Press Releases from SuperPages.com and Verizon

Verizon SuperPages.com® Goes Where No Internet Yellow Pages Provider Has Gone Before

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0500

DALLAS - Verizon SuperPages.com has surpassed 2 billion searches for the second consecutive year -an industry-first for an Internet Yellow Pages (IYP) site. No other IYP has yet to reach that milestone for the first time, let alone two years in a row. This milestone comes fresh on the heels of a national study that ranks SuperPages.com as the top IYP.*

"There is a reason we continue to be the leading IYP," said Robyn Rose, vice president of Internet Marketing. "We creatively provide consumers and advertisers the tools they want and need to find each other and come together to do business."

The many innovations deployed by SuperPages.com include national user reviews of businesses and services, website design, creation and hosting and enhanced mapping functions.

Reviews and Profiles - With almost 150,000 reviews now available nationwide, consumers can find out what others are saying about their favorite businesses or services. In addition, more than 8.5 million local business profiles give details and content on local businesses.
Send to Mobile - With its newly deployed, downloadable JAVA-based application, SuperPages Mobile now allows even more users to to send listings to their and their friends' mobile phone or e-mail address. This feature has been available to users of BREW applications for some time.
Web Hosting - To date, more than 60,000 Web sites are a part of the Web Hosting and Creation program used by small- to medium-sized businesses.
Mapping Functions - Users who would rather have a bird's-eye view of their destination instead of a standard image can click on the "aerial" map option. Users can create their own custom map or driving directions simply by entering a destination ZIP code or state.

*Media Metrix comScore Networks. SuperPages.com search share includes infospace.com search share.

About Verizon Directories Corp., publisher of Verizon Yellow Pages
Verizon Directories Corp., a subsidiary of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), is the second largest yellow pages directories publisher in the United States. Products include Verizon Yellow Pages, Verizon White Pages; SuperPages.com and SuperPages Mobile information directory.

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Southern Crafted Homes Future-Proofs Its Housing Developments With Verizon's Fiber-Optic Network

Wed, 13 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Media contacts:
Bob Elek, Verizon, 813-483-2541
Marcianne Foster, Southern Crafted Homes, 813-909-9644, ext. 326

TAMPA, Fla. - Verizon Enhanced Communities has reached an agreement with Southern Crafted Homes, a Tampa Bay-area homebuilder, to provide all residents in three Pasco County communities with FiOS broadband and television service on Verizon's all-fiber network. The communities are Stonegate, Quail Woods and Devonwood.

"The commitment to offer our residents FiOS TV, Internet and voice products from Verizon helps set our developments apart from the rest of the market in terms of providing the latest technology," said Tom Liebrecht, vice president of land development, Southern Crafted Homes. "We want to provide our residents not only with luxury homes, but also a luxurious home-entertainment experience. Verizon's fiber network offers the bandwidth to give our residents the richest experience today as well as the power and promise for future technologies in the years ahead."

In addition, studies show that homeowners recognize that an all-fiber connection can increase the market value of their homes. For example, an independent survey of owners of homes with fiber connections, recently conducted by RVA Render, Vanderslice & Associates, shows that the owners estimate their homes are worth an average of $4,318 more.

Stonegate, a gated community that offers 21 home designs ranging from 1,839 to 4,508 square feet in five distinctive villages, is the first of three Southern Crafted Homes developments to offer its residents Verizon's FiOS. Nearly 600 Southern Crafted Homes will get FiOS broadband at speeds up to 5 Mbps (megabits per second) downstream and 2 Mbps upstream and more than 180 channels of all-digital TV. FiOS will serve the two other Southern Crafted Homes communities, Quail Woods and Devonwood, in the near future.

"We are thrilled that Southern Crafted will be able to differentiate their communities by offering FiOS data and TV service for all their residents," said Eric Cevis, vice president of Verizon Enhanced Communities. "Southern Crafted Homes had the vision to sign a deal with us before we were able to bring FiOS to the area. With the ability of our fiber-optic network to deliver the fastest broadband speed, clearer television and most reliable voice service of any existing network, we hope that Southern Crafted will be able sell their homes faster as a result."

Verizon's FiOS Internet service offers download speeds of up to 5, 15 or 30 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 5 Mbps. Highlights of the FiOS TV service include:

A lead offer with more than 180 digital video and music channels.
Twenty-six high-definition (HD) channels in the Florida market, with extraordinary clarity and theater-quality sound.
More than 2,500 On Demand titles available to customers now, increasing to over 3,500 titles in the next several months.
Channels grouped by genres such as entertainment, sports, news, shopping, movies and family, making it easy for audiences to find their favorite programming.
An easy-to-use interactive programming guide that integrates HD programming, On Demand content and the digital video recorder along with broadcast television into a seamless user experience.
A dual-tuner, HD-capable DVR that gives customers the freedom to pause and rewind live TV, record one show while watching another, and fast forward to their favorite part of the program - all without a VCR, tapes or DVDs.
The option of Home Media DVR, featuring a multi-room DVR that enables up to three simultaneous viewings of programs recorded by the device without requiring customers to set up a complex home network or buy extra equipment. The recorder is bundled with Media Manager, a new feature that lets customers easily access photos and music from their personal computer and play them on their entertainment center where they look and sound the best.
FiOS TV Widgets, a free interactive feature that provides local weather and traffic information.

Information on packages and prices on Verizon's FiOS is available at www.verizonfios.com/tv. For more information about the products and services available through Verizon Enhanced Communities visit www.verizon.com/connected. Verizon Enhanced Communities is Verizon's business unit that markets and sells communications services to single- and multiple-home properties. The business unit just received the Cornerstone Award from Broadband Properties Magazine for outfitting a 300-unit, eight-building residential community with Verizon's FiOS all-fiber-optic network services in just 14 days.

About Southern Crafted Homes
It is the mission of Southern Crafted Homes to build and sell high quality developments with honesty, integrity and a quest for excellence while earning the highest level of respect within the industry and community. For more information on Stonegate and Southern Crafted Homes, please call 813.909.9644, ext. 326 or visit www.southerncraftedhomes.com.

About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a Dow 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 55 million customers nationwide. Verizon Business operates one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks. Verizon Telecom is deploying the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers. Based in New York, Verizon has a diverse workforce of more than 252,000 and generates annual consolidated operating revenues of approximately $90 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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Verizon Reaches Agreement on Cable TV Franchise With Montgomery County, Maryland

Wed, 13 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Media contacts:
Harry Mitchell, 304-344-7562
Christy Reap, 202-392-1021

ROCKVILLE, Md. - Residents of Montgomery County are a significant step closer to choice and competition for their subscription television service, as Verizon and county officials have reached agreement on a franchise that will authorize Verizon to offer its fiber-powered FiOS TV to county residents.

The 15-year agreement must be approved by the Montgomery County Council.

Verizon - the only company building a large-scale, all-digital fiber communications network directly to customers' homes - has been upgrading its Montgomery County network since late 2004. The company's fiber facilities will pass about half the households in the county by the end of this year. If the council approves the agreement, Verizon plans to begin offering FiOS TV to these households by early next year. The agreement also includes an aggressive timetable for further deployment in the county.

"This is fantastic news for Montgomery County residents, who have endured the unrelenting price hikes and indifferent service of their incumbent cable provider far too long," said William R. Roberts, president of Verizon Maryland. "FiOS TV will deliver more channels, superior quality and better value than Comcast's service in Montgomery County."

Before the franchise agreement becomes effective, the county must make it available for public comment, and the Montgomery County Council must approve it.

"We're eager to work with the council to bring this matter to conclusion so that Verizon can bring the many benefits of choice and competition to Montgomery County residents as quickly as possible," said Roberts.

The company and the county reached the agreement with the assistance of a mediator, U.S. Magistrate Judge James K. Bredar, who was appointed by the U.S. District Court in Baltimore after Verizon filed a lawsuit against Montgomery County asking the court to require the county to negotiate a lawful franchise with the company. Verizon and Montgomery County have agreed to stay Verizon's lawsuit until the county council votes on the agreement. If the agreement is approved, the case will be dismissed.

The franchise agreement is available for viewing at www.verizon.com/maryland or on Montgomery County's Web site.

Verizon's FiOS TV - a Superior Alternative to Cable

Delivered over Verizon's all-fiber network, FiOS TV is a formidable competitor to cable and satellite. Verizon is currently upgrading to all fiber in more than half the states where the company offers landline communications services.

Since Verizon began its fiber-optic network upgrade in Maryland, the company has placed more than 29 million feet of fiber and created approximately 600 new full-time positions to build and support the network and FiOS services in the state. The network brings the power and capacity of fiber optics directly into people's homes and has industry-leading quality and reliability. Fiber delivers amazingly sharp pictures and sound, and has the capacity to transmit a wide array of high-definition programming that is so clear and intense it seems to leap from the TV screen. It also delivers Internet download speeds of up to 30 Mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds of up to 5 Mbps as well as high-quality voice service.*

Service highlights include:

A lead offer with more than 180 digital video and music channels for $39.95.
More than 20 high-definition (HD) channels in the Maryland market, with extraordinary clarity and theater-quality sound.
More than 2,500 On Demand titles available to customers now, increasing to over 3,500 titles in the next several months.
Channels grouped by genres such as entertainment, sports, news, shopping, movies and family, making it easy for audiences to find their favorite programming.
An easy-to-use interactive programming guide that integrates HD programming, On Demand content and the digital video recorder along with broadcast television into a seamless user experience.
A dual-tuner, HD-capable DVR that gives customers the freedom to pause and rewind live TV, record one show while watching another, and fast forward to their favorite part of the program - all without a VCR, tapes or DVDs.
Home Media DVR that has a multi-room DVR feature enabling up to three simultaneous viewings of programs recorded by the device without requiring customers to set up a complex home network or buy extra equipment. Customers can access photos and music on their PCs and play them on their TVs.
FiOS TV Widgets, a free interactive feature that provides local weather and traffic information.

* NOTE: Actual (throughput) speeds will vary.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a Dow 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 55 million customers nationwide. Verizon Business operates one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks. Verizon Telecom is deploying the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers. Based in New York, Verizon has a diverse workforce of more than 252,000 and generates annual consolidated operating revenues of approximately $90 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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Verizon Business Expands Managed Hosting Capabilities With Support for Five of the World's Most Widely Deployed Computer Operating Systems

Wed, 13 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Media contacts:
Barry Lawrence, 703-886-6042

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - To meet the increasingly complex information technology demands of large businesses, Verizon Business today announced further expansion of its managed hosting capabilities to support five of the world's most widely deployed computer operating systems. In addition to continued support of the Microsoft Windows Server, Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Sun Solaris systems, Verizon Business now supports IBM's AIX and Hewlett-Packard's UX.

"Enterprises today need greater flexibility, choice, performance and reliability in orchestrating essential business applications within more complex IT infrastructures, often the result of acquisitions, consolidations or choices based on features, application performance or architectural requirements," said Jim DeMerlis, Verizon Business vice president of managed services marketing. "The challenge of maintaining and securing multiple operating systems puts more stress on the already scarce IT resources of many organizations, which can result in poor performance of critical business applications."

According to a Forrester Research study, "More firms prefer multiple suppliers to get best-of-breed. For example, 59 percent of firms surveyed use either different vendors for client and server or multiple vendors in both categories." In the October 2005 report, "The State of the Corporate PC and Server," 39 percent of respondents cited the ability to get best-of-breed products from different sources.

By leveraging more than a decade of hosting experience, Verizon Business support will include essential IP Application Hosting services such as hardware break/fix, software administration, patching, monitoring and backups. Verizon Business also supports common applications such as Web and application servers and database software.

"This strengthens the breadth of hosting operating system support from Verizon Business," said Rona Shuchat, research director at industry analyst firm IDC. "Further enhanced by its networking capabilities and its flagship MPLS-based offering, Private IP, Verizon Business is ensuring that mission-critical business requirements such as Web-enabled enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) applications can be fully supported in line with evolving enterprise landscapes."

Verizon Business delivers an extensive portfolio of IT and hosting services that offer varying levels of service management and include Data Center Colocation, Data Center Outsourcing, Remote Backup and Restore, Hosted Messaging, IT Service Desk, IP Application Hosting and Remote IP Application Management.

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 technology 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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Vienna, Virginia, Consumers Major Step Closer to Real Choice for Cable TV

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Media contacts:
Christy Reap, 202-392-1021

VIENNA, Va. - Residents of Vienna are a major step closer to real choice for their cable television services, thanks to last night's (Sept. 11) unanimous Town Council vote authorizing Verizon to offer its fiber-optic-powered FiOS TV here.

Vienna is the 16th Washington metropolitan area jurisdiction to grant Verizon a cable franchise. The company currently has more than 130 franchises covering more than three million households in nine states.

At its meeting, the Town Council also approved a new telephone franchise for the company. As a result, Verizon will begin to upgrade its copper network in the town to an all-fiber-optic network. Verizon - the only company building a large-scale, all-digital fiber communications network directly to customer's homes - to date has added nearly 22 million feet of new fiber-optic cable in Virginia.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime transformation of the communications network serving Vienna," said Robert W. Woltz Jr., president of Verizon Virginia. "Our cable franchise agreement with Vienna represents great progress for the town's consumers, who will be able to enjoy the same benefits of cable choice and competition their neighbors in Fairfax County enjoy today.

"Competition drives innovation, value and service quality, and we will compete aggressively for business with our FiOS Internet and FiOS TV services, which are fueled by our lightning-fast fiber-optic network."

Under the 15-year agreement, Verizon will pay the community franchise fees based on the company's gross revenues on cable services.

Verizon FiOS TV provides an extensive array of digital video and music channels, high-definition channels, on-demand titles and features such as FiOS TV Widgets, which supplies on-touch, on-demand access to real-time local weather and traffic.

In addition, Verizon's fiber network also allows the company to offer consumers and businesses high-speed FiOS Internet Service at download speeds of up to 30 Mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds up to 5 Mbps.*

As this fiber-optic upgrade continues, Verizon employees or contractors will be visible in neighborhoods, either placing fiber-optic lines and equipment on utility poles or underground. Before underground construction begins, Verizon's contractor in this area, Ivy Smith Co., will notify residents when work is scheduled to begin in their neighborhoods. To lessen inconvenience and reduce the impact on local streets, Verizon and its contractors use the latest installation techniques and existing underground cable pathways, utility poles, or both, whenever possible. Residents can contact Verizon with construction questions or concerns at 888-250-9710.

* NOTE: actual (throughput) speeds will vary.

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