Siemens and Verizon Business Ease the Way for Companies Transitioning to VoIP

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. and BOCA RATON, Fla. - Life just got easier for communications managers contemplating the move to voice over Internet protocol (VoIP).

Verizon Business has certified that the Siemens HiPath 4000 IP Communications Solution interoperates with Verizon's IP Trunking Services, part of  Verizon's comprehensive VoIP portfolio.

Bringing together these two standards-based offerings will enable Verizon Business customers to leverage their existing IP PBX system investments and more easily transition to VoIP.  For example, the new combined capability will help customers more simply and efficiently integrate local and long-distance access, manage calls and seamlessly extend collaboration applications across the corporate network.  The IP PBX platform also enables features such as audio conferencing and "find me-follow me" capabilities.  In addition, the new combination eliminates the need for legacy infrastructure and associated management, helping customers take advantage of the rich feature functionality of VoIP.

"As more customers make the leap to VoIP technology, we want to make sure we provide them with as much choice and flexibility as possible," said Nancy Gofus, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Verizon Business.  "By offering a wide range of options, including the Siemens HiPath 4000, we are delivering what customers may require as they transition to VoIP."

The HiPath 4000, an IP PBX based on Siemens' Open Communications architecture and applications, integrates communications across multiple protocols, networks and devices, enabling customers to more flexibly use multi-vendor networks and tailor their communications infrastructure to better meet business requirements.  The HiPath 4000 will help Verizon Business customers manage information availability and access, and facilitate collaboration to help speed decision making and improve productivity.

"Verizon Business' certification of Siemens HiPath 4000 underscores the value we bring to customers who want to better meet business needs through  a more flexible deployment of top-of-the-line, interoperable IP technology," said Dana Rasmussen, president, Siemens Communications Inc.  "Siemens' IP communications solutions help businesses in an effort to control costs and provide greater flexibility, scalability and manageability with higher levels of security and performance."

Verizon Business works closely with customers to provide end-to-end support for their VoIP platforms, including solution design, deployment and maintenance.  Customers can also tap into a host of professional services, including network architecture, network vulnerability and VoIP security assessments, enabling them to take advantage of all the features and capabilities available through VoIP.

Verizon Business IP Trunking Services provide a direct connection between an IP PBX deployed on a customer site and the Verizon Business global IP network, helping to eliminate the need to connect to the traditional public switched telephone network (PSTN).  It also enables organizations to consolidate voice and data services over a single network. IP trunking services support a wide range IP PBX features, providing continuity for employees and reducing the need for retraining during the transition to VoIP.

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.

About Siemens
Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) is one of the largest global electronics and engineering companies with reported worldwide sales of $107.4 billion in 2006. Founded 160 years ago, the company is a leader in the areas of Medical, Power, Automation and Control, Transportation, Information and Communications, Lighting, Building Technologies, Water Technologies and Services and Home Appliances. With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City, Siemens in the USA has sales of $21.4 billion and employs approximately 70,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Eleven of Siemens' worldwide businesses are based in the United States. With its global headquarters in Munich, Siemens AG and its subsidiaries employ 480,000 people in 190 countries. For more information on Siemens in the United States: www.usa.siemens.com.

About Siemens Communications, Inc.
Siemens Communications, Inc. is one of the world's leading vendors of Open Communications solutions for enterprises of all sizes, enabling business processes to be more productive, faster and more secure - with any device, network or information technology infrastructure. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens AG with about 15,000 employees globally and headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla. For more information, visit www.usa.siemens.com/communications.

Note: Siemens, HiPath and ProCenter are registered trademarks of Siemens AG.

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