With Verizon Business’s entry into the Japanese conferencing market—the company believes it is the first foreign conferencing service to install bridges in Japan—businesses now have more options available to them when selecting a conferencing provider. Not only is it easy and cost-effective for local businesses to conduct conference calls, multinational businesses with locations in Japan will be able to connect directly to Verizon Business’s global network for great efficiency in conducting international calls.

According to U.S.-based TeleSpan Publishing Corp., the use of conference calls in Asia is a fast-rising trend, growing 30 percent in 1998. The benefits provided by conferencing—increased productivity, reduced travel costs, and improved decision-making—should continue to fuel its growth in the years ahead as more Asia-based businesses adopt it as a viable, convenient way to conduct meetings.

The features of Verizon Business’s Audioconferencing services include:

• Teleconference call setup guaranteed within 10 minutes;

• Standard service—an operator sets up the conference call, greets participants and enters them into the call, and is available during the call for further assistance;

• Premier service—in addition to the above, an operator can screen participants, coordinate a question-and-answer session, conduct an online poll at the leader’s request, and monitor the progress and audio quality of the call.

• Unattended service—where no operator assistance is required on the call;

• Taping—Customers can request that calls be recorded; a tape of the call is provided within 48 hours of the call’s completion.

Verizon Business, a global leader in telecommunications services, has been offering Audioconferencing and Videoconferencing services to Japan and other Asia-Pacific countries since 1995 via its call center in Hong Kong. These services are also available to customers in North America and Europe. Local Audioconferencing access in Japan, available December 17, provides Japanese businesses a convenient and cost-effective way to access these leading services.

Via the Verizon Business global network, customers in Japan conducting business locally, regionally, or globally will benefit from a growing worldwide bridge capacity of more than 35,000 ports. Verizon Business extended experience in Audioconferencing outside the United States has led it to offer support in multiple languages in the Asia-Pacific and European regions, including Japanese, English, Mandarin, Cantonese, French, German, and Spanish.

To reserve an audioconference, customers should dial 3-5539-5100. A Japanese-speaking reservationist will set up the call as requested and fax or e-mail a confirmation. Verizon Business Conferencing representatives in Japan can also help manage high-visibility events o corporate communications that may require Premier service, providing complete support before, during, and after the event.

About Verizon Business
Verizon Business is a global leader in communications services with 1998 revenue of more than $30 billion and established operations in over 65 countries encompassing the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions. Verizon Business is a premier provider of facilities-based and fully integrated local, long distance, international and Internet services. Verizon Business global networks, including its state-of-the-art pan-European network and transoceanic cable systems, provide end-to-end high-capacity connectivity to more than 40,000 buildings worldwide. Verizon Business is traded on NASDAQ under Verizon Business. For more information on Verizon Business, visit its Web site at www.verizonbusiness.com.

Verizon Conferencing is the fastest-growing conferencing entity in the world, according to TeleSpan Publishing Corporation. It helps companies meet more effectively, reducing travel costs and increasing productivity. Verizon Conferencing provides audio, video and Net Conferencing, equipment sales and support, as well as Tele-management services to complement customers' electronic meeting needs. For more information on Verizon Conferencing, visit e-meetings.verizonbusiness.com.

***The names, logos, and taglines identifying Verizon Business products and services are proprietary marks of Verizon Business or its subsidiaries. ***