Verizon's New Web Conferencing Service Lets Workers Collaborate in Virtual Conference Room With No White-Board Dust

NEW YORK - Starting now, a virtual meeting is just a phone call and a few clicks away. Travel bills can drop; meeting rooms can go vacant. Businesses now have the flexibility to hold face-to-face online meetings any time and no reservation is needed with Verizon's Web conferencing service.

"Web conferencing is quickly becoming one of the essentials of successful, day-to-day business communications, and businesses are requiring all the bells and whistles as well as a service that's simple to use," said Kitty Linder, president of Verizon LiveSource.

Businesses spent $160 million last year on Web conferencing and that figure is expected to grow to nearly $239 million this year and to nearly $800 million by 2007, according to a study by Frost & Sullivan.

The popularity of Web conferencing is increasing rapidly because of the wide availability of broadband, increasing focus on training in the workplace and the high comfort level that businesses have with the technology. Verizon's new Web conferencing service not only offers one-way presentations for information sharing or training, but also allows group editing of files or documents by individuals located anywhere. There are no set-up fees, no contracts and no reservations required.

Through March 31, Web conferences held using voice conferencing with toll-free access are available at 50 percent off the regular combined rate. Service charges are billed to the host. After March 31, conferencing services will cost 50 cents per person per minute with the charges billed to the host.

Web conferencing allows customers to hold online meetings using both voice and today's standard desktop PC without purchasing additional software and hardware. Participants need only a telephone and access to the Internet.

Just a few of the potential applications for Web conferencing are:
• Presentations and events: Live one-way meetings, such as training sessions, product rollouts and formal presentations, where a presenter delivers content to multiple attendees.

• Collaborative conferencing: Two-way, interactive meetings in which participants can manipulate the content, in any software application, onscreen in real time. The host has flexible control options and multiple attendees can brainstorm, create and modify documents.

Proprietary services developed by Raindance Communications will underpin the Verizon Web service. "Our goal is to redefine the online meeting experience from start to finish, emulating the natural flow of an in-person meeting with easy-to-use and customizable technology," said Paul Berberian, president and chief executive officer of Raindance.

To get more information about the service or to sign up for Verizon's Web conferencing service today, call 1-877-Web Use It (877-932-8734).

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 www.verizon.com.

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