Verizon Business ranks first in overall strategy for VoIP, according to a recently released Forrester Research study.

The study, "Forrester Wave: US Enterprise-Class VoIP Services, Q1 2007," found that "Verizon Business is best in class on overall voice over Internet protocol VoIP strategy, leading others on technology strategy, planned performance and customer service enhancements, and price."

The findings are particularly significant since businesses are increasingly seeking help transitioning from traditional telecommunications services to IP communications.

"This recognition reinforces our strong performance in this emerging growth area of the telecommunications market," said Tom Roche, vice president of marketing for network voice and data services with Verizon Business. "Verizon Business' expansive global IP network and comprehensive suite of VoIP services enable our customers to make the move to VoIP and leverage IP communications to achieve their specific business goals at their own path and pace."

According to the Forrester Wave report, Verizon Business "offers the broadest portfolio of VoIP services; this provider is the only one among its peers to offer session initiation protocol trunking, hosted VoIP services, managed IP private branch exchange services, IP conferencing, IP toll free, and hosted IP contact center services today. Verizon Business leads its peers on VoIP reliability, scalability, and sales capabilities."

"When taken all together, these factors make Verizon Business a good choice for customers that seek a flexible array of both inbound and outbound VoIP services today and that want a provider that has one of the strongest commitments to enhancing service performance in the months ahead," the report said.

Verizon Business was among the select companies that Forrester invited to participate in its Q1 2007, Forrester WAVE report, "US Enterprise-Class VoIP Services." For its study, Forrester evaluated the strengths and weaknesses across 123 criteria of five nationwide facilities-based service providers.

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