Verizon Brings Advantages of Voice over IP to Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

PHILDELPHIA - Verizon is bringing the economic and networking advantages of Internet protocol calling to small and medium-sized businesses here and in Boston with the introduction today of its new managed IP PBX (Internet protocol private branch exchange) solution suite for businesses considering a migration to voice-over-IP technology. Called Verizon Managed Communications, this solution will be delivered through an alliance with Alcatel.

"With our Managed Communications solutions, Verizon is bringing to small and medium-sized businesses the features central to voice-over-IP technology combined with the superior support you'd expect from Verizon," said John Havens, vice president, business solutions and services for Verizon. "In particular, businesses with multiple locations and wide area networks supporting their data transmissions can now leverage those networks for voice traffic, thus saving on toll charges and minimizing network complexity."

Verizon Managed Communications includes Verizon technical support round-the-clock and will be integrated with the company's network services. Verizon's target market will include business customers that have eight to100 employees and that need to upgrade their networks, or have plans to integrate their voice services into their network designs, or have future expansion plans.

Verizon Managed Communications will feature the Alcatel OmniPCX Office in a package that includes the network services plus ongoing system maintenance and remote service management. It will seamlessly accommodate over the customer's data network traditional telephone equipment (both analog and digital sets) and the new IP station equipment. In addition to LAN ports, the systems have ports for analog trunks and broadband access

"Verizon's Managed Communications offerings are flexible; customers can install them now, as they begin to shift the rest of their network to IP technology," said Havens. "Customers can take a rational approach to migration of their networks, rather than incurring the expense and disruption of making a wholesale replacement."

Perfect for small businesses without the resources to dedicate to IT support, Verizon is offering three levels of managed support. The Verizon remote service center will be available toll free, round-the-clock and offer services such as four-hour response time, remote diagnostics, configuration back-up, alarm monitoring, monthly reports and on-demand reports.

Verizon will be offering these products through one-to-five-year contracts through Verizon Credit. The lease terms will co-terminate with the tariff terms of the networks services that support the system.

Small and medium-sized businesses interested in exploring voice-over-IP technology can contact their Verizon Business Office.

A Dow 30 company, Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services, with approximately $68 billion in annual revenues. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world, as measured by directory titles and circulation. Verizon's international presence includes wireline and wireless communications operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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