Verizon Business Can Help Texas State and Local Governments Unleash the Power of Collaboration

AUSTIN, Texas -Texas public agencies looking to tap the power and efficiencies of the latest collaboration technologies can now turn to one of the most experienced global providers of unified communications and conferencing services.

Under a new award by the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR), Verizon Business is authorized to provide collaboration services to state agencies, cities, counties and school districts. The Texas Technology-Based Conferencing Products and Related Services contract permits Verizon Business to compete for services ranging from audio, Web and conventional video conferencing, to lifelike immersive video.

"Adopting the right set of collaboration and conferencing tools can have a powerful effect on an organization's overall performance," said Ray Wierzbicki, group president for Verizon Business government and education markets. "No one knows more about getting the most from collaboration technologies. Our experienced, professional team understands how the right communications tools can help promote teamwork, productivity and business continuity while helping to hold the line on travel costs and the associated carbon emissions."

Organizations that deploy advanced collaboration technologies see a return on their collaboration investment and perform better than their less collaborative peers, according to the recent groundbreaking study "Meetings Around the World II: Charting the Course of Advanced Collaboration."

The study, conducted by Frost & Sullivan and sponsored by Verizon and Cisco, explored how employees in businesses and governments use technology to collaborate. It found that organizations deploying more advanced Internet protocol (IP) collaboration tools - like Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP); instant messaging; audio, Web and video conferencing; and immersive video -- also have a higher return on their collaboration investment. For more information on the study, visit: http://www.verizonbusiness.com/go/meetingsaroundtheworld.

With more than 30 years of experience delivering conferencing services, Verizon Business is an established leader in providing unified communications and collaboration services. Verizon Business' government and education organization offers state and local agencies one-stop shopping for their advanced network, communications, information technology (IT), and security services along with the professional consulting services to put technology to work and help to transform the way government customers -- and their constituents -- do business.

About Verizon Business
Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a global leader in communications and IT solutions. We combine professional expertise with one of the world's most connected IP networks to deliver award-winning communications, IT, information security and network solutions. We securely connect today's extended enterprises of widespread and mobile customers, partners, suppliers and employees - enabling them to increase productivity and efficiency and help preserve the environment. Many of the world's largest businesses and governments - including 96 percent of the Fortune 1000 and thousands of government agencies and educational institutions - rely on our professional and managed services and network technologies to accelerate their business. Find out more at www.verizonbusiness.com.

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