Verizon Launches Powerful Combo of Broadband Services With Google Apps for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In today's always-connected online universe, small and medium-sized businesses increasingly require smart technology solutions to speed their business operations and serve customers better.  With that in mind, Verizon is combining its leading broadband business services with a broad range of business applications from Google, featuring Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs and Google Sites.

This new offering, Google Apps for Verizon, is specifically designed to help smaller companies advertise by providing them with a domain name and domain name e-mail, and to boost their productivity by making cloud-based capabilities available to  employees, whether in an office or on the go.  With Google Apps for Verizon, customers can directly access from any device the business tools they need to do their jobs and serve their customers more effectively.

Google Apps for Verizon, which provides three free user accounts, is immediately available to businesses that subscribe to a bundle consisting of Verizon Internet service and either Verizon voice or TV service, or both. The bundles with Google Apps are available in Washington, D.C., and parts of 12 states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia.  Google Apps for Verizon is also available as a stand-alone service to all businesses across the country for $3.99 per month per user.  

"Small and medium-sized businesses have been clamoring for a simple, cost-effective solution so they can stay focused on their core business and not waste time figuring out which tools they need," said Monte Beck, vice president of small-business marketing for Verizon. "With Verizon's business bundled packages, which now include Google Apps for Verizon, all the essential functions needed to run a business effectively and efficiently are now easily accessible to our business customers and their employees, anytime and anywhere."

(Click here to view a video on Google Apps for Verizon.)

Google Apps for Verizon also complements other online business-management tools the company offers such as Verizon Websites powered by Intuit, Verizon Online Backup & Sharing and the Verizon Internet Security Suite.

Harnessing the Power of Verizon Business Broadband Services With Google Apps for Verizon

"America's small businesses are vital contributors to our economy," said Paul Slakey, enterprise director at Google.  "We're excited to work with Verizon to provide entrepreneurs with the tools they need to get online and run their business."

New bundled solutions customers will also get Verizon's leading security solution to ensure that their intellectual and physical assets are better protected from viruses and other network intrusions.  Verizon Online Backup & Sharing (250 megabytes) and easy do-it-yourself website-building software are included in the bundle solutions.  Prices start at $59.99 per month* in certain areas with a month-to-month (no term) commitment price guaranteed for a minimum of 12 months or a two-year term agreement with the price guaranteed for 24 months. For more information on Verizon's total business solutions and bundled packages, click here.

The new offering for Verizon business customers includes 25 GB (gigabytes) of domain name e-mail storage per user; Web-based documents, spreadsheets and presentation tools; and instant messaging and more to help small and medium-sized businesses and their employees collaborate seamlessly.  All the features can be easily accessed online from any computer, as well as on smartphones and other mobile devices, to get work done in an anywhere, anytime mobile environment.

Verizon business broadband customers also benefit from 24/7 technical support, Wi-Fi access from thousands of hot spots nationwide, and access to the Verizon Small Business Center, which offers small businesses access to news, resources, professional networking and free webinars.

Beck said, "Think of Verizon as a virtual CIO providing the total business solution consisting of all the key productivity tools needed to help business owners meet their business demands, and impress existing and new customers."

To engage with Verizon and its customers, join the conversation at Verizon's Small Biz Blogs and Verizon's Medium Business blog or follow VZSmallBiz on Twitter; or become a fan on Facebook.  For more information, call 888-481-0387 or visit www.verizon.com/smallbusiness.

* Plus applicable taxes and fees.

Google, Google Apps, Google Apps for Business, Google Apps Marketplace, Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Talk, Google Docs and Google Sites are trademarks of Google Inc.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 94.1 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 194,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon