Verizon Online Turns Web Site Woes into Web Site Wows with New Business Site Design Tools

NEW YORK - To help small and mid-sized businesses stand out in cyberspace, Verizon Online introduces complete Web site design and hosting services with round-the-clock site monitoring. Options range from do-it-yourself Web site packages to professionally designed and hosted Web site services.

"To stay competitive, most businesses need their own attention-grabbing Web site that can be accessed quickly," said Tim Eggleston, director-product management for Verizon Online. "Our new Web site design services take the work out of designing a unique site and we can help customers run it. The service allows customers to concentrate on running their business, instead of learning a new language, like HTML. "

Verizon Online offers a range of options for small businesses whether the businesses are new to the Web or already have an existing site. Verizon Online offers two levels of its Web site design services, from do-it-yourself to turnkey:

• The Site Builder service includes a step-by-step, do-it-yourself software package that helps businesses create and maintain their own Web site. There are more than 30 different design templates that can be customized by individual business as well as suggestions for popular Web site topics. With the Site Builder tools, customers can make changes at any time without paying additional fees. For $420 a year ($34.95 a month), Site Builder provides a service with both self-service design tools and 24x7 monitoring of its professional hosting services.

• The Site Starter full-service package also includes Web hosting with round-the-clock monitoring plus the services of expert Web designers who will create a unique site. Also, included as part of the $780 yearly fee ($64.95 a month), customers will get a monthly consultation to keep their Web site current.

Business customers who sign up for either Site Builder or Site Starter by April 30th will receive a $100 discount with a one-year commitment. Two other services are offered for a limited time with a one-year contract.

As a stop-gap measure for companies that want a presence on the Web but aren't ready to launch their own site yet, Verizon Online is launching Custom Web Page. It is a stand-alone single page announcing the company's site while it's under construction. With an annual Web hosting agreement, new customers can receive a Custom Web Page for free (a $99 retail value).

Businesses with existing Web sites that want to use Verizon Online's Web hosting services, can transfer their Web files at no cost when signing an annual contract. According to Eggleston, having Verizon Online transfer the files can help limit or prevent the loss of information.

"Verizon has the tools and technical wizards to give small and midsize business customers everything they need to create top-quality Web sites at affordable prices, while maintaining focus on their business," Eggleston said.

To learn more about Verizon Online's Web design and hosting services, businesses can call 1-877-483-1794.

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 132.1 million access line equivalents and 29.4 million wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. A Fortune 10 company with more than $67 billion in annual revenues and approximately 247,000 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.