News Release

Verizon Business Helps Enterprises Take Advantage of Workplace Mobility

New Managed Wireless LAN Service Now Available to Large- Business and Government Customers Around the World
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Sep 10, 2008

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - September 9, 2008 - Ensuring that today's employees can collaborate effectively, either in the office or around the world, is critically important to the success of large businesses - and a key challenge for information technology (IT) executives. To help meet that challenge, Verizon Business has launched a new, managed wireless local area network (MWLAN) service that enables businesses and government entities take full advantage of wireless technology.

Verizon Managed Wireless LAN (MWLAN) Service, including Cisco Unified Wireless Network technology, enables customers to securely extend the reach of LANs within offices, schools and factories, and across corporate and college campuses. Workers have access to networks, applications, data and the Internet while away from their desks, thus enhancing productivity and information sharing.

The new Verizon Business offering is available immediately in the United States and in 28 countries in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, and provides the same user experience, regardless of whether employees are located at offices in Beijing, Boston or Brussels.

Note: An audio podcast discussing Verizon Managed Wireless LAN Service is available here.

"Companies are increasingly interested in the potential of wireless to support office-based staff, as well as mobile, global workers," said Nancy Gofus, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Verizon Business. "Our enhanced managed wireless LAN portfolio enables companies to leverage wireless technology while helping manage the day-to-day complexities often associated with wireless LANs."

Market intelligence and advisory firm IDC, in a May report titled "Worldwide Enterprise Wireless LAN Equipment 2008-2012 Forecast," highlights the growing interest in wireless LAN technology.

The firm notes that the wireless LAN market will grow by 6 percent this year to $1.86 billion and that over the long term, developing regions - especially Asia and Central and Eastern Europe - are expected to account for an increasing share and volume of shipments, helping the market grow to nearly $3.3 billion by 2012.

Verizon Business has provided wireless LANs since 2006 when it began offering Aruba Networks-based MWLAN service to U.S. customers.

Feature-Rich Benefits

Verizon Managed Wireless LAN Service is well-suited for enterprises seeking to replace or augment existing wired LANs. Based on the IEEE 802.11 industry standard, the service is highly scalable and features built-in security functions such as centralized network and policy management, as well as intrusion detection and prevention capabilities to help ensure only authorized end users and devices gain access to systems, applications and data.

Each Verizon Business MWLAN deployment is tailored to customer coverage and security requirements. The company also offers additional specialized professional services to help design, implement and secure wireless LANs. Upon deployment, Verizon Business actively manages the network, monitors to help prevent unauthorized access and the attachment of rogue devices, and provides comprehensive performance reporting.

"Verizon Business customers can now experience true mobility in the workplace," said Maciej Kranz, vice president of marketing, Wireless Networking Business Unit, Cisco. "Cisco's Unified Wireless Network, combined with Verizon Business' managed and professional services capabilities, delivers a powerful network to help enterprises worldwide enhance their competitive advantage by bolstering productivity and collaboration, and creating new types of business models."

In addition, Verizon Business has earned the Cisco Powered designation for this service, offering customers an additional level of quality assurance while ensuring the highest standards for architectural design and service levels.

The Managed Service Advantage

Verizon Business manages 260,000-plus security, network and hosting devices across more than 4,000 customer networks spanning 142 countries and territories. The company also oversees non-Verizon connections from more than 60 network providers worldwide. Verizon Business' managed network services are backed by industry-leading service-level commitments and the company's award-winning IMPACT management platform.