VZ: Verizon Business Delivers Next-Generation Web Conferencing Service to Help Enhance Productivity and Business Performance

Verizon Business, a leading global provider of audio, Web and video conferencing services, today announced the launch of Verizon Advanced Net Conference, a service that helps enhance productivity and business performance by making it easier and faster for employees to collaborate via the Internet.

Building on the comprehensive Verizon Business suite of Web conferencing services -- including Reserved Net Conference, Instant Net Conference and Customized Net Conference -- Advanced Net Conference enables workers to schedule future Web meetings or initiate them quickly through Microsoft Office Outlook and Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005. Advanced Net Conference is an effective tool for handling all aspects of uniting people for teamwork and is particularly suited for engineers, architects, lawyers, marketing professionals and individuals who typically work on different project teams.

"This next generation of our successful Net Conference product is meeting a growing demand and desire for virtually 'anytime, anywhere' meetings," said Tom Roche, vice president of marketing for Verizon Business' network voice and data services. "Whether we're helping to break down geographic boundaries for employees of multinational companies or helping to quickly assemble government workers in response to an unforeseen situation, Verizon Business continues to harness the latest collaborative technology to help enhance teamwork and productivity for our customers."

Frost & Sullivan, in its "World Web Conferencing Markets" study (#F764-64), published in October, named Verizon Conferencing as the leading Web conferencing reseller services provider.

Earlier this year, Verizon Business sponsored a Frost & Sullivan study, "Meetings Around the World: The Impact of Collaboration on Business Performance," that determined that collaboration is a key driver of business performance. The study - which defined collaboration as an interaction between culture and technology such as audio and net conferencing, e-mail and instant messaging -- also found that professionals around the world see their collaborative efforts as highly productive and believe that collaboration through communications technologies can provide a competitive advantage. Full details of the report can be found at http://newscenter.verizon.com/kit/collaboration/.

Through Advanced Net Conference's inherent flexibility, companies can reap the integrated benefits of virtually all vendor features and functions, while benefiting from the rich services of Verizon Conferencing. Features include:

Scheduling and joining features, including integration with Microsoft Office Outlook.


A reduced ramp-up time for accessing Web conferencing services.


The power to take advantage of world class Web conferencing services -- Microsoft Office Live Meeting and WebEx.


Detailed online invoicing to allow users to track usage.
Verizon Business, through its expansive global network, is a leading provider of conferencing and collaboration services, enabling organizations to conveniently and effectively collaborate, virtually anytime, anywhere, and helping them improve response time and productivity, without the costs associated with business travel. With more than 20 years' experience delivering conferencing services, Verizon Business is a pioneer in the conferencing business. The company today handles millions of meetings a month, offering the convenience of one-stop shopping and a wide range of global customized products and services, including audio, video and net conference services, IP-based services and some of the most advanced meeting tools available today.