Verizon Accelerates Internet W ...

News by SB Informer

News

Verizon Accelerates Internet With Unprecedented Speeds for Massachusetts and Rhode Island

SB Informer
Monday, December 18, 2006; 08:50 AM

Verizon just opened the passing lane on the Internet turnpike for consumers and small businesses in parts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, while reducing tolls for the fastest drivers.

Verizon is increasing the maximum connection speed of its fastest FiOS Internet Service for consumers from 30 Mbps downstream/ 5 Mbps upstream to 50/5 Mbps, and lowering the price of that offering by $40 per month. In addition, Verizon has pumped up the speed of its mid-level FiOS Internet Service for consumers from 15 Mbps downstream /2 Mbps upstream to 20/5 Mbps.

Speeds for small businesses have been increased as follows: 15/2 to 20/5, 5/5 to 35/10 and 30/5 to 50/10.

"Verizon is the only major Internet service provider that delivers the speed and power of fiber optics directly into homes and businesses," said John Schommer, Verizon's director of broadband management and development. "This allows customers to confidently download full-screen streaming movies and enormous business files such as medical images and computer-aided designs. Customers can play networked games in real-time, share broadband service among multiple users, and send and receive e-mails with the speed of instant messaging."

With a broadband speed of 50 Mbps, consumers can download a two-hour movie in about five minutes or 40 photos in about eight seconds. For a small- business customer, such as an architectural firm or a physician's office, e- mailing a set of blueprints or downloading large medical images can take just seconds with FiOS Internet, instead of minutes.

The high-end 10 Mbps upload speed for small businesses is unprecedented in the market. This speed will boost the flow of information among multiple users and facilitate streaming video for product demonstrations or workforce training. Verizon's Static IP service is an ideal business solution for videoconferencing, Web hosting and running Web cameras for surveillance. Additionally, the increase in speed makes it easier and quicker for businesses to upload Web content.

For Consumers, Paramount Service and Speeds

In Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Verizon now offers consumers three tiers of Verizon FiOS Internet Service. All consumer FiOS Internet installations include a free wireless broadband router.

    -- 5 Mbps downstream and 2 Mbps upstream
       Suited for Internet surfing and basic computer functions. $39.99 a month. One-year agreement includes free professional installation and configuration of primary PC or laptop.

    -- 20 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream (increased from 15/2)
       Appealing for families that have multiple computers and various needs such as multi-media and accessing and sending large files. $49.99 a month. One-year agreement includes free professional installation and configuration of primary PC or laptop.

    -- 50 Mbps downstream and 5Mbps upstream (increased from 30/5)
       Designed for communications-intensive power users with significant bandwidth needs and multiple users, such as telecommuters or work-at-home households and avid online gamers. $139.95 with a one-year agreement or $159.95 month to month. One-year agreement includes free professional installation and configuration of primary PC or laptop.

Residential customers who want to determine whether they can order FiOS Internet Service can call 888-GET FIOS (888-438-3467) or visit Verizon's FiOS Web site at www.verizonfios.com.

Small Businesses Can Get Big-Biz Speeds

FiOS Internet Service for small businesses is available as part of a bundle of local and long-distance calling services from Verizon, in some areas with DIRECTV®, or as a stand-alone Internet access service. Small-business customers can receive free professional installation for their primary computer, plus a 10 to 20 percent discount off of their standard monthly rate with a qualifying local-calling service package, if the one-bill option is selected.

Small-business owners can choose from new increased speeds with either a dynamic Internet protocol (IP) address or static IP address:

    -- 20 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream (increased from 15/2), for $59.95 a month with a dynamic IP address and $99.95 a month with up to five static IP addresses.

    -- 35 Mbps downstream and 10 Mbps upstream (increased from 5/5), for $169.95 a month with a dynamic IP address and $209.95 with up to five static IP addresses.

    -- 50 Mbps downstream and 10 Mbps upstream (increased from 30/5), for $349.95 a month with a dynamic IP address and $389.95 a month with up to five static IP addresses.

All FiOS Internet services for business now offer free Internet Security Suite for 1 PC ($4.95 a month value) and free annual Domain Name Registration for one domain name (a $35 value) on qualifying packages. Companies also receive 24x7 business-grade technical support. Plus, qualifying packages include up to 15 domain name e-mail addresses ([email protected]), 20 MB (megabytes) of Web space and unlimited remote dial-up access that keeps employees connected when they're on the road. A one-year contract is required for all FiOS business packages. More static IP addresses are available for an additional fee.

Small businesses can call 877- FIOS BIZ (877-346-7249) to determine if they qualify for FiOS Internet Service for Business or visit www.verizon.com/fiosinternet/ for more information and current promotions.

In some areas, Verizon offers FiOS TV services to consumers over its advanced, fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network - the only network that currently brings fiber-optic technology directly to homes and businesses on a widespread scale. The company is currently building its FTTP network in more than 100 communities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island where it offers landline communications services.

All speeds reflect initial connections between a computer and Verizon's central office. Actual throughput speeds will vary based on numerous factors, including network and Internet congestion and the speed of Web sites visited on the Internet.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ - News), a New York-based Dow 30 company, 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 nearly 57 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which operates one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks, and Verizon Telecom, which is deploying the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.