Verizon Business Deploys Managed Private IP Network for Rapid Solutions Group

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - Rapid Solutions Group, a leading digital communications company providing printing and fulfillment services to the financial services and health care industries, has turned to Verizon Business to deploy and manage a new network based on Verizon Business Private IP Service. The network will connect Rapid Solutions Group operations centers across the United States and securely transmit large data files.

Under the two-year agreement, Verizon Business will migrate the Melville, N.Y.-based company to a fully managed network environment, providing a high level of network availability and security, while enabling company personnel to better focus on core business functions. Rapid Solutions Group expects to significantly lower its total cost of ownership by outsourcing management of its Internet protocol (IP) network to Verizon Business.

"Ours is an on-demand business that requires an extranet to fully support our customers," said Bruce Parkey, chief information officer, Rapid Solutions Group. "The ability of Verizon Business to quickly deploy a private IP-based network infrastructure will help us strengthen our relationships with our clients. We believe our new network will enhance our ability to offer a better product, at a better price, with better service."

As part of the network upgrade, Verizon Business simplified and standardized network access so that each Rapid Solutions Group location is interconnected via the corporate network at the same speed. Added Parkey, "We will be well-positioned to accept larger data volumes, and the interconnected nature of our new network will help ensure continuous operations if a production facility is offline."

Verizon Business Secure Gateway - Mobile User service helps safeguard Rapid Solutions Group's voice and data traffic, enabling its customers to securely access the Private IP network from the Internet. Verizon Business Managed Firewall - Enterprise Service capabilities restrict customer access to applications and systems related to printing and fulfillment activities, while maintaining the security of critical internal data.

"Verizon Business is able to deliver increased capacity at a competitive cost, while offering enhanced security and flexibility to support seamless operations," said Steve Young, group president, corporate accounts, Verizon Business. "Shifting network management to Verizon Business will enable Rapid Solutions Group to enhance service delivery and focus on meeting the requirements of its customers."

Rapid Solutions Group's Private IP network, based on a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) platform, is highly scalable to accommodate future growth. It also provides class-of-service capabilities to prioritize business-critical applications, such as the future introduction of voice over IP.

Today, Verizon Business manages over 3,500 customer networks in 142 countries, overseeing more than 25,000 non-Verizon connections from more than 60 network providers around the world. As the former MCI, the company received the 2005 Frost & Sullivan Customer Service Leadership Award and the 2005 InfoWorld 100 Award. Verizon Business' industry-leading service-level commitments and award-winning IMPACT management platform underscore a legacy of service and innovation. Verizon Business has also been listed by Gartner Inc. in the leaders quadrant of a report entitled "Magic Quadrant for U.S. Managed and Professional Network Service Providers, 1H06."*

About Rapid Solutions Group

Rapid Solutions Group is a leading digital communications company. Serving companies in the financial, healthcare and technology industries, Rapid Solutions Group designs and delivers high-impact communications. Leveraging advanced digital technology, combined with application development, creative design, digital and offset print and fulfillment expertise, we provide our customers end-to-end communications solutions. Strategically located production facilities in New York, California, Chicago and Kansas City provide unparalleled speed of delivery while ensuring real-time disaster recovery. For more information please visit our Web site www.rapidsolutionsgroup.com or contact us at 1-877-RAPID-SG.

About the Magic Quadrant

The Magic Quadrant for U.S. Managed and Professional Network Service Providers, 1H06 is copyrighted July 11, 2006, by Gartner, Inc. and is reused with permission. The Magic Quadrant is a graphical representation of a marketplace at and for a specific time period. It depicts Gartner's analysis of how certain vendors measure against criteria for that marketplace, as defined by Gartner. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in the Magic Quadrant, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors placed in the "Leaders" quadrant. The Magic Quadrant is intended solely as a research tool, and is not meant to be a specific guide to action. Gartner disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Verizon Business

Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a leading provider of advanced communications and information technology (IT) solutions to large business and government customers worldwide. Combining unsurpassed global network reach with advanced technology and professional service capabilities, Verizon Business delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world. For more information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com.

^{* Gartner Research "Magic Quadrant for U.S. Managed and Professional Network Service Providers, 1H06" by E. Goodness, D. Neil and D. Willis. July 11, 2006}

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