Verizon Communications

Verizon Communications, Inc. provides communication services primarily in the United States. The company began as NYNEX in 1984. This company merged with Bell Atlantic in 1996. This merger was followed by a merger with GTE in 1998 to form Verizon. The merger was finalised nearly 2 years later in 2000. Before the merger was complete a joint venture was formed that became Verizon Wireless in 2000. Verizon now holds a 55% stake in Verizon Wireless.

Verizon provides communication services to approximately 45.5 million voice and data customers in the United States. Verizon provides standard POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) service as well as VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) and Fiber line services. Verizon provides DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) Internet service in many areas where it offers phone service.Verizon recently began offering FTTP (Fiber to the Premises) to some subscribers. Verizon calls this "FiOS Internet". With an estimated 17 bllion dollars in assets, Verizon is exploring a sale or spin-off of the business unit to finance its expansion in wireless and high-speed Internet services. Current members of the board of directors of Verizon Communications are: James Barker, Richard Carri�n, Robert Lane, Sandra Moose, Joseph Neubauer, Thomas O'Brien, Hugh Price, Ivan Seidenberg, Walter Shipley, John R. Stafford, and Robert Storey.