Verizon Private IP Quadruples Network Capacity for Invacare’s European Operations

PARIS - Invacare Corp., a leading global manufacturer of wheelchairs and home medical equipment, has chosen Verizon Business to deploy and manage its new European communications network. A fully managed Verizon Private IP solution effectively quadruples the bandwidth available to employees at the company's 20 sales and production locations in Europe. The company's business-critical applications will be co-located at Verizon Business' data center in France.

The complete solution offers a secure, cost-effective way for Invacare to provide its employees with immediate availability of applications. Verizon Private IP provides the flexibility to accommodate fluctuations in bandwidth demand and can easily be scaled to handle future growth. In addition, Invacare's data is securely hosted, and Verizon Business professionals monitor the network's security and performance 24 x 7.

Invacare designs, manufactures and distributes an extensive line of non-acute health care products for the home, retail and extended care markets. Invacare's business operations are centralized around its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, which enables the company's 1,200 European employees to easily coordinate resources and information. Because of the company's ongoing business growth, its underlying communications infrastructure has come under increasing pressure, affecting network availability - and business productivity.

Invacare's key criteria for upgrading its network were capacity, flexibility, quality of service and security.

Invacare's European network migration is the first stage of a strategic communications reassessment programme designed to enable the company to consolidate infrastructure, reduce costs and enhance capabilities to support its future growth. The company is now looking to roll out Verizon VoIP solutions across its 20 European sites in the near future, and also enhance its use of Verizon Audio Conferencing solutions, as an initial move towards a fully unified communications environment. Importantly, by entrusting its network management to Verizon Business, Invacare is able to focus on its future communications needs, rather than its current communications capabilities.

"The move toward a fully IP-based environment will bring tremendous benefits to our European business, such as increased flexibility and lower operational costs," said Christophe Masquet, IT group manager at Invacare EMEA. "Verizon Business' professional services team has delivered a fully managed, secure infrastructure that is flexible enough to handle our present requirements, bring a good return on investment, and also provide firm foundations on which we can build our future IP-enabled communications capabilities. Essentially, we're planning for the future of our business, and in Verizon Business have found a strong partner to help us achieve our goals."

Jeff Rallet regional sales vice president for continental Europe at Verizon Business, said: "For companies such as Invacare, outsourcing network management is just one element of a truly strategic communications partnership. The Verizon Business team has worked hard to understand Invacare's overall communications requirements, and put in place solutions that will make a real difference to the company's operations today and enable it to plan for the future. Verizon Business' proven expertise and experience, as well as the company's strong service and solution portfolio, help companies like Invacare to maximize their business potential."

Verizon Business manages 270,000-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 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 optimise network design, scalability and protection.

About Invacare
Invacare, headquartered in Elyria, Ohio, is the global leader in the manufacture and distribution of innovative home and long-term care medical products that promote recovery and active lifestyles. The Company has 5,900 associates and markets its products in 80 countries around the world. For more information about the Company and its products, visit Invacare's website at www.invacare.com.

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 the world's most connected IP network 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.