Verizon Business Helps Amarr Garage Doors Transition to IP Communications

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - North America just became a lot smaller for Amarr Garage Doors.

One of the world's leading manufacturers and distributors of residential and commercial garage doors, Amarr is among the growing number of companies taking advantage of Verizon Business' fastest-growing service, Private IP (Internet protocol). Under a new agreement, Verizon Business will help Amarr transition from a traditional data network based on frame-relay technology to an advanced voice, data and Internet network linking 60-plus locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Additionally, the Private IP network is complemented by productivity-enhancing services such as net and audio conferencing, corporate dial and dedicated Internet and Voice over IP (VoIP).

The older technology did not allow "any-to-any" connectivity. With Verizon Business Private IP, Amarr can build a hybrid solution between its public and private networks while enabling automated business processes, including e-commerce, converged solutions, shared intranets, and extranets, as well as Quality of Service (QoS) routing. And with Verizon Business' five Classes of Service (CoS), Amarr can prioritize voice, video and data traffic while consolidating it on a single network.

"This will improve our speed to market by enhancing ordering and delivery of inventory, giving dealers access to our online inventory, pricing, ordering and delivery information over the Web," said Steve Crawford, Amarr’s vice president of information technology. "Our growth is exceeding the industry and we need a more robust network to keep up with that growth. We turned to Verizon Business for a corporate network that would support our current and future expansion."

The new platform, using multi protocol label switching (MPLS) with Private IP, lets Amarr integrate its key business systems, including finance, distribution, HR and customer management. Amarr also will rely on Verizon Business for dedicated Internet and voice and conferencing services to enhance collaboration. Amarr also selected data center collocation services for its Winston Salem, N.C., headquarters, as well as a backup mirror site at a manufacturing facility in Lawrence, Kan., for disaster recovery capabilities.

"Verizon Business is in the business of helping our customers improve how their people and systems communicate," said Steve Young, group president for Verizon Business corporate accounts. "We’re helping Amarr stay ahead of the demand curve for its products while delivering high-quality services to its employees and its customers."

About Amarr Garage Doors - Amarr is one of the world's leading manufacturers and distributors of residential and commercial garage doors. Established in 1951 by the Brenner family in Winston-Salem, N.C., Amarr has grown to over 1,000 team members, operating three plants, and over 60 Door Centers in the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Hungary. Over 3,000 independent dealers, distributors and leading retailers sell Amarr doors worldwide for the new construction and replacement markets. For more information, visit www.amarr.com or call 1-800-503-DOOR (3667).

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 technology and 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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