Verizon Online Enhances Business DSL Service In Baltimore/Washington Metropolitan Areas

WASHINGTON - Businesses in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan areas now can interact and more effectively communicate with their customers and suppliers by hosting their own site.

Verizon Online's new "Business DSL (digital subscriber line) with Static IP" service is the Internet platform necessary to set up Web servers, e-mail servers and file servers, as well as add future services like voice over DSL. Bringing these services in-house allows businesses to host their own Web site and give employees remote access to the company's computer network through a virtual private network (VPN).

"Opting for Verizon Online's new business DSL service opens a new world of services for about a dollar a day," said Anthony Price, vice president for Verizon Advanced Services. "It brings businesses closer to their customers by making information about the business easier to find online."

Businesses that sign up by Dec. 20 for Verizon Online's enhanced DSL service and make a one-year commitment qualify for a $200 cash rebate plus their first month free, with a second rebate.

The enhanced DSL service, Business DSL with Static IP, gives businesses a static, or permanent, IP (Internet protocol) address for locating their server, network or Web site on the Internet. Computers use static IP addresses to find Web sites like postmen use street addresses to find a home or business. By contrast, dynamic IP DSL service, currently offered to businesses and consumers, uses a different IP address each time a computer connects to the Internet.

Businesses in the Baltimore-Washington area that want business-grade DSL service can now choose Verizon Online's DSL service with either static or dynamic IP, depending on their business needs. Business DSL with static IP service opens the door for businesses to:

• build more reliable networks;
• run and monitor their own Web server giving businesses more control over their networks and more security;
• manage their e-mail server;
• set up virtual private networks (VPN) for mobile or remote employees, enabling them to access the company's network and e-mail;
• connect two separate computer networks.

Verizon Online also offers two routers that allow multiple computers to use one DSL connection. The newest router is wireless and uses Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) technology to beam one DSL connection within the office, without any special wiring. The wired router requires CAT-5 wiring.

Business DSL with Static IP Packages

Verizon Online offers businesses six DSL with static IP packages with increasing bandwidth. The plans offer maximum connection speeds of:
• 768 Kbps (kilobits per second) downstream with 128 Kbps upstream for $79.95 a month;
• 1.5 Mbps (megabits per second) downstream with 128 Kbps upstream for $99.95 a month;
• 384 Kbps downstream with 384 Kbps upstream for $109.95 a month;
• 1.5 Mbps downstream with 384 Kbps upstream for $119.95 a month;
• 768 Kbps downstream with 768 Kbps upstream for $159.95 a month;
• 7.1 Mbps downstream with 768 Kbps upstream for $234.95 a month.

All the business DSL plans come with six domain name (yourname@yourbusiness.com) e-mail boxes, 20 megabytes of personal Web space, one domain name with a permanent IP address and a one-year contract. The DSL modem is $99 and can be installed by customers. Verizon Online's DSL service includes a 30-day money-back guarantee and preferred support for business customers with a single phone number to call for all inquiries and services.

For more information on Verizon Online's Business DSL service, business customers can call 1-888-649-9500 or go online at http://biz.verizon.net/ to order DSL and check availability.

Verizon is a leading DSL provider with more than 1.64 million DSL customers in 27 states and the District of Columbia. Verizon Online provides DSL and other Internet services to consumers and businesses.

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 135.0 million access line equivalents and 31.5 million Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. With more than $67 billion in annual revenues and more than 236,000 employees, Verizon's global presence extends to more than 35 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

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