Verizon Introduces Its Ultra-Fast FiOS Internet Service in Schenectady

Verizon Introduces Its Ultra-Fast FiOS Internet Service in Schenectady

New Fiber-to-the-Premises Network Delivers FiOS Broadband Services to Consumers and Small Businesses

NEW YORK, Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- From gaming and movies, to video and Web conferencing, to e-mail and shopping, anything people in Schenectady want to do on the Internet just got easier and faster than ever.

Verizon announced that its ultra-fast FiOS Internet service is now available to customers in parts of Schenectady. FiOS Internet is already available in other communities in the area, including parts of Bethlehem, Colonie, Delmar, Guilderland and Niskayuna. Additional parts of the Capital region and other New York neighborhoods will become eligible for the service as Verizon continues to deploy its new fiber-optic network.

Verizon delivers FiOS services over the nation's most advanced, all- digital, fiber-optic network straight to customers' doors. Last week, the company introduced a new, symmetrical Verizon FiOS Internet service for consumers, featuring an upload and download speed of up to 20 megabits per second (Mbps). The groundbreaking new service is the first of its kind commercially available to U.S. consumers on a mass scale, and is available in parts of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

"Nothing compares to Verizon FiOS Internet service," said Thomas Wright, Verizon director, FiOS for the Capital region. "The speed and capacity of Verizon's fiber-optic network for both receiving and sending information beats old-fashioned cable hands down for anything you need to do online."

Wright noted that today consumers and businesses rely on fast Internet connections for everything from routine tasks like Web surfing, shopping or e- mail to more broadband-intensive activities like photo sharing, digital movie downloads, multi-player gaming, building Web pages, blogging and video conferencing.

"Verizon FiOS Internet gives customers the fastest online connections available in the Capital region," said Wright. "Backed by the Verizon network and thousands of skilled Verizon employees, FiOS promises a fiber experience that is better than anything offered by a communications provider."

FiOS Internet was recently named to the top five of PC World Magazine's 100 Best Products of 2007. The only Internet service to make the prestigious list, Verizon FiOS Internet was ranked fourth on the roster of what the magazine called "the finest products and services of the past 12 months" - "based on exemplary design, features, performance and innovation." Readers of PC World and Computerworld magazines have recently ranked FiOS Internet number-one, with top scores across the board in overall satisfaction, connection reliability, download and upload speeds, customer service and technical support.

For Consumers, Ultra-Fast Speeds at Affordable Prices

Verizon is offering New York consumers several tiers of service with downstream (download) connection speeds of up to 10, 20 and 50 Mbps and upstream (upload) connection speeds of up to 20 Mbps.*

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.verizon.com/ny/double. Small businesses can contact their local Verizon business office or account manager to determine if they qualify for FiOS Internet Service for Business.

Each FiOS service for consumers is available either as part of a bundle of local and long-distance calling services from Verizon, or as a stand-alone Internet access service. Plans with a one-year service commitment include professional installation and configuration of one PC or laptop.

   There are three tiers of Verizon FiOS Internet service for consumers:    -- 10 Mbps downstream and 2 upstream - available to new customers for as      low as $39.99 a month with a one-year agreement.    -- 20 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream - available to new customers for      as low as $49.99 a month with a one-year agreement.    -- 20 Mbps downstream and 20 Mbps upstream - available to new customers      for as low as $64.99 a month with a one-year agreement.    -- 50 Mbps downstream and 20 Mbps upstream - available to new customers      for as low as $89.95 a month with a one-year agreement.   

Each consumer data offer includes: a state-of-the-art, wireless broadband home router; Verizon's Surround entertainment portal optimized for high-speed access featuring news, games, streaming video and more; e-mail with up to nine accounts; and 24 x 7 live technical support.

New York customers currently have the option to trim their monthly bill by bundling FiOS Internet service at 20 Mbps/5 Mbps and the Verizon Freedom Essentials voice service for $64.99 a month.

Small Businesses Can Get Big-Biz Speeds

FiOS for Business gives companies robust connection speeds for bandwidth- intensive applications at prices close to those charged by the ordinary broadband service providers.

FiOS Internet service for small businesses is available as part of a bundle of local and long-distance calling services from Verizon, or as a stand-alone Internet access service. Small-business customers can receive free professional installation for their primary computer, plus a 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 three types of service and either a dynamic Internet protocol (IP) address or a static IP address. Dynamic IP addresses are best suited for small businesses that do not have a Web site but still use the Internet for research or light-to-moderate e-mail. Static IP addresses, where a specific Internet routing code is assigned for exclusive use, are ideal for small businesses that are highly automated, have e-commerce capabilities, have employees who telecommute, or who need to host Web or e- mail servers, or both.

All business service tiers include 24 x 7 business-grade technical support. Companies also receive 20 MB (megabytes) of Web space and unlimited remote dial-up access that keeps employees connected when they're on the road.

* NOTE: actual (throughput) speeds will vary based on factors including computer configuration and network/Internet congestion.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) , 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 63.7 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 nearly 238,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $88 billion. 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.

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Source: Verizon

CONTACT: Heather Wilner of Verizon, +1-212-321-8333, or
heather.b.wilner@verizon.com

Web site: http://www.verizon.com/
http://www.verizon.com/news
http://www.verizon.com/ny/double

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/618232.html

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