Verizon Achieves Cisco Multinational Gold Re-Certification in EMEA

READING, England, March 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon announced today that it has achieved Cisco® Multinational Gold Certification status in EMEA by recertifying France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.  To earn Gold Certification, Verizon met rigorous standards set forth by Cisco in networking competency, service, support and customer satisfaction.

"This recognition highlights the technical expertise of our local teams and our commitment to delivering high-quality communications solutions to our customers," said Rich Montgomery, Verizon's EMEA group vice president. "We work closely with European enterprises to help them leverage the power of emerging technologies to support their own business goals, now and in the future. Our ongoing collaboration with Cisco makes it possible to offer solutions that leverage the overarching strength of our two companies."

"We are committed to providing the tools, training and programs that facilitate partner growth, differentiation and profitability," said Edison Peres, senior vice president of worldwide channels at Cisco. "With specializations in Borderless Networking, Collaboration and Data Center architectures, Verizon has made an investment in developing the capability to deliver the integrated and customized technology solutions that today's customers demand."

The Cisco Resale Channel Program provides a framework for partners to build the sales, technical and Cisco Lifecycle Services skills required to deliver Cisco solutions to end customers. Through the program's specializations and certifications, Cisco recognizes a partner's expertise in deploying solutions based on Cisco advanced technologies and services. Using a third-party audit process, the program validates a partner's technology skills, business practices, customer satisfaction, presales and post-sales support capabilities, and other critical factors that customers consider when choosing a trusted partner.

As a Cisco Gold Certified Multinational Partner Verizon has met the requirements for attaining the broadest range of expertise across multiple technologies by achieving Cisco advanced architecture specializations in Borderless Networking, Collaboration and Data Center. In addition, Verizon has integrated Cisco Lifecycle Services into its offerings and is required to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction. Cisco Gold Multinational Certification provides Verizon with access to comprehensive sales, technical, and lifecycle services training and support available from Cisco.

About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 98 million retail connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with nearly $116 billion in 2012 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 183,400.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon