the Continuum Group.

Through agreements with real estate investment trusts and independent property owners, Verizon Avenue's high-speed Internet access is offered over regular copper phone lines at each property, where Verizon Avenue installs a Digital Subscriber Line Access Mutiplexer (DSLAM) on site to connect residents to the Internet. The Verizon Avenue solution of locating DSLAMs at the premises eliminates distance limitations so high-speed Internet access can be delivered to every resident with a copper wire connection.

Internet access via DSL enables subscribers to transfer data, graphics, audio and video files at speeds considerably faster than a traditional 56K dial-up modem, enhancing their Internet experience. Since the Internet DSL runs over existing telephone lines, customers can simultaneously make a phone call or send a fax and access information on the Internet, eliminating delays due to busy signals or ''timing out'' experienced with dial-up modems.

After the equipment is installed on site, Verizon Avenue promotes the service to residents through a comprehensive marketing campaign, leading up to a live hands-on event demonstrating the service. Verizon Avenue also provides each building a branded Community Network page which is a gateway to the Internet while offering residents the ability to post messages for other residents and make service requests on-line. Residents can sign-up through the leasing office for Verizon Avenue's package of services, including high-speed Internet access and telephone services.

Residents who purchase the package of telephone and Internet services can select one of two options for high-speed Internet service:

• $34.99 per month for speeds up to 256 kilobits per second (Kbps) download and 128 Kbps upload;

• $44.99 per month for speeds up to 1.5 megabits per second download and 128 Kbps upload.

Residents who purchase Internet access without telephone service will pay an additional $10 per month for either of the two high-speed options. Once high-speed access is available in an apartment community or condominium, ordering and installation typically takes two to five business days.

DSL Internet service from Verizon Avenue includes unlimited Internet access, two free e-mail addresses with a ''VZAvenue.net'' domain and Web-mail access, hosting for a personal Web page, a dynamic IP (Internet protocol) address and technical support seven days a week.

About Verizon Avenue
Verizon Avenue, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Verizon Communications, Inc., is a leading provider of packaged data and voice communications services for apartment buildings, condominiums and office buildings. The unit was named Verizon Avenue when Verizon completed its purchase of OnePoint Communications Corp. and combined its capabilities with similar programs from Verizon. The company's partners include AIMCO, AvalonBay, Equity, United Dominion, and Walden.

Phone services are also currently available in major markets including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

For additional information on Verizon Avenue, please refer to the Verizon Avenue Press Kit

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 112 million access line equivalents and 27 million wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. A Fortune 10 company with approximately 260,000 employees and more than $65 billion in annual revenues, Verizon's global presence extends to 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com

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