BASKING RIDGE, New Jersey, November 12 /PRNewswire/ --

- New Offering Brings Power of Web 2.0 to Corporate Users

Businesses now can directly manage their Web site content, intranets, extranets and blogs -- with just a couple of clicks of the mouse.

Verizon Business on Wednesday (Nov. 12) announced the immediate availability in the U.S. and Europe of a new value-added offering that enables customers of the company's Managed Hosting service to quickly, securely and easily change online content via an easy-to-use, intuitive Web interface. The new Application Management Service uses Alterian Content Management Enterprise Edition - Morello, a leading software platform for integrated marketing solutions.

(NOTE: An audio podcast, featuring the head of e-communications for the Welsh Assembly Government, discusses how the government is using Verizon's new Application Management Service to keep in touch with the citizens of Wales, is available at: http://www.podtech.net/home/5430/with-new-advanced- web-platform-verizon-business-helps-welsh-assembly-government-keep- citizens-informed )

With Verizon Business' Application Management Service, business users no longer need to acquire technical skills or to depend exclusively on the IT department to update content. Authorized users can simply drag and drop content directly from their desktop into the interface, and then preview the Web pages exactly as they will appear online.

Verizon Business is witnessing a sea of change in how businesses and their employees are embracing the Internet as a medium for rich interaction, said Nancy Gofus, senior vice president, global business products, Verizon. Today's corporate users depend on up-to-date content and social networking sites to work smarter and collaborate more effectively. Verizon Business' new solution addresses that need, providing today's Web 2.0 workforce with the tools necessary to maintain a competitive edge.

The new offering enables companies to boost creativity, facilitate secure information sharing and collaboration, and deliver information in real time. It also relieves companies' IT organizations of the burden of day-to-day Web-site management. The flexible interface also can accommodate the addition of new users and technologies, allowing the company's Web site to grow along with the company.

The Welsh Assembly Government -- a Verizon Business customer responsible for issues of day-to-day concern to the 3 million people of Wales, including the economy, health, education and local government -- is using the new Application Management Service to dynamically update its external Web site.

Stuart Fitzgerald, head of e-communications for the Welsh Assembly Government, said, In taking advantage of the Application Management Service, we can very reliably deliver the most up-to-date information so our citizens can be well informed about Assembly Government initiatives, as well as provide the platform to develop online citizen engagement. This will greatly improve the way in which the Assembly Government can use e-communications in its day-to-day business.

The new Application Management Service is hosted in a secure, reliable environment to provide a highly available service. The overall solution offers peace of mind for customers, and includes support for monitoring, maintenance, security, and backup and restore services.

A demonstration of this new offering is available at http://www.hellomorello.com/product/business-scenarios/introduction/

New Offering Joins IP Application Hosting Services

Verizon Business IP Application Hosting Services are part of the company's comprehensive portfolio of IT and hosting solutions that deliver complete, end-to-end, integrated IT and network solutions. From simple colocation to full IT applications management, Verizon Business serves as a true extension of a customer's IT organization. Services include Data Center Colocation, Remote Backup and Restore, Hosted Messaging and Instant Messaging, IT Service Desk, Akamai Services, IP Application Hosting and Remote IP Application Management. More information is available at http://www.verizonbusiness.com/us/itsolutions.

About Alterian

Alterian (LSE: ALN) empowers marketers with an integrated marketing software platform combining database, online and operational marketing applications on a shared data infrastructure. The Alterian Integrated Marketing Platform makes it practical and cost effective for marketers to use actionable insight to execute an integrated marketing strategy across online and offline channels. For more information about Alterian, products within the Alterian Marketing Services Platform or our Partner Network, please visit www.alterian.com

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.

Brianna Carroll Boyle, +1-703-859-4251, brianna.boyle@verizon.com, or Clare Ward, +44-(0)-118-905-3501, clare.ward@uk.verizonbusiness.com . VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.