ZURICH, Switzerland, October 1 /PRNewswire/ --

- Combined Capabilities Deliver a Winning Formula

Swiss-based Bühler, a global leader in food and chemical processing technology, has chosen the recently announced alliance of Swisscom and Verizon Business to deliver a new local-to-global data communications infrastructure. Swisscom will deliver advanced multiprotocol label switching (MPLS)-based communications across its Swiss network, while Verizon Business will deliver a seamless interconnection to its global IP network.

Swisscom and Verizon Business recently established their preferred partnership to meet the local and global communications requirements of multinational companies with operations in Switzerland. The alliance's extensive combined expertise and capabilities, as well as its ability to deliver a single point of contact, were key deciding factors for Bühler.

Bühler, with headquarters in Uzwil, employs 6,900 people in 40 countries around the world. The company, which has been expanding rapidly around the world in recent years, decided to streamline its communications infrastructure to ensure it could seamlessly support future growth, as well as its current data communications needs.

Bühler will initially migrate its headquarters in Uzwil and sites in Germany, Spain, South Africa and China to the Verizon Business/Swisscom network, followed by additional international sites in the coming months.

Rolf Bless, Bühler's head of IT security and sourcing, explained: "The Swisscom/Verizon Business alliance offers a winning combination of local depth and global reach, supported by extensive expertise and sound technical capabilities. The alliance gives us optimal network coverage in Switzerland and worldwide - and we also benefit from seamless local-to-global network management. Using the alliance as a single source for all our national and international communication needs not only reduces internal complexity, it also enables us to enhance performance and overall business productivity."

Urs Schaeppi, head of corporate business and a member of the executive board at Swisscom, commented: "Bühler is the first new Swiss customer to realise the benefits of the Swisscom and Verizon Business alliance, and we look forward to supporting the company's ongoing global growth and local innovation. Our alliance was established to provide enhanced global service and support capabilities to Swiss multinational companies and companies with operations in the Swiss market. We look forward to delivering these to Bühler."

Blair Crump, Verizon Business group president international and premier accounts, said: "For multinational corporations, a reliable, seamless and secure communications infrastructure is critical to enabling internal collaboration and effective customer service. This alliance is all about helping our joint customers to more effectively serve their own customers. We look forward to working with Bühler to seamlessly deliver the company's local and global communications needs."

The Swisscom and Verizon Business partnership offers Swisscom customers with multinational operations seamless access to Verizon Business' expansive global network and solutions. Verizon Business customers with operations in the Swiss market benefit from Swisscom's extensive local market expertise, dense infrastructure and customer service organization. Customers that are served by both companies enjoy a consistent, high-quality experience and a comprehensive suite of voice and data services.

About Bühler AG

Bühler is a global specialist in the field of plant design and construction and the related services for transforming renewable and synthetic raw materials into high-quality functional products and valuable substances. Bühler employs some 6,900 persons around the world and is a leader in the basic technologies of grinding, blending & mixing, bulk handling, thermal treatment, and shaping for processing cereal grains and foods, producing and upgrading engineering materials, and die casting. In fiscal 2007, the Group generated sales of CHF 1770 million. http://www.buhlergroup.com

About Swisscom Corporate Business

Whether voice or data, mobile or fixed network, individual products or integrated solutions: as a leading independent business communications provider, Swisscom (Switzerland) Ltd Corporate Business supports its customers with the planning, implementation and operation of their IT and communications infrastructures (ICT). The division offers services which help customers optimise their work processes: cost-effective modern solutions and services which leave customers more time to focus on their core business. Swisscom Corporate Business can provide all this from a single source: individual, professional and reliable - for voice and data solutions in the areas of multimedia, security and alarm systems. ICT convergence is ensured through innovative products and solutions to maintain market leadership in business communication in the future. For further information, please visit www.swisscom.ch .

About Verizon Business

Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), operates the world's most connected public IP network and uses its industry-leading global-network capabilities to offer large-business and government customers an unmatched combination of security, reliability and speed. The company integrates advanced IP communications and information technology (IT) products and services to deliver leading enterprise solutions including managed services, security, mobility, collaboration and professional services. These solutions power innovation and enable the company's customers to do business better. For more information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com.

Web site: http://www.verizonbusiness.com http://www.swisscom.ch http://www.buhlergroup.com

Jo Perrin, Verizon Business, +44-770-252-5868, jo.perrin@verizonbusiness.com; or Swisscom AG media relations, +41-31-342-91-93, media@swisscom.com ; Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/094251.html