Verizon Meets Small Business' Needs by Introducing New Website Services and the First Bundled Packages With No Term Contracts

NEW YORK, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- In today's online world, small businesses must have their own websites to compete effectively for customers.  Yet many small businesses do not have websites, primarily because of the expense and time involved in creating them.

To address this crucial need, Verizon is now offering Verizon Websites powered by Intuit, which enables small businesses to quickly and easily design and set up their own company website; and Intuit WebListings, which helps small businesses get found online and get customers by listing the website on more than 100 popular search sites, including Google, Yahoo! and Bing.  In addition, the company's bundles of small-business phone and broadband services – Verizon Solutions for Business* – are now available on a month-to-month basis with no term contract or early termination fees.

The new website services will be offered free for one year as a bonus to small businesses that sign up for Verizon Solutions for Business.*  

"With more and more people using the Internet to search for and purchase products and services, a website is an absolute essential for small businesses, which typically have limited resources to increase their visibility, generate sales and build customer loyalty," said Monte Beck vice president of business marketing for Verizon.

"We're proud to be the ultimate one-stop provider of essential services needed to run any small business – online, on the phone and now, on the Web with this extremely easy and cost-effective offering for a business to create its own website.  And with our new month-to-month no-term-contract offering, small businesses can try our services and experience Verizon's 24 x 7 support without worrying about early termination fees.  We're like a small business' virtual CIO, available when needed," Beck said.

Justin Jaffe, senior analyst for small and medium-sized business and home office research at the global technology market research firm, IDC said: "Websites have become a key promotional tool for small businesses, providing an economical way to acquire new customers, strengthen relationships with existing customers, compete more effectively with larger companies, and reach local, regional, national and even international markets.

"Despite the benefits of an online presence, the challenging economy has further inhibited many small firms – already constrained by limited time, budget and technical expertise – from getting a site off the ground. Verizon's solution ties together broadband access, voice services, and website creation tools in a way that will appeal to small firms looking to bring their business online."

Angus Thomson, vice president and general manager of Intuit's Grow Your Business division said, "Intuit Websites helps small businesses get online to get new customers and engage with existing ones so they keep coming back.  With Verizon, we are able to bring these benefits to more small businesses that need them."

Verizon's small-business customers can quickly and easily design their company websites with Verizon Websites powered by Intuit. By just clicking the mouse and dragging and dropping images a fully functioning, customized site can be created.  

The do-it-yourself website builder provides small businesses with the essential tools to get up and running quickly. It lets small business owners customize their websites to reflect the uniqueness of their businesses. Websites can be updated anytime, and users can increase their visibility on social networks such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn by embedding "follow me" buttons.

Once the website is live, the small-business owner, with a few clicks of the mouse, can access analytic tools to see the online traffic the site is generating. Intuit WebListings can also be used to increase this traffic by listing the website on more than 100 popular search sites across the Web.

Small businesses ordering Verizon Solutions for Business* (or other qualifying bundles) packages that include broadband and one business phone line with unlimited nationwide calling will get Verizon Websites powered by Intuit (Gold Package) and Intuit WebListings at no cost for one year – a value of nearly $420.  Also included is basic e-commerce capability for businesses that have goods to sell online.  

After the first year, the Gold Package – including a domain name, 100 web pages, 5 GB (gigabytes) of storage and basic e-commerce capabilities – will cost $19.99 per month.  WebListings will cost $14.99 per month and is available with any Verizon Websites package.  

A starter website building package is available for $4.99 per month. The Verizon Websites packages include analytic tools and access to more than 2,000 professional website templates and 250,000 images that will enable a small business to create an appealing website.  

The Verizon Solution for Business bundles start at $59.99 per month (plus taxes and fees)* with Verizon High Speed Internet for Business and unlimited nationwide calling.  Verizon High Speed Internet for Business offers various speeds up to 1 Mbps, 3 Mbps or 7 Mbps (megabits per second).

(Note: Verizon also announced on Monday (Aug. 30) a new speed for Verizon High Speed Internet for Business -- 10 Mbps (megabits per second) to 15 Mbps -- that will be available in select markets.  For more information, click here.)

A bundle consisting of FiOS Internet for Business, providing symmetrical upload and download speeds of up to 25 Mbps, and unlimited nationwide calling starts at $79.99 per month (plus taxes and fees).*  All promotional bundle pricing is guaranteed for a minimum of 12 consecutive months, with no term contract required.

Small businesses can opt for a two-year term contract, with the price of the Verizon Business Solutions* bundle guaranteed for 24 months.

Verizon Business Broadband packages also include access to thousands of Verizon Wi-Fi** hot spots nationwide, one license of Verizon Internet Security Suite and 250 MB (megabytes) of online data storage.

Small businesses can also add TV service to the Verizon Solutions for Business* package and receive an additional bundled discount.  An additional unlimited nationwide calling voice line can be added to any business solution, starting at $35 per month.

Verizon offers small businesses the Verizon Small Business Center with access to news, resources, professional networking, free webinars, Verizon's Small Biz Blogs and more.  In addition to Internet, TV and phone service, Verizon also offers small businesses encryption and security solutions, as well as additional discounts on supplies and shipping.  More information on Verizon's products and services for small businesses is available by calling 888-481-0387 or visiting www.verizon.com/smallbusiness.

* Verizon Websites offer fulfilled via $34.98 bill credit for 12 consecutive months based on cost of Websites Gold Package and WebListings; taxes and fees apply.  

** Verizon Wi-Fi software limitations and other terms apply. Visit http://business.verizon.net/wifi for details.

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 more than 92 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 last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon