Largest U.S. Publisher of Hispanic Directories -Verizon Information Services- Introduces Bilingual SuperPages Directory in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. - As part of its expanding Hispanic marketing initiatives, Verizon Information Services, the nation's largest publisher of Hispanic yellow pages, is now distributing its first bilingual SuperPages directory in Tampa. The Tampa directory features a Spanish cover and content on one side and an English cover and content on the other.

"As Tampa's Hispanic population continues to grow, Verizon is responding to the preference of 74 percent* of Hispanic consumers who would like to have a bilingual directory in their home," said Dante Díaz, Verizon Information Services group manager - ethnic products and national sales marketing. Verizon will have published nearly 50 bilingual directories nationwide by the end of 2002.

More than 100,000 bilingual directories are being delivered to Tampa's most-heavily Hispanic populated areas, including parts of Ybor City and West Tampa, traditional Hispanic communities, and areas that have experienced an influx of Hispanic residents - Town N' Country, Dover, Balm, Ruskin and Wimauma.

According to national research firm Claritas, the Tampa metro area has a 10 percent Hispanic population, while these areas have a 42 percent Hispanic population.

"Our targeted bilingual coverage helps advertisers who want to really reach Hispanic consumers," added Díaz. "As with SuperPages.com en Español, the only national, Spanish-language yellow pages and online directory, Verizon is meeting the needs of U.S. Hispanic consumers who prefer to speak Spanish at home."

Also this month, Verizon will add new features to SuperPages.com en Español (http://superpages.com/espanol), including SuperSecciones (SuperTopics) content. Carreras y Trabajo (Work and Career) and Recreación y Salud (Recreation and Health) features speak specifically to the interests of Hispanics.

Since launching SuperPages.com en Español in fall 2001, Verizon continues to expand its Spanish-language content, search categories and functionality to make it easier to find information and businesses and provide a more comprehensive product.

"We know that the U.S. Hispanic community is a strong and vital force in the
U.S. economy," said Díaz. "To both meet and exceed its needs, Verizon continually adds enhancements and features to both the online and print directories."

In total, more than 1.2 million Verizon SuperPages white and yellow pages for Tampa are being distributed. If you did not receive a copy of your local directory, please call 1-800-888-8448.

*Strategy Research Corporation, a part of Synovate, June 2002

Verizon Information Services and SuperPages.com

Verizon Information Services is the world's leading print and online directory publisher, a content provider for communications products and services, and the largest publisher of Hispanic directories in the U.S. With operations in 14 countries and annual revenues of more than $4.3 billion, Verizon Information Services publishes more than 1,200 U.S. Verizon SuperPages directories and nearly 400 international directories with a total circulation of approximately 150 million copies worldwide.

Based in the Dallas area, Verizon Information Services produces and markets SuperPages.com, the Internet's #1 online directory and shopping resource. SuperPages.com receives as many as 14 million visits and 9 million unique visitors a month and powers directory services on MSN, InfoSpace, AltaVista, Excite, Lycos, Ask Jeeves, HotBot, BigFoot, Tripod and Angelfire as well as more than 2,500 affiliate Web sites.

The company supports computer literacy with philanthropic programs and through the Enlighten Me and Internet Learning Tutor sites on SuperPages.com. Enlighten Me is a fun site where children and their caregivers go to read, learn and explore. The Internet Learning Tutor is specifically designed for adults who are just learning their way around the Internet.

Verizon Information Services is a unit of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Through its signature Verizon Reads program and the Verizon Literacy Network, Verizon is leading the fight to increase U.S. literacy levels by creating community and corporate awareness, raising funds, encouraging collaboration among literacy providers and engaging employees in supporting literacy programs.

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