Verizon Gives Small and Medium-sized Businesses Next Generation Broadband Technology

NEW YORK -Small and medium-sized businesses in nine states and the District of Columbia can now send important data traffic through the network at a higher priority than other DSL (digital subscriber line) traffic by opting for Verizon's new Business SHDSL service.

Verizon Business SHDSL offers businesses data service under the international standard for single-pair high-speed DSL, "g.SHDSL." This is a symmetrical offering popular in Europe. Verizon is the first carrier in the United States to offer service at speeds up to 1.5 Mbps (megabits per second) in both directions, with quality of service comparable to high-end Internet services.

"With this new technology, small and medium-sized business customers who may be considering higher-end Internet access now have a more powerful alternative," said Anthony Price, vice president-business markets. "Business SHDSL also offers the type of performance standards and dependability usually reserved for very large data customers."

Verizon Business SHDSL is a premium data-only service, well-suited for businesses with local area networks (LANs) or multiple Internet users who depend on the Internet to access company resources and customers. Symmetric service supports business applications that require higher bandwidth, both upstream and downstream, such as hosting of servers, e-commerce, LAN-to-Internet connectivity and video conferencing.

The new technology enables Verizon to prioritize SHDSL data traffic during periods of high congestion, so business applications will get both the priority they need and higher speeds in both directions.

Though it outperforms ADSL services, Verizon Business SHDSL is very competitive. Prices range from $149.95 to $369.95 per month, according to speed, which ranges from 192 Kbps (kilobits per second) to 1.5 Mbps. The service also includes key elements that small and medium-sized businesses require, including one static IP address, 15 business-grade e-mail boxes, 20 megabytes of Web space, 20 hours of dial-up mobility access and DNS (domain name service) for up to five domains. In addition, a unique business portal provides customers with access to e-mail wherever they can access the Internet, and to learning resources and industry-specific news.

"With the addition of Business SHDSL to the product line, Verizon offers a complete Internet access portfolio that can meet the needs of small and medium-sized businesses as they grow and expand," said Price.

After a trial earlier this year in Baltimore and Clearwater, Fla., Verizon is now launching the service in select cities in Delaware, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. The service is also now available in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Md., and will be available in other selected cities later this year. Business customers can learn more about the product by calling 1- 888-704-9635.

A Fortune 10 company, Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services, with approximately $67 billion in revenues and 221,000 employees. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 137.6 million access line equivalents and 34.6 million Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon is the third largest long-distance carrier for U.S. consumers, with 14.6 million long-distance lines. The company 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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