Leading Analyst Firm Names Verizon Business to Leaders Quadrant for U.S. Network Service Providers

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., March 7, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Business has been positioned by Gartner in the Leaders Quadrant of the industry analyst firm's "Magic Quadrant for U.S. Network Service Providers, 1H08."(i)

"Networking is more essential than ever as the key springboard to helping our customers solve their business problems," said Nancy Gofus, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Business. "We believe this placement validates our focus on integrated communications and IT solutions that help today's globally extended and evolving enterprises do business better."

Other recent Leaders Quadrant listings for Verizon Business include "Asia/Pacific Network Service Providers, 2007;"(ii) "Pan-European Network Service Providers, 2007;"(iii) and "Global Network Service Providers, 2007."(iv)

This latest Gartner Magic Quadrant examines the U.S. wireline voice and data communication market, assessing a vendor's capability to provide these services to the business market. Gartner considered a number of criteria in assessing companies for inclusion in the Magic Quadrant. In terms of completeness of vision, Gartner analyzed, in part, carriers' overall capabilities and understanding of buyers' wants and needs as well as their ability to translate those into products and services. With regard to ability to execute, Gartner analyzed, in part, service quality, product differentiation, pricing and overall corporate viability.

Verizon Business provides transformational IP-based products and integrated solutions for global enterprises. With tens of thousands of customer relationships worldwide, including 97 percent of the Fortune 500, Verizon Business features one of the industry's most expansive and intelligent global communications and computing platforms anchored by its advanced global IP network.

About the Magic Quadrant

The Magic Quadrants are copyrighted 2007 and 2008 by Gartner, Inc. and are reused with permission. The Magic Quadrant is a graphical representation of a marketplace at and for a specific time period. It depicts Gartner's analysis of how certain vendors measure against criteria for that marketplace, as defined by Gartner. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in the Magic Quadrant, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors placed in the "Leaders" quadrant. The Magic Quadrant is intended solely as a research tool, and is not meant to be a specific guide to action. Gartner disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Verizon Business

Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications , is a global IP leader and network-based partner for delivering integrated communications and information technology (IT) solutions to large-business and government customers worldwide. Combining unsurpassed reach with managed services, security, mobility, collaboration and professional services capabilities, Verizon Business delivers global solutions that power innovation and enable its customers to do business better. For more information, visit http://www.verizonbusiness.com/.

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(i) Gartner Research "Magic Quadrant for U.S. Network Service Providers, 1H08," April 2, 2008; Authors Ted Chamberlin, Robert F. Mason, Jay E. Pultz; ID Number: G00155890. (ii) Gartner Research "Magic Quadrant for Asia/Pacific Network Service Providers, 2007", February 18, 2008; Author - To Chee Eng. Gartner RAS Core Research Note G00154548 (iii) Gartner Research "Magic Quadrant for Pan-European Network Service Providers, 2007", December 5, 2007, authors - Neil Rickard, Scott Morrison. Gartner RAS Core Research Note G00153140 (iv) Gartner Research "Magic Quadrant for Global Network Service Providers, 2007", August 8, 2007; Authors Neil Rickard, Eric Paulak; ID Number: G00150113.