1-800-VERIZON, the most convenient way to contact the wireless operator, greatly simplifies the process of reaching the correct customer service area by replacing more than 100 toll-free numbers used in the past by Verizon (News - Alert) wire line customers with one, single phone number.

 

The new number was introduced across the country during the past few months. Already, more than 40 percent of all calls to Verizon from residential wire line customers are made via 1-800-VERIZON. Other Verizon services will be added to the number in the future, and current toll-free customer-service numbers will gradually be phased out.

 

The new number creates a quick, more efficient way for Verizon wire line telephone, high-speed Internet, FiOS (News - Alert) Internet and TV customers across the country to speak to service representatives who can answer billing questions, process orders for new services and repair requests, and provide technical support.

 

"Instead of asking customers to figure out which number to call for what, one number is now all they'll need," said John Comisky, vice president of operations at Verizon. "It makes life much easier for our customers."

 

Verizon Communications is a provider of broadband and other wire line and wireless communications. It is headquartered in New York, serves more than 80 million customers nationwide, and employs a diverse workforce of nearly 224,000 thus generating consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion.

 

Verizon Business (News - Alert) delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, Verizon Telecom brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network and Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news supplies information like Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images.

 

Once the number is dialed an automated greeter follows which recognizes either word commands or number prompts to identify the geographic region and function. The customer is then directed to the service representative after their needs have been identified. The simple process not only helps customer communications, but also enhances productivity for service representatives by directing the right calls to the right place.

 

"We implemented leading-edge technology to create a seamless process that our customers grasp intuitively," said Kamil Hajji, Verizon IT director and lead architect of contact center technology.

 

Frost & Sullivan (News - Alert) recently recognized Verizon Business with the North American Market Leadership Award for the company's Hosted Interactive Voice Response (IVR) services, for the second time in three years.

 

The research and consulting firm announced the award on Thursday, January 22nd, at its Excellence in Information and Communication Technologies Awards Banquet in San Antonio, Texas.

 

Verizon announced on Wednesday, January 28^th, that its FiOS TV service had added 12 new channels to its line-up in Portland, Oregon.