Verizon Teams with Best Buy's Geek Squad to Offer New IT Help Desk Services for Small and Medium-Size Businesses

NEW YORK, July 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon has enlisted Best Buy's Geek Squad to provide a new set of services to meet the increasingly complex information technology requirements of small and mid-size businesses across the country.  Verizon designed the solution, IT Help Desk, to help small and medium-sized companies, which often cannot support in-house staffing resources, keep the focus on their business by leaving technology challenges and opportunities to a dedicated team of specialists.

Geek Squad Agents are available round-the-clock to assist with implementing new technologies or trouble-shooting any end-user issues that may arise.  Examples include assisting a medical practice with maintaining the connectivity of its tablets so it can quickly and securely transmit medical records for quality patient care; working with a local retailer in need of malware removal and up to date security patches; or helping a business that needs to synch files from various devices to keep the most up to date customer database.

"Technology innovation continues to unlock value and create revenue opportunities for small and medium businesses, which are the lifeblood of the U.S. economy," said Janet Schijns, vice president of vertical solutions and channels for Verizon Enterprise Solutions.  "Our new offering allows business owners to tap into today's sophisticated wireless and advanced technologies with the peace of mind that trusted tech support is readily available anytime the need arises."

The new offering adds Geek Squad support to Verizon's leading IT platforms such as mobility and security to give customers the tools they need to enable the most up-to-date technology to compete and grow their businesses.  Whether assisting a customer with synching mobile devices to network resources for increased agility, or adding virus protection for device security, IT Help Desk allows Verizon's small and mid-size business customers to focus on the myriad of other daily activities required in running a business and serving customers.

"Customers are searching for support solutions that provide a consistent level of service and flexibility," said Rob Brothers, program director, software and hardware support services at IDC.  "Verizon's services, with their Best Buy alliance, create a compelling offer to the SMB."

All Help Desk levels of service include 24/7 phone and online support, where Geek Squad Agents can be engaged for services such as wireless connectivity, virus definition updates,  malware removal and software updates.  Advanced support adds services for mobilizing a workforce with tablets and smartphones, and virtual private network connectivity and support. Premier goes even further, with proactive support such as device monitoring and system maintenance in addition to application maintenance.  Onsite dispatch is also available if the issue cannot be resolved via phone or online assistance.

"The relationship we've established with Verizon is a good example of how Geek Squad is taking things deeper with customers, and finding new ways to reach them," said George Sherman, senior vice president of Best Buy Services.  "Verizon will use Geek Squad's expanding remote support capability along with our other support channels to ensure that customers receive trusted IT guidance whenever and wherever they need it."

In addition, Verizon offers IT administrative support to businesses for their day-to-day IT operations such as managing user rights and access; remote monitoring of routers, switches and firewalls; server management and monitoring; and, most up-to-date security protection.

Watch a video detailing Verizon's new IT Help Desk solution.

IT Help Desk has launched nationally and is available for purchase.  Customers interested in adding IT support can place orders online or speak to a sales representative by accessing the information on the following page: http://www.verizonbusiness.com/Medium/products/itinfrastructure/helpdesk/

About Best Buy Co., Inc.
Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) is a leading multi-channel global retailer and developer of technology products and services. Every day our employees - 167,000 strong - are committed to helping deliver the technology solutions that enable easy access to people, knowledge, ideas and fun. We are keenly aware of our role and impact on the world, and we are committed to developing and implementing business strategies that bring sustainable technology solutions to our consumers and communities. For additional information about Best Buy, visit http://www.investors.bestbuy.com/.

About Verizon Communications
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 consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with 93 million retail customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with $111 billion in 2011 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 192,000.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon