Verizon Online Business Customers Can Now Take DSL Where It's Never Gone Before

NEW YORK - Verizon Online now gives small businesses the freedom and flexibility of wireless high-speed Internet connections. The company is offering special deals on Linksys' award-winning EtherFast® Wireless Broadband Router.

The router uses 802.11b Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) technology to beam a single DSL (digital subscriber line) connection amongst multiple computers as well as share networking resources such as printers, scanners and files within a local area network. Businesses with wired networks can also share the same DSL connection and link-up with the wireless network.

"With this wireless router, businesses can literally take DSL where it's never gone before," said Richard Herbst, director-Business Marketing, Verizon Advanced Services. "You can extend DSL connections between floors, down hallways and even outdoors. You can set up wireless networks in older buildings that aren't wired for the Internet age. The connection's portability lets businesses reconfigure office space and add new employees without the hassle of reconfiguring a wired network."

Janie Tsao, Linksys vice president of business development and broadband said, "Businesses will appreciate the ability and convenience of getting both DSL service and a choice of our wired or wireless routers from Verizon Online."

PC World magazine awarded the Linksys Wireless Router its World Class Award for best networking product for the past two years and recognized it in 2002 as the best overall hardware product.

According to a recent industry study, the market for wireless LANs is projected to grow from $1.3 billion in 2001 to more than $3.7 billion in 2005.

Verizon Online Business DSL Wireless Router Offer

For a limited time, Verizon Online is offering new business DSL customers a choice of two rebates on the $180 Linksys wireless router (model BEFW11S4). New DSL business customers who order the basic DSL service with 768Kbps downstream and 128Kbps upstream will get a $100 rebate. Businesses ordering any DSL plans with connection speeds of up to 1.5Mbps or above will receive a full $180 rebate for the wireless router. An adapter or network card is the only additional equipment needed for linking each computer to the businesses' wireless network.

Security

The Linksys wireless router provides a number of security options including a network address translation (NAT) firewall that protects users around the network from hackers. Also, the wireless router and adapter cards used by each computer for the high-speed wireless network have wireless encryption protocol (WEP) technology that can be activated to keep information secure from over-the-air broadband pirates.

Almost any small business can use a wireless router to provide its employees with portable DSL connections. Businesses can set up a freestanding all-wireless network or integrate the wireless LAN into an existing wired network.

Verizon is now offering a free Small Business Guide to Wireless Networking that is available by calling 1-888-704-9635 or by visiting the Web at www.linksys.com/support/vrzn. The guide gives an overview of a wireless network and explains the business benefits of going wireless.

Verizon Online Business DSL Plans

Verizon Online offers a number of high-speed DSL plans for small and mid-sized businesses in the 28 states and the District of Columbia where it offers local telephone service. To order DSL and take advantage of the rebate offer on Linksys routers, customers should call Verizon Online at 1-888-704-9635 or visit http://biz.verizon.net/promo/wirelessdsl. Business customers can count on Verizon Online's specially trained business technical support staff, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Verizon is a leading DSL provider with more than 1.5 million consumer and business customers nationwide.

Linksys is the leading provider of wireless products with 14 percent of the worldwide market.

Linksys

Linksys, an award-winning global leader in the development of wireless, broadband and LAN networking solutions for the home, small office/home office (SOHO) and small/medium business (SMB) corporate environments, is the leading manufacturer of networking hardware in both retail and e-commerce channels and is the fastest growing networking solution provider for the SMB corporate sector. Linksys has current memberships with DSL Forum, HomePlug, PCI-SIG, UPnP, USB-IF and WECA. Linksys also actively participates and directly contributes in the development of the CableHome specification for routers and residential gateways. Linksys products are sold through leading distributors, computer resellers, direct response, broadband service providers and e-commerce and retail stores worldwide. 24/7 Grade "A" product support (PC magazine, august 2002) is provided free to all Linksys customers. For more information, visit the Linksys web site at www.linksys.com.

Verizon Communications

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 135.1 million access line equivalents and 30.3 million Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. With more than $67 billion in annual revenues and approximately 241,000 employees, Verizon's global presence extends to more than 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

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