Verizon Fixed Mobile Convergence Solutions Help Improve Business Efficiencies for a Mobile Workforce

Company’s PBX Mobile Extension Powered by BlackBerry Mobile Voice System, Wireless Office and Leading Voice-Over-IP Offerings Enhance Enterprise Mobility

ORLANDO, Fla., May 5 /PRNewswire/ — Verizon is making it easier for businesses and government agencies to mobilize their workers by harnessing the power of Verizon’s IP and wireless solutions in combination with the BlackBerry(R) Mobile Voice System (MVS) from Research in Motion. As one of the first major service providers in June 2007 to introduce a fixed mobile convergence service using BlackBerry MVS with Verizon PBX Mobile Extension, Verizon plans to support the new version of BlackBerry MVS.

Verizon made the announcement at the Wireless Enterprise Symposium 2009 in Orlando.

“Our business customers are employing a powerful combination of PBX Mobile Extension, Wireless Office, IP Trunking and Managed IP PBX to help on-the-go professionals seamlessly bridge Verizon’s leading IP and wireless capabilities,” said Jim Tyrrell, vice president of global business voice solutions for Verizon. “These offerings work together to unify communications for more effective and efficient business operations.”

The services are key to Verizon’s overall strategy to provide mobile phone users with the same capabilities available on an office phone so professionals can respond quickly and cost-effectively to customers and the needs of their businesses. This is especially important as workers toggle between the confines of a traditional office and anywhere else they may be conducting business — whether at home or on the go.

Verizon is helping Daimler Financial Services manage its global workforce and control costs of doing business with clients around the world.

Paul Morack, of ITI Telecommunications management at Daimler Financial Services, said, “As part of our mobility strategy, we look to Verizon to bring us solutions like BlackBerry Mobile Voice System and other innovations to improve our communications and productivity. BlackBerry MVS will accelerate our customer response time while helping to reduce costs.”

Adoption of telecommuting strategies will continue to rise as companies strive to remain competitive in a volatile marketplace. In fact, an April 2009 Forrester Research report, titled “It’s Time to Review – And Renew – Your Telecommuting Policy,” stated “the current economic situation is pushing many companies to look for new ways to increase employee productivity and reduce operational costs.”

Forrester cited “a growing number of client inquiries about telecommuting best practices” and noted: “Some firms are trying to build a business case for expanding their telecommuting program. Others are standardizing their support for telecommuting with the aim of lowering costs.” The report concluded that “most companies will save money by formalizing their telecommuting policies and standardizing support practices.”

PBX Mobile Extension With Wireless Office Enables Mobility

PBX Mobile Extension enables mobile workers to move seamlessly between cell phones and desk phones to maintain calls in progress; conduct real-time conference calls; and initiate mass notifications enabling businesses to quickly respond to urgent situations. PBX Mobile Extension is powered by BlackBerry MVS, providing users with intuitive and visual enterprise desk-phone features through menus built directly into the BlackBerry phone application.

The service features a single phone number that simultaneously or sequentially rings on up to four devices. It works with Verizon IP Trunking with Burstable Enterprise Shared Trunks (BEST) and Managed IP PBX and seamless integration with a corporate PBX. With this integration, users of BlackBerry smart phones from Verizon Wireless can have a secure mobile extension of their desk phones. If a user can’t immediately answer a call, PBX Mobile Extension uses a company’s existing voice mail system to provide a unified voice mailbox, eliminating the inefficiencies of multiple voice mail systems.

One of the driving forces behind the Verizon offer is Wireless Office, a suite of services that brings calling features previously available only on the desktop phone to Verizon Wireless mobile phones. Along with a selection of unique calling plans, Wireless Office provides a low-maintenance and cost-effective solution for companies with:

• Highly mobile teams who need to stay in touch with one another and with the home office.
• Employee teams who roam the corporate campus and can’t be tied to their desk phones.

Verizon’s Wireless Office lets enterprise customers improve campus communications and worker mobility, which can help reduce costs even further.

“Verizon has been a leader in developing and delivering advanced IP-based solutions that help organizations work smarter,” said Rebecca Carr, vice president of global marketing for Verizon Business. “We provide the IP infrastructure, applications and expertise to help customers employ new capabilities for their competitive advantage.”

For a retrospective and prospective view of Verizon Business IP innovation, visit: http://www.verizonbusiness.com/about/ipinnovation.

About Research In Motion (RIM)

Research In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, phone, SMS messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. RIM technology also enables a broad array of third party developers and manufacturers to enhance their products and services with wireless connectivity to data. RIM’s portfolio of award-winning products, services and embedded technologies are used by thousands of organizations around the world and include the BlackBerry(R) wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheld(TM) product line, software development tools, radio-modems and software/hardware licensing agreements. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. RIM is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq: RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RIM). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.BlackBerry(R).com.

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, serving more than 86 million customers nationwide. Verizon’s Wireline operations provide converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation’s most advanced fiber-optic network. Wireline also includes Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 237,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon