Wireless Notification: Message-Alert Feature for Verizon's Home and Business Voice Mailboxes Now Available Nationwide

NEW YORK - Verizon is expanding nationwide a new feature called Wireless Notification that enables the company's voice-messaging customers to receive alerts on their Verizon Wireless phones, giving them instant access to their messages.

The feature can be added to all Verizon home and business voice mailboxes. It sends a text message to any Verizon Wireless short text messaging-capable phone with an alert that a new voice message has been left in the customer's landline mailbox. The feature was introduced in June to Verizon voice-messaging customers in New York and New England.

"This new feature recognizes the popularity of wireless phones and our need to have instant access to our messages" said Rich McCusker, director of product development for Verizon. "Now messages shout out, 'I'm here, whenever you're ready for me.'"

Verizon's voice mailbox for home and business is easy to use, requires no equipment and offers multiple mailboxes for several individuals or departments. The message system is built into Verizon's switching system, so it continues to work even when customers are without electric power or when their phone lines are out of service due to storms.

"Verizon's voice mailbox is more reliable than answering machines and now, with this new feature, users will know immediately when they get a new message," said McCusker. "We just removed one more barrier to efficient communications, allowing our customers to get their messages almost instantly."

When a caller leaves a message in the landline mailbox, customers who sign up for this new service will get an alert on their Verizon Wireless phone indicating that a message is waiting at the home or business line's voice mail access number. Multiple work and home mailboxes can all report new messages to the same wireless phone. There is no charge for receipt of the SMS (Short Message Service) alert.

The new feature, Wireless Notification, uses technology that supports communication between otherwise parallel networks, technology that is already employed by Verizon's iobi call-management product line. Customers can use various versions of iobi to manage all their messaging from a single platform, including using a computer screen icon to direct calls in real time as they come in.

"Some call it convergence, some call it integration, but we think our customers will call it 'helpful,'" McCusker said.

Customers can order Wireless Notification when placing an original order for home and business voice messaging or by calling the Verizon service ordering number on the phone bill.

In participating markets, Verizon home and business customers also can get a single bill for their landline and Verizon Wireless bills. Called ONE-BILL, it is available free for customers whose accounts are current.

Verizon Communications Inc.

With more than $71 billion in annual revenues, Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon has a diverse work force of more than 214,000 in four business units: Domestic Telecom provides customers based in 28 states with wireline and other telecommunications services, including broadband. Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 47.4 million voice and data customers across the United States. Information Services operates directory publishing businesses and provides electronic commerce services. International includes wireline and wireless operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

####