Verizon Doubles the Speed of Entry-Level Internet Access for Small and Medium Businesses Without Changing the Price

NEW YORK - Verizon has increased the entry-level speed of its asynchronous Business DSL service to 3.0 Mbps (megabits per second) without changing the price, offering potential savings of up to $50 a month off current plans and a new competitive choice to business customers looking for the best value in broadband.

"We find our small-business customers are increasingly using the Internet for mission-critical functions such as order processing, customer service, marketing and supply-chain management," said Mike Lanier, director of business broadband marketing. "These applications require increased bandwidth beyond what's used for e-mail and Web research, and our lower price allows even the smallest businesses to take advantage of the productivity gained by using the Internet."

To meet this demand, the speed of the entry-level Business DSL service is doubling from up to 1.5Mbps to up to 3.0Mbps downstream and from up to 384Kbps to up to 768Kbps upstream for customers who sign up for an annual service plan. The price changes affect both the dynamic and static DSL services for high-speed DSL Internet access.

The price of dynamic 3 megabit DSL service price is now $59.95 a month, down from $89.95, a savings of about $360 per year. When a computer or device has a dynamic IP address, each time it accesses the Internet it will have a different address automatically assigned by Verizon. With this price change, the plan retains - at no additional charge -- the same business-grade features needed by small businesses for professional use of the Web: domain name e-mail (username@yourcompany.com), dynamic IP address, 20 megabytes Web space, dial-up remote access and news.

Static DSL now costs $79.95 a month with an annual contract, down from $129.95, for a savings of $600 per year. DSL with a static IP address provides businesses their own permanent IP address on the Internet, enabling them to host a Web site and e-mail server as well as provide virtual private network (VPN) applications for employees who work remotely. Under the new rate, Verizon offers the same business-grade features, including a static IP address, 20 megabytes of Web space, domain name e-mail (username@yourcompany.com), unlimited dial up access, and news -- at no additional charge. Additional IP addresses are available in blocks of five, 13, or 29.

"Unlike some competitors' offers, this not a short-term promotional rate that automatically increases later on," said Lanier. "We're creating the best value in broadband for all our small-business customers, with an unbeatable combination of low cost, high speed, superior content and excellent customer service."

Customers who purchase the 3 Mbps package along with a qualifying voice service package can get an additional 20 percent discount on their monthly rate. In addition, Verizon offers its business customers access to world-class business content via the Verizon Business Center portal. Here, even small businesses have free access to the Wall Street Journal and other popular industry tools. The portal also enables businesses to manage their Verizon DSL and e-mail accounts online, saving time and money.

Each of the packages includes Verizon's business-grade technical support, which is available to business DSL customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Business DSL offers a superior solution for small businesses. With a cable modem, the business shares the line with other cable modem customers. In contrast, since DSL runs over the phone line, it is a dedicated line to the business customer. Businesses with multiple users can share the same Verizon Business DSL connection, with no additional monthly fees, for economies of scale, and Verizon offers both wired and wireless networking equipment to meet these requirements.

Verizon provides a wide range of broadband services ranging from entry-level DSL service in speeds up to 7.1 Mbps, where available, to converged voice and data solutions, to a number of dedicated Internet access technologies that top 600 Mbps. By offering the right technology at competitive prices, Verizon can meet all of the burgeoning broadband needs of small businesses as they grow and prosper.

To order Verizon Business DSL and learn about current promotions, small businesses can contact their local business office. Online ordering will be available beginning April 1, 2005, at www.verizon.com/business.

DSL services are provided by Verizon Online.

Verizon Communications Inc.

With more than $71 billion in annual revenues, Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon has a diverse work force of more than 210,000 in four business units: Domestic Telecom serves customers based in 29 states with wireline telecommunications services, including broadband and other services. Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 43.8 million voice and data customers across the United States. Information Services operates directory publishing businesses and provides electronic commerce services. International includes wireline and wireless operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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