Maxxium Gains Flexibility and Cost Efficiencies With Verizon Business' Hosted VoIP

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - Maxxium, the global premium spirits and wine distribution company, has selected Verizon Business to host a voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP) service for Maxxium's international headquarters in the Netherlands. The service will help Maxxium to leverage the functionality, flexibility and cost efficiencies of outsourced VoIP communications to meet its business goals in the highly competitive and rapidly changing global beverages marketplace.

Maxxium's implementation of Verizon Hosted IP Centrex for its international headquarters in the Netherlands represents a further step in the company's strategy to move to an IP-based unified communications architecture.  The company selected Verizon Business in 2001 to provide a Private IP network connecting Maxxium's 2,300 employees in 50 offices spread over 35 countries, and has since deployed Verizon Direct Voice, Verizon Internet Dedicated, Verizon Conferencing and Verizon Colocation as part of a comprehensive, integrated communications solution.

In January 2007, Maxxium consolidated its international headquarters and its local Dutch office into a single building in Amstelveen, prompting the company to reconsider its existing voice communications infrastructure. Rather than implementing a traditional in-house PBX, Maxxium decided to opt for a fully outsourced, IP-based voice communications infrastructure, built on Verizon Hosted IP Centrex.

"A cost-efficient and scalable IT infrastructure is crucial for any business operating globally and in highly dynamic marketplaces  -- and externally managed IT services are an important component to achieve this," said Bart van den Heuvel, IT operations manager at Maxxium.  "A key advantage of Hosted IP Centrex for us is that no capital expenditure is required, only operational cost; associated costs such as separate cabling for voice systems disappear.

"Best of all, we don't have to even think about system maintenance, since we are leaving that to the experts within Verizon Business. Verizon Business convinced us that they can provide the performance and uptime that we need, without us ever having to worry about it," van den Heuvel said.

Jeff Rallet, regional vice president, Verizon Business, said: "Maxxium is one of our key Hosted IP Centrex customers in the Netherlands, and their deployment perfectly illustrates how a fully hosted VoIP solution can take away much of the pain and cost of installing and running on-premises telephony systems.  The Verizon VoIP portfolio can help companies achieve significant efficiency wins in tandem with improving business flexibility.  We look forward to supporting Maxxium achieve its future business objectives."

Van den Heuvel concluded: "Our aim has always been to rely on a set of carefully selected, globally capable vendors, as exemplified by companies such as Verizon Business. The company has proven to be a highly reliable partner over the years, and so the decision to entrust it with our headquarters' voice infrastructure, was simple."

About Maxxium
Maxxium Worldwide is responsible for the sales, local marketing and distribution of many of the world's premium spirits and wine brands, including ABSOLUT Vodka, The Famous Grouse Scotch Whisky, Jim Beam Bourbon and Rémy Martin Cognac. Maxxium is owned by four equal shareholders, The Edrington Group, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Rémy Cointreau and the V&S Group. Its unique partnership model offers excellent opportunities for growth of its company and partner brands. For more information, visit www.maxxium.com.

About Verizon Business
Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a leading provider of advanced communications and information technology (IT) solutions to large business and government customers worldwide.  Combining unsurpassed global network reach with advanced communications, security and other professional service capabilities, Verizon Business delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  For more information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com.

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