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Verizon Business Emergency Response Mobile Communications Service Quickly Restores Critical Communication

Posted on: Thursday, 21 May 2009, 08:00 CDT

New Service for Enterprise and Government Customers Uses Specially Equipped Vehicles to Deliver Satellite Links to Verizon's Global IP Network From Anywhere in North America

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Ready at a moment's notice, Verizon Business' new Emergency Response Mobile Communications Service (ERMCS) quickly restores critical communications services for any business in any industry, from anywhere in North America.

Using specially equipped vehicles, Verizon Business trained experts reestablish communications during unplanned disruptions resulting from natural or human-caused events. This new service also offers professional security and business continuity planning and training. (Photos of the company's new mobile command center can be viewed and downloaded here.)

"Obviously, the faster a company can overcome an unplanned communication disruption, the faster it can get back to business," said Diane McCarthy, senior vice president, network field operations. "But to be most effective, ERMCS needs to be incorporated into a larger business continuity plan. We can help on that score as well by providing professional consulting services that can include developing, assessing and testing response plans."

ERMCS vehicles use satellite links to restore vital business communications. Each self-sufficient vehicle is equipped with wired VoIP telephones and wired and wireless Ethernet access for laptops. Several vehicle configurations are available, including 40-foot and 53-foot vehicles that offer up to 24 individual work stations, each with its own telephone jack, Ethernet port and electrical outlet. These vehicles provide local, long-distance and international calling, along with Internet access and fax service.

"While the details can vary by company, a complete business continuity plan will include a way to reestablish communications," said McCarthy. "The ERMCS can successfully fulfill that role by offering a complete package of communication offerings combined with reliability and flexibility."

Verizon Business is demonstrating ERMCS during this week's Spring Ahead 2009 disaster drill by using the service to establish Internet access and provide "smart" credentialing for emergency response officials during the drill. (Note: For more information on Verizon Business' role in Spring Ahead 2009, see companion news release here.)

"The ERMCS is also part of Verizon Business' good corporate citizenship," added McCarthy. "At numerous times the company has deployed its mobile vehicles to provide communication services during disasters."

The vehicles were used during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, in New York City following the September 11, 2001, attacks and during the 2003 and 2007 Southern California wildfires. The vehicles also have been deployed to provide communication services to thousands of U.S. soldiers.

Earlier this month, Verizon Business' new 51-foot mobile command center joined the company's emergency response fleet. The state-of-the-art command center features the latest and most sophisticated communications equipment, with ample space for company employees, public officials and other emergency responders during events that affect Verizon's communications network in the U.S.

Verizon Business recently issued announcements on its emergency communications capabilities and business continuity solutions.

About Verizon Business

Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a global leader in communications and IT solutions. We combine professional expertise with the world's most connected IP network to deliver award-winning communications, IT, information security and network solutions. We securely connect today's extended enterprises of widespread and mobile customers, partners, suppliers and employees -- enabling them to increase productivity and efficiency and help preserve the environment. Many of the world's largest businesses and governments -- including 96 percent of the Fortune 1000 and thousands of government agencies and educational institutions -- rely on our professional and managed services and network technologies to accelerate their business. Find out more at www.verizonbusiness.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.

SOURCE Verizon Business

Source: PR Newswire

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