Many More Small- and Medium-Sized Business Customers Can Now Save Money, Earn Credits With Verizon's 'Business Link Rewards' Program

NEW YORK, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon has expanded its Business Link Rewards program for small- and medium-sized business customers to enable more of them to qualify for savings and gifts.

"This program is designed to reward our business customers for doing business with us," said Michael McLaughlin, director of mass market strategies for Verizon. "With the expansion, more of our business customers can enroll in this rewarding program and begin to redeem cool prizes and gifts, or lower their bills."

Verizon Business Link Rewards members earn one Bonus Credit for every Dollar spent on Verizon's voice and broadband services. Under the expansion, long-distance and Internet charges are now included in the minimum monthly spending requirement. Verizon Bonus Credits can be redeemed for:

-- Dining certificates for top-rated local restaurants. -- Tickets and certificates for sporting events, golf and ski outings, and weekend getaways. -- Certificates and credits for merchandise from leading national companies like Lenovo, L.L. Bean and Staples. -- Discounts on the purchase of Verizon products and services. -- Direct credit to member's Verizon bill, where available.

Additionally, Verizon Business Link Rewards can be donated to a charity. Newly added to the rewards section is an auction that enables the highest bidder to win unique prizes or products. Last month, two tickets for Sting's sold-out concert at Fenway Park in Boston were auctioned off for 18,000 points.

"We strive to auction off a great prize every week," said McLaughlin. "We're finding that many of our business customers redeem Bonus Credits for gifts they use to reward their employees. No matter who gets the rewards, the Verizon Business Link Rewards program is giving back to our customers."

Verizon Business Link Rewards members earn Verizon Bonus Credits if their monthly bill for services totals at least $125. The credits are good for two years from the date earned. Verizon business customers, once they have accumulated 2,000 bonus credits, can redeem them for hundreds of different rewards.

Businesses can obtain more information about Verizon Business Link Rewards by calling 800-LINK-88 or visiting http://www.verizon.com/businesslink.

Verizon offers a variety of products and services that allow businesses to customize the solutions they need to better compete in the marketplace. In addition to broadband Internet access, solutions include online backup storage, e-mail encryption and communications management tools.

Earlier this year, Verizon was cited by J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Major Provider Business Telecommunications Services Study for the "Highest Customer Satisfaction With Small/Midsize Business Data Service Providers."

For more information on Verizon's products and services for small businesses, customers can visit http://www.verizon.com/business or call 888-649-9500. For news, resources and more tools for Verizon's business customers, visit The Verizon Small Business Center at http://business.verizon.net/.

Verizon Communications Inc. , headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 62 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. A Dow 30 company, Verizon has a diverse workforce of more than 238,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $88 billion. For more information, visit http://www.verizon.com/.

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