Verizon and Gryphon Networks Introduce National 'Do Not Call' Service for Direct Marketing Industry

NEW YORK - Verizon and Gryphon Networks have joined forces to offer Fortune 1000 corporations a cost-effective, streamlined method of ensuring that direct marketing and out-bound calling activities are consumer- and brand-friendly and comply with federal and state "Do Not Call" regulations.

The combination of Verizon's national long-distance service and Gryphon Networks' fully automated "Do Not Call" compliance products, enable large corporations to effectively target customers willing to receive unsolicited offers for services, while avoiding inadvertent non-compliance and potential federal and state fines. Gryphon Networks is a leading provider of automated privacy compliance products for direct marketers.

"Until recently, it was not possible for Verizon to provide this type of value-added service. Now that Verizon can offer long-distance services across the United States, the company can offer this type of service to enterprise customers that rely on direct marketing to drive business growth, said Greg Scott, executive director, vertical marketing, Verizon Enterprise Solutions Group. "This 'Do Not Call' compliance service will help companies comply with the complex set of federal and state regulations that govern 'Do Not Call' registries, while remaining sensitive to consumers' demands."

Gryphon Networks' technology is delivered via the Verizon long-distance network and requires no customer investment in premise-based hardware or software. Outbound calls from subscribing companies are automatically crosschecked against various federal and state registries, as well as proprietary databases maintained by subscribing companies. Direct marketers first dial an 800 number provided by Verizon to gain access to a centralized Gryphon Networks database in which all client-provided "Do Not Call" registries are stored. The direct marketer then keys in the number of the consumer to be reached. The call to the consumer will be completed only if the number is not listed on any of the "Do Not Call" registries.

In addition, new "Do Not Call" requests from consumers are added real-time to a subscribing customer's proprietary database regardless of geographic location and are then instantly available to every customer location utilizing the service. Detailed call accounting and productivity reports are also available via a Web-based interface.

"This is truly an unprecedented offering," said Keith Fotta, president and chief executive officer, Gryphon Networks. "By combining Gryphon's best-in-class technology with the resources of Verizon's nationwide long-distance service, the two companies can provide a powerful tool for use by the approximately 140,000 companies that make over 100 million outbound direct marketing calls a day."

Verizon and Gryphon Networks will initially target companies that rely upon direct marketing activities to generate sales - companies, for example, in the banking, insurance and securities industries.

During the past five years the number of states that have enacted "Do Not Call" regulations has grown from two to 37. The remaining 13 states and the District of Columbia are considering such regulations and a national "Do Not Call" registry is slated for implementation later this year. The complexity created by the tremendous growth of federal and state "Do Not Call" regulations has created the need for the type of pro-active, self-regulating " Do Not Call" service being marketed by Verizon and Gryphon Networks.

Enterprise long-distance services are provided by Verizon Select Services Inc. Verizon does not provide interLATA services in Alaska. Verizon was recently authorized to provide such services in West Virginia.

Verizon Enterprise Solutions Group manages the design, operation and maintenance of end-to-end total network integrated solutions for large business and government customers across the United States. With over 14,000 employees in 44 states, Verizon Enterprise Solutions Group offers a complete range of basic and advanced communications products and services to meet the voice, video, data and IP-related needs of its customers. For more information on products and services available through Verizon Enterprise Solutions Group, visit www.verizon.com/enterprisesolutions.

For more information on Gryphon Networks and the company's automated privacy compliance products, please visit www.gryphonnetworks.com.

A Fortune 10 company, 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 136.6 million access line equivalents and 33.3 million Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon is the third largest long-distance carrier for U.S. consumers, with 13.2 million long-distance lines, and the company is also the largest directory publisher in the world, as measured by directory titles and circulation. With approximately $67 billion in annual revenues and 227,000 employees, Verizon's global presence extends to the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

####