Verizon Delivers Great Service Choices That Enable Small Businesses to Thrive Despite Strained Economy

NEW YORK - The observation of National Small Business Week this week highlights ways small businesses can grow in today's tough economic climate by using technology as a competitive advantage.  And Verizon is playing a major role in helping small-business owners identify the services they need to run their business more productively and cost effectively.

In fact, small businesses around the country are increasingly looking to Verizon as their virtual chief information officer (CIO). 

"For the most part, small businesses don't have the resources to hire an IT person, much less have a CIO on staff," said Monte Beck, Verizon's vice president for small-business products and services.  "That's where Verizon can help.  Verizon is a small-business owner's backbone, providing the necessary communications technology, products and services to enable owners to focus on running their businesses. 

"We provide not only the essential services such as phone and Internet to get a business started, but many other value-added services and solutions, like security and online collaboration, to businesses of all sizes," Beck said.

Verizon recently upgraded the Verizon Small Business Center, a one-stop portal that gives small businesses across the country the resources they need at their finger tips to run their businesses effectively and efficiently.  The Verizon Small Business Center - http://business.verizon.net - combines applications, hosted services and professional networking in one easy-to-use platform.

Verizon Recognizes Several Firms During National Small Business Week

As part of National Small Business Week, Verizon is recognizing some of its small- business customers for leveraging technology to thrive despite the current economy.

Lisa Stein runs an entertainment complex in Middle Village, N.Y., focused on bringing families together for fun and games in a wholesome environment.  "Verizon has been excellent for us," said Stein.  "I rely on my Verizon Internet and landline phone services, as well as my Verizon Wireless mobile device.  Verizon was able to combine all of our services onto one bill, which has been ideal for my specific needs.  The service has been excellent and brings great value to the company."

Jana Mobarak owns a property-management company based in the Dallas area and spends 90 percent of her time traveling between properties, focusing on development, construction and financial modeling.  "I am heavily reliant on Verizon to keep in constant communication with everyone - especially given my travel schedule," said Mobarak.  "Without Verizon, I would never be able to keep up with everything that has to be done. From my Internet, e-mail, and voice mail to my Verizon Wireless mobile device, it doesn't matter if I am in Dallas, Houston or on the Texas coast; Verizon brings my world together."

Debert Cook runs a national magazine business in New York City that provides a one-of-its-kind quarterly publication for African-Americans who are avid golfers.  "I used another provider a few years back, and the situation with the phone lines, service delays and customer service responses was terrible," said Cook.  "I switched to Verizon for my broadband needs at the office and on the go, with a Verizon Wireless Internet card. 

"My business' phone is on Verizon's reliable landline network, and my wireless carrier is also Verizon," Cook said.  "Switching to Verizon was one of the best business decisions I ever made.  I can work from almost anywhere in the world because of Verizon - and often times I do, with my heavy international travel schedule."

Verizon offers a broad range of products and services for businesses of all sizes.  Some businesses may qualify to enroll in the Verizon Business Link Rewards program, which enables companies to earn and redeem points for various items such as  high-definition TVs, gift cards and certificates at leading retailers, meals at top-rated local restaurants, and tickets to professional sporting and entertainment events.

Since the launch of the new Verizon Small Business Center, Verizon has offered free webinars to provide insights to small-business owners across the country.  The next webinar takes place Wednesday (May 20) at 2 p.m. Eastern time and will feature Anita Campbell, a well-known small-business expert.  Campbell will discuss how small businesses can market their business online.  To register for the free webinar or to see previous webinars, visit http://smallbusiness.verizon.com/webinar/.

For more information on Verizon's products and services for businesses and how they can help business owners boost productivity and compete successfully in today's challenging economy, visit www.verizon.com.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: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 86 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations provide converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network.  Wireline also includes Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 237,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

####