Verizon Business Receives 2007 Nortel Partner Advantage Innovation Award

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - Verizon Business has received the 2007 Nortel Partner Advantage Innovation Award, recognizing the company's success in helping customers transition to voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP) while providing ongoing management of their Nortel VoIP platforms.

The award recognizes a Nortel business partner for crafting unique solutions using Nortel products and services that meet specific customer requirements. Verizon Business was selected from scores of Nortel partners, based on its successful launch of a new managed service to support Nortel Internet protocol (IP) telephony platforms.

"This award underscores our focus and commitment to delivering flexible, world-class voice-over-IP solutions to the marketplace," said Nancy Gofus, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Verizon Business. "Working with Nortel, we are combining our individual strengths to provide customers with the expertise and technology necessary to successfully deploy and manage enterprise VoIP services that make a difference for our customers."

In December 2007, Verizon Business announced availability of a new managed service for Nortel IP PBX equipment that combines the reliability, flexibility and simplicity of Nortel's portfolio with Verizon Business' comprehensive management, PBX expertise and advanced monitoring systems and processes. The new managed IP PBX offering provides large-business and government customers another strong option for efficiently transitioning to an advanced, integrated IP-based communications platform with the addition of a new server and updated software.

"It is an honor to recognize Verizon Business for its commitment to investing in new Nortel-based capabilities to meet the IP-transition needs of enterprise customers," said Laura Hale, manager - enterprise business development, Nortel. "Our collaboration makes good business sense and we look forward to raising the bar in 2008 as we help customers prepare for accelerating IP transformation and unified communications."

Verizon Business has been a Nortel partner for more than 20 years and is a Nortel Elite Advantage partner. Its technical and support staff collectively hold more than 1,000 Nortel certifications for design, support, technology and sales. Verizon Business has deployed more than 155,000 Nortel PBXs and more than 4,800 Nortel IP telephony platforms, and currently maintains nearly 30,000 Nortel systems.

Verizon Business manages nearly 260,000 devices on more than 4,000 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.

Nortel, the Nortel logo and the Globemark are trademarks of Nortel Networks.

About Verizon Business
Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), operates the world's most connected public IP network and uses its industry-leading global-network capabilities to offer large-business and government customers an unmatched combination of security, reliability and speed. The company integrates advanced IP communications and information technology (IT) products and services to deliver leading enterprise solutions including managed services, security, mobility, collaboration and professional services. These solutions power innovation and enable the company's customers to do business better. For more information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high quality-video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.