Verizon Business Wins Five-Year, $100 Million Global Agreement With Johnson Controls, Inc.

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Business today announced it has entered into a new five-year, $100 million agreement with Johnson Controls, Inc. to provide a wide range of managed Internet protocol-based communication services supporting the company's worldwide business operations.

Under terms of the agreement, Verizon Business is extending its nine-year relationship with Johnson Controls, a leading global provider of automotive interiors, building efficiency and power solutions, to deliver and completely manage an integrated global IP networking solution comprising Private IP, IP VPN, Internet and voice services. To accommodate Johnson Controls' continued growth, Verizon Business will expand the company's Private IP network in the Asia-Pacific region. This expanded footprint, coupled with the introduction of Verizon Secure Gateway, will enable Johnson Controls' employees around the world to securely and seamlessly communicate with each other across their global IP network.

"As Johnson Controls has grown and expanded geographically, Verizon Business has been a critical telecommunications provider for us," said Sam Valanju, vice president and CIO for Johnson Controls. "We can rely on Verizon Business to focus on the telecommunications heart of our operations, while we focus on our key areas of business -- making cars and buildings smarter, more comfortable and more efficient. Verizon Business' expansive global IP network is the infrastructure foundation that we have in place today and the springboard for future IP-based telecommunications applications we may introduce in the future."

Verizon Business delivers industry-leading service level agreements (SLAs) associated with its Managed Network Services including a 3.5-hour time-to-repair commitment. With Private IP MPLS connections in nearly 110 countries, Verizon Business can more closely control service quality across geographic regions. Additionally, Verizon Business' IMPACT -- an award-winning platform that automatically isolates network faults -- helps ensure that Johnson Controls' network continues to operate efficiently.

Verizon Business, which has integrated network operations centers (NOCs) and 5,000 globally deployed technicians, is a leader in the industry by providing an actual-time-to-repair guarantee versus the industry-standard practice of offering a mean-time-to-repair guarantee.

"Since 1997, we've been managing global network services for Johnson Controls and they've been expanding ever since," said Wayne Huyard, executive vice president of global sales and service for Verizon Business. "They were an early adopter of global networking in a controlled environment, and we've seen them through the transition from traditional data to a global IP infrastructure. With this new deal, we continue to deliver the dedicated global account team and technical support that Johnson Controls has come to expect from us around the world."

Verizon Business also provides global audio and video conferencing services to help Johnson Controls' 136,000 employees in more than 1,000 locations collaborate effectively worldwide.

Verizon Business manages more than 3,500 customer networks in 142 countries, overseeing more than 25,000 non-Verizon connections from more than 60 network providers around the world. Verizon Business is a recognized leader delivering advanced communications and information technology (IT) services for large-business customers worldwide. The company was positioned in the leader's quadrant by Gartner, Inc. in the "Magic Quadrant for U.S. Managed and Professional Network Service Providers, 1H06(1)," and the 2006 "Highest Customer Satisfaction With Large Enterprise Business Data Service Providers" award by J.D. Power and Associates in its annual study of small, mid-size and large-business customers.

About Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls is a global leader in interior experience, building efficiency and power solutions. The company provides innovative automotive interiors that help make driving more comfortable, safe and enjoyable. For buildings, it offers products and services that optimize energy use and improve comfort and security. Johnson Controls also provides batteries for automobiles and hybrid electric vehicles, along with systems engineering and service expertise. Johnson Controls has 136,000 employees in more than 1,000 locations serving customers in 125 countries. Founded in 1885, the company is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/.

About Verizon Business

Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications , is a leading provider of advanced communications and information technology (IT) solutions to large business and government customers worldwide. Combining unsurpassed global network reach with advanced technology and professional service capabilities, Verizon Business delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world. For more information, visit http://www.verizonbusiness.com/.

(1) Gartner Research "Magic Quadrant for U.S. Managed and Professional Network Service Providers, 1H06" by E. Goodness, D. Neil and D. Willis. July 11, 2006

* The Magic Quadrant is copyrighted July 11, 2006 by Gartner, Inc. and is 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.

J.D. Power and Associates Disclaimer: Verizon Business received the highest numerical score among data service providers in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Major Provider Business Telecommunications Data Services Study(SM). Study is based on 3.138 total responses measuring 6 providers and measures opinions of consumers utilizing telecom services at small/midsize and large enterprise U.S. businesses. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed in January 2006. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com/cc.

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