Verizon Online Introduces High-Speed Internet Access In Cambridge, Easton, Hunt Valley and Salisbury, Md.

BALTIMORE - Verizon Online is raising the speed limit in Cambridge, Easton, Hunt Valley and Salisbury with the introduction of super-fast digital subscriber line (DSL) service for consumers and businesses.

"DSL provides customers with the speed they need to take full advantage of the Internet, for their small business needs, telecommuting, banking, shopping online and entertainment like games-on-demand," said William R. Roberts, president, Verizon Maryland. "Now our customers in Cambridge, Easton, Hunt Valley and Salisbury can enjoy the benefits of turbo-charged Internet access."

Verizon Online Offers Choice of DSL Pricing Plans

Verizon Online offers two pricing plans for its most popular residential DSL service that offers maximum speeds of 768Kbps (kilobits per second) downstream and 128Kbps upstream. Both DSL service offers are good until March 31 and the first month is free for consumers who order online at verizon.net

• Consumers who make a one-year commitment pay $39.95 a month.
• Consumers who select the month-to-month plan pay an introductory price of $29.95 for the first six months, then the monthly price is $49.95.

Local Verizon telephone customers who want to order basic DSL service or faster DSL service can get more information online at verizon.net or by calling Verizon at 1-800-567-6789.

Home Networking Promotion

Until March 15, Verizon is also offering a $50 rebate on a Linksys wired or wireless router for new residential customers. Both products allow DSL customers to create a local area network (LAN) that allows multiple home computers to share one DSL connection and they also provide a built-in firewall for added security. After the rebate, the wired router is $49.95 and the wireless router is $99.95.

All Verizon Online DSL packages for consumers include a free do-it-yourself installation kit with a DSL modem, 10 MB (megabytes) of Web storage, 10 MB of e-mail storage and four e-mail boxes. Customers can be billed on their monthly telephone bills or a credit card. All packages come with a 30-day, money-back guarantee.

Verizon Online DSL for Business Customers

Verizon Online offers six DSL packages with additional services to meet the broadband needs of businesses. The packages range from speeds of 768Kbps downstream and 128Kbps upstream to 7.1Mbps (megabits per second) downstream and 768Kbps upstream. Prices range from $59.95 to $204.95 a month.

Businesses that subscribe to Veriations for Business, a bundle of Verizon business-level services on one bill, qualify for a 10 percent discount on DSL service with a dynamic Internet protocol (IP) address. The bundle includes FirmRate Plus or SimpleOptions long-distance calling plans, DSL and a local package such as WorkSmart, Centrex Plus or CustoPAK.

Business packages include the high-speed connection, six domain name e-mail boxes (yourname@yourcompany.com), domain name registration or transfer and DNS (Domain Name Service). Verizon Online offers wireless and wired routers that allow small and medium-size businesses to connect multiple computers to a single DSL line.

Verizon Online also offers businesses a robust portfolio of business e-mail and Web hosting services. Customers can save time by using the company's new point-and-click Web site tools to edit their own sites.

Technical Definitions

DSL service generally is available to homes and offices located within approximately three miles of Verizon's local switching center or "central office." Some technical limitations may interfere with the ability of telephone lines to get DSL, even when the lines are within three miles of a DSL-equipped central office.

Downstream and upstream speeds describing Verizon Online's DSL services are maximum connection speeds between the customer's computer and Verizon's DSL equipment. Actual connection speeds will vary from the maximum speeds and often will be lower. Throughput or download speeds will be lower than connection speeds and vary based on telephone line condition and distance from Verizon's central office, home or office wiring and the server or router speed of sites visited on the Internet, among other factors.

Verizon Online is a full-service Internet service provider, offering a complete selection of dial-up, DSL and dedicated Internet access services for residential consumers and businesses. Verizon Online DSL service is available in 23 states and the District of Columbia.

Verizon Communications

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 135.8 million access line equivalents and 32.5 million Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. With more than $67 billion in annual revenues and 229,500 employees, Verizon's global presence extends to 33 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit .

####