Verizon Online Opens Additional Internet Express Lanes in the Coachella Valley, Calif.

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - More people in the Coachella Valley can now enjoy the benefits of high-speed Internet access from Verizon Online. Verizon announced today that it is now expanding the availability of DSL (digital subscriber line) service to 13,000 more subscribers in Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Marine Palms and Indio.

"If you've wanted DSL service from us in the past, but it wasn't in your neighborhood, now's the time to check with us on current availability," said Tim McCallion, Verizon's Pacific region president.

DSL subscribers can have news in an instant, share digital photos, quickly send e-mail attachments, download movies, and play interactive multi-player games in real time. DSL-powered businesses can save time and increase productivity by doing research and paying bills online, and e-mailing orders to suppliers.

Not only is Verizon DSL available to more people than ever before, but Verizon can also help customers make the most of high-speed access to the Internet or other broadband services. For instance, Verizon Online sells and provides technical support for Linksys' wired and wireless routers for creating a home network. With a home network router, subscribers can add additional security and connect several computers to one DSL connection to access the Internet at high speeds. A home network also lets subscribers share files and printers among several computers.

To order Verizon Online DSL or to check whether it is available to a specific home or business, local telephone customers should check online at www.verizon.net or call Verizon toll-free at 800-567-6789 (for residential customers) or 888-649-9500 (for businesses).

Currently, Verizon Online is offering its basic consumer DSL service for $34.95 a month. Special plans can save customers even more money if they buy DSL from Verizon as part of a package that includes local and long-distance phone service.

McCallion said that Verizon is rapidly expanding the deployment of DSL in California. It's currently available throughout much of the Verizon service area in the state.

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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