Verizon Information Services, the United States' Largest Hispanic Directory Publisher, Introduces New Bilingual SuperPages Directories Across Southern California

Los Alamitos, Calif. - Verizon Information Services, the nation's largest Hispanic yellow pages publisher, has more than tripled the number of bilingual SuperPages^TM phone books it publishes in Southern California for the growing Spanish-speaking market. For the first time, Greater Los Angeles, Whittier, Monrovia, San Gabriel and the central and northwest Orange County communities will have new bilingual SuperPages -- Más Opciones. Mejores Decisiones.^SM In addition, the company is also the first major telephone directory publisher to launch a national Spanish-language online yellow pages, Superpages.com en Español (www.SuperPages.com/Espanol).

"According to national research firm Claritas, the Hispanic community represents 44.9 percent of Los Angeles County and 31.1 percent of Orange County's total population," said Dante Díaz, Verizon group manager - ethnic products and national sales marketing. "We saw an opportunity in the local communities to provide a useful resource tool for both our Spanish- and English-speaking customers." Recent research conducted by the Gallup Organization on behalf of Verizon SuperPages shows that 75.3 percent of Hispanics prefer a bilingual phone book. Historically, once consumers have received a new bilingual directory, a 21.3 percent increase in the overall usage of the directory is observed.

Hispanic Cover Design

"The flipped phone books feature a Spanish cover on one side and an English cover on the other," Díaz said. "The new directories make it easier for readers to find exactly what they need in the language they prefer. Half of the directory is written in Spanish and the other is written in English."

The colors and images on the cover are representative of Hispanic cultures throughout Latin America. "We wanted a cover that focused on Hispanic culture and language, that attracted attention, was easily recognizable and invited the Spanish-speaking reader into the directory to find products and services offered by local businesses. We think this cover does just that," Díaz said.

SuperPages.com en Español

Verizon, the first major telephone directory publisher to launch a comprehensive Spanish-language online directory for U.S. Spanish-speaking Internet users in the fall of 2001, has just expanded search features and added more Hispanic-focused content on SuperPages.com en Español.

Along with a new SuperTopics (SuperSecciones) section that addresses U.S. Hispanic interests, SuperPages.com en Español has expanded its Spanish-language search categories and functionality to make it even easier to find the information and businesses.

SuperTopics (SuperSecciones) include content that speaks specifically to the Hispanic audience with information ranging from how to plan a wedding to tips on opening a new business. There are also direct links to merchants providing related goods and services. One of the most popular features of the original SuperPages.com en Español has been Mi Directorio, a section where users can create a personal address book. Nearly one out of every five page views has included a visit to the section.

"We know that the U.S. Hispanic community is a strong and vital force in the U.S. economy," said Diaz. "To both meet and exceed its needs, Verizon will continue to add enhancements and features to both the online and print directories."

Verizon recently delivered more than one million copies of the SuperPages Más Opciones. Mejores Decisiones. bilingual phone book throughout the following communities: Greater L.A., Echo Park, Ladera Heights, Los Feliz, Mid-Cities, Griffith Park, Silver Lake, View Park, Wilshire District, Buena Park, Fullerton, Cypress, La Palma, Stanton, Los Alamitos, La Mirada, La Habra, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Tustin, Los Nietos, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, Whittier, Bradbury, Duarte, Monrovia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Covina, Glendora, Hacienda Heights, Irwindale, La Puente, Rowland Heights and West Covina. If you did not receive a copy of your local directory, please call 1-800-888-8448.

About Verizon Information Services and SuperPages.com

Verizon Information Services is the world's leading print and online directory publisher and a content provider for communications products and services. Verizon operates in 16 countries and has annual revenues of more than $4.3 billion. The company publishes nearly 1,200 U.S. Verizon SuperPages directories and 400 international directories with a total circulation of approximately 150 million copies worldwide. Verizon is also the largest Hispanic directory publisher in the country.

Verizon Information Services also produces and markets SuperPages.com, the Internet's #1 online directory and shopping resource. SuperPages.com receives as many as 12 million visits and 9 million unique visitors a month. SuperPages.com also powers directory services on MSN, InfoSpace, AltaVista, Excite, Lycos, Ask Jeeves, HotBot, BigFoot, Tripod and Angelfire.

Through its signature Verizon Reads program and the Verizon Literacy Network, Verizon is committed to leading the fight to increase U.S. literacy levels by creating community and corporate awareness, raising funds, encouraging collaboration among literacy providers and engaging employees in supporting literacy programs. Verizon Information Services supports community outreach programs across the nation designed to increase the literacy rate of children and adults, and to help people of all ages become computer literate.

Based in the Dallas area, Verizon Information Services is a unit of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), one of the world's leading providers of communications services. For more information on Verizon Information Services, visit Verizon.SuperPages.com. For more information on Verizon's literacy programs, visit SuperPages.comand click on the Verizon Reads icon.

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