Verizon Rolls Out Nationwide VoIP Solution For SMBs

Verizon has announced the nationwide rollout of its Managed Communications Solution, designed to ease the migration of small- and medium-sized businesses to voice over IP (VoIP).

Intended for business customers with 20 to 200 employees who plan to upgrade their networks and implement VoIP, the Managed Communications Solution has only been available in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania until now. It allows businesses with multiple WAN locations to leverage their networks for voice traffic, converging resources and, Verizon says, saving money.

A hybrid solution based on Alcatel's Omni PCX Office public branch exchange (PBX), the solution provides both IP and public switched telephone network (PSTN) connectivity, allowing customers to integrate both analog and digital equipment over IP and traditional connections. Verizon offers customers a wide range of services, including toll-free 24/7 support, remote diagnostics, configuration backup, alarm monitoring, and monthly and on-demand reports.

"This flexibility plus the attractive financing terms remove the barriers to small businesses hoping to move towards the future with an IP solution," Verizon Business Solutions Group director of product development Phillip Nutsugah said in a statement. "The alliance with Alcatel allows us to offer our customers one of the best solutions in IP technology while providing them the ongoing support they require."