Verizon Small-Business Customers Now Ring Up Savings Everywhere, Anytime

NEW YORK - Verizon has restructured its portfolio of long-distance plans targeted at small-business customers, introducing new plans and lowering the rates of others.

For the first time, Verizon now offers a calling plan for small businesses. Available nationwide, Verizon FlexDistance^sm features competitive per-minute rates ranging from 5.5 cents to 6 cents for intrastate and interstate calls, depending on the customer's minimum spending-level commitment. The new plan is designed to offer significant savings and increase budget predictability for small-business customers who spend moderate amounts ($25 -$300 per month) on long-distance calls.

"With the addition of FlexDistance, we believe we have a highly competitive portfolio of plans for the small-business marketplace," said Michael Hassett, senior vice president for Business Markets.

Under Verizon FlexDistance, there are three tiers available for small-business customers, with minimum spending starting at $24 and rates as low as 5.5 cents. And, for the first time for business customers, the usage charges are the same for in-state and interstate calls.

All direct-dialed, toll free, calling card calling and audio-conference usage can be applied to the minimum spending level. There are no term agreements required with this plan.

"This is long-distance service on the customer's terms," said Hassett. "In addition to this new calling plan, Verizon offers a great unlimited offer and flexible per-minute plans."

Verizon Now Offers Lower Rates on Revamped FirmRate^sm Plans

For customers seeking an uncomplicated long-distance calling plan and who spend less than $25 dollars per month on long-distance calling, FirmRate plans offer one low, flat rate per- minute interstate rate. The new plans start at $8 per month, and customers who have other qualifying Verizon services can opt for interstate rates as low as 6.4 cents per minute.

SimpleOptions for Small Businesses with Heavy Long Distance Usage

The Verizon SimpleOptions^sm plan is ideally suited for customers who make more than $300 in long-distance calls per month or who have multiple locations. There are sliding discounts based on term agreements and spending-level commitments. The higher the commitment level, the lower the per-minute rates. Verizon dropped its rates on its four most popular tiers. Toll free customers enjoy the same low per-minute rate for all state-to-state inbound toll free calls. With bands ranging from $250 to $30,000 per month and rates as low as 3.6 cents per minute, customers can select minimum spending levels according to their unique calling habits.

Since launching long-distance service for small-business customers in March 2000, Verizon has gained 1.2 million such customers. Small businesses have a choice of a variety of plans and services to meet their long-distance calling needs, including international calling plans, toll free service, calling cards, dedicated access, account codes and global data services. For more information, small-business customers are encouraged to contact Verizon at www.verizon.com/ld.

A Dow 30 company, Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services, with approximately $68 billion in annual revenues. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world, as measured by directory titles and circulation. Verizon's international presence includes wireline and wireless communications operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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