Verizon Business Earns 'Cisco 2007 U.S. Partner Provider of the Year,' Other Top Awards for U.S. and Canada

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - Verizon Business' outstanding performance and
success as a Cisco channel partner has earned it the Cisco 2007 Partner
Provider of the Year award and three other top awards for services sold
in the U.S. and Canada.

In addition to the partner provider award, Verizon Business received the
Cisco Managed Security Services Award for the U.S. and Canada, the Cisco
U.S. Top Federal Systems Integrator Award, and the Cisco U.S. and Canada
channel award for Excellence in Access Router Attach.

"In 2007, we moved our collaboration with Cisco to a new level, and
these awards underscore our success in meeting this goal," said Nancy
Gofus, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Verizon
Business. "Our relationship with Cisco and the ability to leverage the
power of our IP capabilities support Verizon Business' position as a
global leader in the delivery of managed network and security services."

Wendy Bahr, vice president of U.S. and Canada channels at Cisco, said,
"I had the honor and privilege of recognizing Verizon Business as a
four-time Cisco Partner Summit award winner. Verizon Business continues
to be an industry-leading service provider, and these awards recognize
Verizon Business' performance and success as a Cisco channel partner in
United States and Canada during 2007."

The awards were presented in April at Cisco's annual partner summit in
Honolulu. Cisco selected Verizon Business from among all of its U.S. and
Canadian Certified Channel Partners.

Cisco Partner Summit Awards are presented to channel partners that meet
a specific set of requirements designed to identify the best channel
partner in each category. Cisco has built a formalized nomination and
selection process that begins with each sales theater, or region,
nominating a channel partner for each category. Nominations are
reviewed and final selections made by a group of Cisco worldwide and
regional channel executives. Customer satisfaction is the basic
criterion for all the awards, which also comply with the requirements of
the Cisco Channel Partner Program.

Verizon Business, a Cisco Gold Partner, has a worldwide service and
support team of more than 6,500 personnel, as well as nearly 1,000
employees with Cisco Qualified Specialist Certifications in advanced
routing and switching, advanced wireless, advanced security and advanced
unified communications. It also has more than 1,200 global personnel
dedicated to the delivery of security solutions. The company received
the Cisco 2006 Global Managed Services Partner of the Year Award and the
Cisco 2005 Global Service Provider Partner of the Year award recognizing
the strength and accomplishments of the Verizon Business Cisco Channel
Partner Program.

Today, Verizon Business manages 260,000-plus devices on more than 4,200
customer networks in 142 countries and territories, overseeing
non-Verizon connections from more than 60 network providers around the
world. Verizon Business' industry-leading service-level commitments for
its managed network services and award-winning IMPACT management
platform underscore its legacy of service and innovation. Verizon
Business also offers a suite of professional network and security
services to help customers successfully deploy and manage IP networks.
These services range from network assessment and design consulting to
project management and capacity planning.

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 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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