Verizon Business Announces Availability of Managed IP PBX Service for the European Market

READING, U.K. - Enterprises requiring a technology update or that are expanding to greenfield sites now can gain more control over their PBX capabilities with the availability of Verizon Managed IP PBX for the European market. The offering, immediately available in 15 countries, can help corporate customers navigate the complex transition to -- and ongoing management of -- IP telephony.

Verizon Managed IP PBX enables customers to outsource the design, implementation and management of their premises-based IP telephony systems to Verizon Business. Customers benefit from enhanced connectivity to distributed offices, with low capital investment, as well as reduced operating and connectivity expenses, backed up with a service level agreement for platform availability and change management.

Professional consultancy services including readiness assessment, asset discovery and migration planning are also available.

Peter Hall, principal analyst at the analyst and consulting company Ovum commented: "Managed IP PBX solutions are gaining much interest within the marketplace as they allow organisations to gain all the benefits of VoIP without high capital investment. In addition, they minimise risk as their management includes the important but complex areas of security and quality of service."

Verizon Managed IP PBX forms part of Verizon Business' full VoIP and Managed Network Solutions portfolios and offers continuous IP PBX management and optimization including fault management, configuration, accounting, performance and security. The service effectively encompasses all elements of customer PBX connectivity, including Verizon-managed LAN and WAN network services, Cisco Unified Communications Manager, Cisco IP phones, voice connectivity and gateways. This delivers a true end-to-end VoIP solution with high levels of performance, efficiency and reliability, offering integration to the Verizon VoIP platform through Verizon IP Trunking.

With Verizon Managed IP PBX, users are able to quickly implement IP-based voice, data and video services such as unified messaging, multimedia conferencing, collaborative contact centres and interactive multimedia response systems through CallManager. Enhanced call services such as hold, transfer, forward, conference, speed dial and last-number redial are automatically made available to IP phones and gateways.

Michael Marcellin, vice president of global product marketing, Verizon Business, commented: "Many of our customers who are considering making the transition to IP are looking for partners to guide them through that process. Our Managed IP PBX service enables them to quickly reap the benefits of IP-based tools such as VoIP, conferencing and instant messaging, without the need for a high degree of expertise, and in a cost effective manner. The Verizon VoIP portfolio gives customers the perfect platform on which to build their future communications solutions, and our Managed IP PBX service provides another alternative to assist them in this process."

Verizon Managed IP PBX includes:

• VoIP qualification and integrated end-to-end solution design.
• Fully project-managed installation, implementation and training.
• Performance management -- data collection and reporting through a Web-based portal enabling analysis and capacity planning.
• Accounting management -- usage tracking and service cost allocation.
• Configuration management -- provision, change management, auto discovery, backup/restore and inventory/asset management.
• Fault management -- detection, correlation, isolation, recovery and reporting.
• Security management -- access control, policy, audit and breach detection for operational security; network security options can be added as necessary.

Verizon Managed IP PBX is now available across Europe in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Eire, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.K. In addition, further expansion into the Asia-Pacific region is planned for late 2007.

About Verizon Business
Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a leading provider of advanced communications and information technology (IT) solutions to large business and government customers worldwide. Combining unsurpassed global network reach with advanced communications, security and other professional service capabilities, Verizon Business delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world. For more information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com.

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