Verizon Introduces Lower-Cost Plan to Its VoiceWing Broadband Phone Service and Adds New Features

NEW YORK - Consumers nationwide now have a new low-cost, feature-rich option for telephone service as Verizon today introduces Verizon VoiceWing 500 -- a new VoiceWing Internet-based calling plan. It provides 500 minutes of outbound local and domestic long-distance calling for just $19.95 a month, including unlimited inbound calls and free calls to other VoiceWing subscribers. VoiceWing Unlimited - a plan that provides unlimited local and domestic long-distance calling for as low as $29.95 a month - was launched by Verizon last year.

VoiceWing is now the first major Internet-based calling service to offer customers located in certain areas the option to include their telephone number in a residential 411 directory assistance database. Customers can elect to become part of the database when they place their VoiceWing order. Verizon also announced today that it has added faxing capabilities to VoiceWing, along with the ability to block up to 20 pre-designated phone numbers and to reject calls from anonymous callers.

"We now have a VoiceWing plan to meet every need," said Michelle Swittenberg, executive director for Verizon's consumer VoIP services. "VoiceWing 500 is perfect for people who want to spend less and don't need unlimited calling or who want an economical second line just for certain calls. And it comes with all the same advanced call-management features of VoiceWing Unlimited, which makes it an even greater value."

VoiceWing customers use a small telephone adapter provided by Verizon to quickly and easily connect their own telephones to their home high-speed Internet connections. The adapter allows the VoiceWing customer to send and receive calls over the Internet instead of using a standard phone line. The service works with both DSL and cable modem broadband connections and allows subscribers to call anyone, anywhere, worldwide.

VoiceWing is offered nationally, and subscribers can choose from 167 area codes -- regardless of where they live. Customers can take VoiceWing with them by using their adapter to make and receive calls anywhere there is a DSL or cable modem high-speed Internet connection.

Subscribers can also purchase up to five additional telephone numbers with their choice of area codes to use on their VoiceWing service for incoming calls. "This is very convenient for calling with out-of-town friends and family," said Swittenberg. "For example, if you have an out-of-town friend or relative who calls you frequently, you can purchase an additional incoming number with their area code. Then every call they make to you will be a local call for them."

VoiceWing now supports both voice and fax capability for no additional charge for customers using a Linksys PAP2 telephone adapter. Current customers who are using a Cisco adapter provided by Verizon and would like faxing capability can request a new, free adapter by calling 1-800-505-6495.

Both VoiceWing calling plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee; calls to Puerto Rico and other U.S. Territories; and low per-minute international calling rates, including 1 cent per minute to Canada, 3 cents per minute to the United Kingdom and 6-to-11 cents per minute to various locations in Mexico. All VoiceWing subscribers can make unlimited calls to other VoiceWing subscribers at no additional charge.

Roster of Advanced Features Grows With New Additions

Both VoiceWing plans include the same extensive roster of advanced calling features that can be conveniently controlled with the click of a mouse through an online personal account manager that is accessible from any Internet-enabled computer. These advanced calling features include:

• Incoming Call Block: A new feature that allows customers to block up to 20 telephone numbers and send the calls directly to voice mail. Customers can easily add or remove numbers they want blocked either through their online account manager or by entering a code on their telephone handset.

• Anonymous Call Rejection: A new feature that allows customers to refuse calls from parties who have blocked or restricted their Caller ID information and to send these calls directly to voice mail.

• Call Logs with Click to Dial: A list of all incoming, outgoing and missed calls for three days, including name, telephone number, date, time of day, physical location and duration of the call. Customers can click on calls to have VoiceWing dial them, or to easily add the caller's information to the customer's address book.

• Visual Voice Mail: Customers can see their voice mail online, listen by clicking on them and click a Forward button to send the audio message by e-mail to as many recipients as the customer would like.

• Enhanced Call Forwarding: Schedule call forwarding ahead of time for a specific date and time of day, or as a recurring event. Customers can quickly re-direct calls to another phone directly from their personal account manager. E-mail alerts will remind customers of when a scheduled call-forward is about to take place.

• Scheduled Callbacks: Schedule important calls in advance online. Customers' phones will ring at the appointed time, and they will then be connected to the call.

• Synchronized Personal Address Book: Customers can save telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of people who have called, arrange contacts in convenient groups, click on a phone number to dial it, or send an e-mail directly from their account manager. Only Verizon eliminates the hassle of creating and maintaining multiple address books by synchronizing customers' VoiceWing address books with a variety of other PC and PDA address books.

• Do Not Disturb: Sends all calls straight to voice mail and only allows the important ones through. Customers can designate up to 20 such phone numbers.

• Simultaneous Ring: Customers can designate up to three phone numbers where they'd like calls to ring in addition to their VoiceWing phone number. The first phone answered will be connected to the call.

• Back-up Number: Customers can designate another phone, such as their cell phone or office phone, where their VoiceWing calls can be automatically routed in case of a power failure or broadband outage.

• Permanent Caller ID Block: Gives VoiceWing customers total control over who sees their Caller ID information whenever they make an outbound call. By simply setting up Caller ID Block online, all calls are anonymous until the VoiceWing customer disables the feature.

To learn about even more VoiceWing calling features, customers can visit www.verizon.com/voicewing and select "Calling Features" from the menu. Customers can also order service at this Web site. If they do, they get their first month of service free.

With more than $71 billion in annual revenues, Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon has a diverse work force of more than 210,000 in four business units: Domestic Telecom serves customers based in 29 states with wireline telecommunications services, including broadband and other services. Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 43.8 million voice and data customers across the United States. Information Services operates directory publishing businesses and provides electronic commerce services. International includes wireline and wireless operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit
www.verizon.com.

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