Verizon Business Listed in Leaders' Quadrant for Pan-European Network Service Providers 2006

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - Verizon Business has been positioned in the Leaders quadrant among European network services providers by Gartner Inc., a leading industry analyst firm, in its new report, "Magic Quadrant for Pan-European Network Service Providers, 2006."^[i] 

The latest Gartner Magic Quadrant examines network service providers that had annual enterprise network service revenue of $100 million or more within Europe. Providers must offer voice, data, managed network and value-added services to customers across multiple geographies in Europe, specifically the United Kingdom, France and Germany, plus one of the following regions: Benelux, Southern Europe, the Nordic countries and Central and Eastern Europe. According to Gartner, vendors positioned in the Leaders quadrant have a full portfolio of voice and data services, delivered with good quality across a wide area at competitive prices. They have a strong vision of the market and their role in it, and will typically be able to address a wider range of customers with their service offerings than others in the Magic Quadrant.

Gartner considered a number of criteria in assessing companies for inclusion in the Magic Quadrant. Overall, Gartner analysts evaluated providers on the quality and efficacy of the processes, systems, methods or procedures that support their overall performance and enable them to capitalize on their vision, as well as their understanding of how to maximize the potential of market forces. In terms of completeness of vision, Gartner looked at market understanding, business model, product, sales and marketing strategies, innovation and geographic reach. With regard to ability to execute, overall viability, market responsiveness and track record, operations and the customer experience were all taken into consideration, as well as pricing and product and service offerings.

John Irvine, Verizon Business vice president, international marketing, said: “We believe our positioning in the Leaders quadrant of this latest Gartner Magic Quadrant reinforces the strength of our global managed and professional networking services product portfolio. A key focus for us in 2006 has been to ensure a high-quality global customer experience, whether in terms of network breadth, product and service availability, or indeed customer-first service delivery. We are continuing to expand and consolidate our global offering on an ongoing basis in response to our customers’ evolving business concerns.

“Through the introduction of expanded Ethernet and Private IP solutions in the European market, as well as the launch of our industry-leading VoIP portfolio,” he said, “we are ensuring that we are able to meet our customers’ needs in terms of product; however, we have also been looking in detail at all other aspects of the customer experience and ensuring that all aspects of our service delivery are working in unison to facilitate excellence in this area. We look forward to maintaining our leadership in the network service provider space and helping our customers, in Europe as with the rest of the world, to realize business benefits through evolving IP services.”

According to Gartner, the network service provider market has turned a corner in terms of stability and growth prospects, and service provider models are beginning to become more focused and differentiated. Third-party network management can help businesses enhance service levels, reduce costs and improve network visibility. A Magic Quadrant listing is significant because Gartner recommends companies consider its report when evaluating the providers to meet their communications requirements. 

Verizon Business was also recognized by Gartner in the Leaders’ Quadrants for U.S. Managed and Professional Network Service Providers in July 2006 and for U.S. Network Service Providers in May 2006.

About the Magic Quadrant

The Magic Quadrant for Pan-European Network Service Providers, 2006 is copyrighted 2 October, 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.

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