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Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) is an American broadband and telecommunications company and a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. It was formed in 2000 when Bell Atlantic, one of the Regional Bell Operating Companies, merged with GTE. Prior to its transformation into Verizon, Bell Atlantic had merged with another Regional Bell Operating Company, NYNEX, in 1997. The name is a portmanteau of veritas and horizon .

History

Verizon was founded in 1983 as Bell Atlantic Corporation by AT&T Corporation as one of seven Baby Bells that were formed due to an anti-trust judgement against them. It then inherited one of the seven Bell Operating Companies from American Telephone & Telegraph Company (later known as AT&T Corp.) following its breakup. Bell Atlantic's original roster of operating companies included:

  • The Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania
  • New Jersey Bell Telephone Company
  • The Diamond State Telephone Company
  • The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company
  • The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company of Maryland
  • The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company of Virginia
  • The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company of West Virginia

Bell Atlantic originally operated in the U.S. states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia, as well as Washington, D.C.

In 1994, Bell Atlantic became the first Regional Bell Operating Company to entirely drop the original names of its original operating companies. Ameritech and NYNEX (and SBC Communications in 2002) simply added d/b/a names to its operating companies; U S West and BellSouth had merged their operating companies. Operating company titles were simplified to:

  • Bell Atlantic—Delaware, Inc.
  • Bell Atlantic—Maryland, Inc.
  • Bell Atlantic—New Jersey, Inc.
  • Bell Atlantic—Pennsylvania, Inc.
  • Bell Atlantic—Virginia, Inc.
  • Bell Atlantic—Washington, D.C., Inc.
  • Bell Atlantic—West Virginia, Inc.

In 1996, CEO and Chairman Raymond W. Smith orchestrated Bell Atlantic's merger with NYNEX. When it merged, it moved its corporate headquarters from Philadelphia to New York City. NYNEX was consolidated into this name by 1997.

Prior to its merger with GTE, Bell Atlantic traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the "BEL" symbol.

GTE merger

Bell Atlantic acquired GTE on June 30, 2000 and changed its name to Verizon Communications Inc. It was among the largest mergers in United States business history. It was the result of a definitive merger agreement, dated July 27, 1998, between Bell Atlantic, based in New York City since the merger with NYNEX in 1996, and GTE, which was in the process of moving its headquarters from Stamford, Connecticut, to Irving, Texas.

The Bell Atlantic–GTE merger, priced at more than $52 billion at the time of the announcement, closed nearly two years later, following analysis and approvals by Bell Atlantic and GTE shareowners, 27 state regulatory commissions and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and clearance from the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) and various international agencies.

The merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE, to form Verizon Communications, became effective on June 30, 2000, with an exchange ratio of 1.22 shares of Verizon Communications Common Stock for each share of GTE Common Stock owned. Fractional shares resulting from the exchange of GTE stock into Verizon Communications shares were sold at a price of $55.00 per share. Verizon began trading on the NYSE under its new "VZ" symbol on Monday, July 3, 2000.

Meanwhile, on September 21, 1999, Bell Atlantic and UK-based Vodafone AirTouch Plc (now Vodafone Group Plc) announced that they had agreed to create a new wireless business with a national footprint, a single brand and a common digital technology – composed of Bell Atlantic's and Vodafone's U.S. wireless assets (Bell Atlantic Mobile (which was previously called Bell Atlantic-NYNEX Mobile by 1997), AirTouch Cellular, PrimeCo Personal Communications, and AirTouch Paging). This wireless joint venture received regulatory approval in six months, and began operations as Verizon Wireless on April 4, 2000, kicking off the new "Verizon" brand name. GTE's wireless operations became part of Verizon Wireless – creating what was initially the nation's largest wireless company before Cingular Wireless acquired AT&T Wireless in 2004 – when the Bell Atlantic–GTE merger closed nearly three months later. Verizon then became the majority owner (55%) of Verizon Wireless.

Genuity was formerly the Internet division of GTE Corp and spun off in 2000. Level 3 Communications acquired the assets of the bankrupt ISP in 2002 for only $137 million; a bargain-basement price considering the $616 million that a pre-Bell Atlantic-merger GTE paid for Genuity (then BBN Planet) in 1997.

Merger effects

Note this section refers to land lines only, as Verizon Wireless operates nationwide.

Verizon shares were made a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average on April 8, 2004. Verizon currently has 140.3 million land lines in service. With the MCI merger, it has more than 250,000 employees. Verizon serves customers throughout much of the United States. The primary states that it provides service to include:

  • Southwestern Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts*
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island*
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia
  • Washington, D.C.

These states are served by the following renamed Bell Operating Companies:

  • Verizon Delaware, Inc. – Also serves a portion of southeastern Pennsylvania
  • Verizon Maryland, Inc.
  • Verizon New England Telephone & Telegraph, Inc. – noted with a (*)
  • Verizon New Jersey, Inc.
  • Verizon New York Telephone, Inc. – Also serves Southwestern Connecticut
  • Verizon Pennsylvania, Inc.
  • Verizon Virginia, Inc.
  • Verizon Washington, D.C., Inc.
  • Verizon West Virginia, Inc.

(**) Also served by GTE operating companies (refer below)

It also provides service to secondary markets (mostly from its acquisition of GTE) in:

  • Arizona &
  • California & ◊
  • Florida
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Michigan
  • Nevada &
  • North Carolina*
  • Ohio
  • Oregon
  • South Carolina*
  • Texas
  • Washington
  • Wisconsin

These states are served by these operating companies:

  • GTE Southwest, Inc. dba Verizon Southwest,Inc., which serves only Texas.
  • GTE Florida, Inc. dba Verizon Florida, Inc.
  • Verizon South, Inc. (marked with a *)
  • Verizon North, Inc. (marked with a )
  • Contel of the South, Inc. dba Verizon Mid-States, Inc. (marked with a ) Also served by Verizon North.
  • Verizon Northwest, Inc.(marked with a ) Operations in California do business as "Verizon West Coast, Inc."
  • Verizon California, Inc. (marked with a & )

Many Verizon New England operations were sold to FairPoint Communications on April 1, 2008. Markets included:

  • Maine
  • New Hampshire
  • Vermont

Due to the rigorous climate and high costs, GTE Alaska was sold to Alaska Power and Telephone Company rather than be merged with Verizon.

Verizon also owns stakes in some international communications companies, most notably 23.14% of Vodafone Italy. On April 3, 2006 Verizon agreed to sell its stakes in Verizon Dominicana (operating in the Dominican Republic), CANTV of Venezuela, and Puerto Rico Telephone Company, Inc. (PRT) in Puerto Rico to Telmex and América Móvil for $3.7 billion. Verizon's other international investment is 50% ownership of Gibraltar NYNEX Communications.

In 2002, Verizon sold GTE's former telephone operations in 3 states: Missouri and Alabama operations were sold to CenturyTel, and Kentucky operations were sold to Alltel, which later spun off its landline operations as Windstream. In 2005, Verizon sold off GTE's former telephone operations in Hawaii to The Carlyle Group, This operation is now known as Hawaiian Telcom. As of January 16, 2007, Verizon's operations in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont are going to be split off into a new Bell Operating Company, spun off, and merged with FairPoint Communications.

In 2006 Verizon moved its headquarters from New York City to Basking Ridge, New Jersey.

MCI acquisition

On February 14, 2005, Verizon agreed to acquire MCI, formerly WorldCom, after SBC Communications agreed to acquire AT&T Corp. just a fe

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My Wireless Rep X-STREAM VoIP is digital broadband phone wireless services that combines the power of your existing home phone with your high-speed Internet connection, saving consumers up to 50%.


Scott Johnson of GNUveau Networks has developed a solar-powered Internet "hub" system (running Ubuntu GNU/Linux) that he builds to order in his Daytona Beach, Florida, home. His objective is to bring computers and the Internet to places that have no connectivity, no phone service, and no electricity. This is no pipe dream. There are real SolarNetOn


Delving into the details of Comcast Specials, it seems like a great deal. Not only can get you Comcast service for the internet, but new bundled packages can save you money, when you add your internet, cable, and home phone to the same bill.


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Mrs Sherry asks: "My fiance and I both have cellphones but it is costing us over 200 dollars month on a family share plan. I want to get a Home phone to cut back on the minutes I use. I heard that vonage is supposed to be good but I have no idea. What about caliver? What are your suggestions for a good home phone service, what about the price.."
GadgetQueen replies: 'I've have voip for almost 5 years now and I love it. It's cheaper than a landline, and the reception and everything else is great too... this one is $21.95/mo and you get a free trial... if you like it - keep it... if not... no harm no faul'
my4cards replies: 'Also, check into the ACN digital phone service. It is $23.99 a month unlimited local and long distance for the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. They have their own network and their customer care is excellent.Vonyage is a third party phone company and your calls go outside of the US then come back to be rerouted. ACN has its own network. But you can only get service through an Ind. Rep.My site is easy to navigate. just click on products and reveiw the digital phone service informatin. Good luck.Lynn M.'
Connie B asks: "I would like to get home phone service at Inter Mountain phone company.They have a advertisement on the radio."
skeptical replies: 'Hmmm. That's a tough one.Hey! I have an idea! Maybe you could call the number they gave on the radio!!!!! And talk directly to the company! They might even be able to answer your questions and get you set up with service!!!!Yeah! That might work!'
hidee asks: "I need to get a home phone set up in my apartment, the main reason is so I can accept collect calls from a family member in jail. I~m having a hard time finding a phone service that is reasonable, or even one at all. I live in South Florida. Any help would be appreciated."
Randi replies: 'you should try the new magic jack that plugs into your home computer. It is $69.95 to start and then $19.95 a year.'
hunny bunny replies: 'i use a bundle cable phone internet ..but did you know phone calls from jail are very expensive they have there own system and it can charge you anything they want.. local calls 25 dollars per min.. and you can't get them off your bill or if the person calls and asks you to except charges and calls someone else you get to pay.. i got a bill for 2500 for my idot sister who was in jail.. i do not talk to anyone in there ever. i learned the hard way .. i would rather spend my $ on me...'
masedabest replies: 'vonage..unlimited everything for $24.99....the best deal around'
tshnobodysfool replies: 'I just switched my landline to with my cell plan - it's only $10/mo + connection fee ($35?)+hiport router with phone jack ($50). Unlimited l/d, voicemsg, call id, call waiting, call fwd. You need high speed internet to do that: 500+ kbps.'
chebrew2000 replies: 'Try Vonage. I only pay $20/mo. I have the most inexpensive plan. You must have a RELIABLE internet connection to use it.'
zxxxt replies: 'Did you say collect calls? Get a voip set up so you'll save on monthly fees. Onesuite.com only charges $2.95 monthly with free incoming calls. Pick a number that close to the person who's going to call you and if the number is available then its not going to be long distance anymore so no more collect calls.'
Bebe asks: "I am looking for a home phone service (& internet service if avail) taht is cheaper than verizon. Now I know that comcast has cable phone & there is vonage too, but are they any good? I heard some bad reviews also. ThanksI live in Philadelphia, USA if that mattersDoes sprint have landlines??I meant landlines..."
Rosita replies: 'I know Sprint is Cheaper and just as good.'
peanutwafers replies: 'No, I do not think that Sprint has landlines. I would just stick with Verizon.'
Nate J replies: 'I did some looking and came up with not much besides broadband.'
boodee replies: 'Sprint is okay .Budget phone is great. I don't know if you have them in your area.'
my4cards replies: 'You can also check availability for Internet, local & long distance through a private telecommunications company called ACN. We use their VOIP service. their site is easy to navigate.Lynn'
xcka3kaxx replies: 'Be careful with listening to people on here about Vonage. It's crap service and it's nearly impossible to close an account with them. They just want to refer a bunch of people.'
♥ Blonde&Intelligent asks: "My boyfriend and I live in an apartment together and don't make a huge amount of money, but we have enough to get by. We both have cell phones (luckily I don't have to pay for mine) but he recently broke his.Now I can't reach him at all.That has me thinking I should get a home phone from Vonage for only $24.99 a month. What do you guys think about this? For people who have a home phone, do you find it more helpful than you thought it would be?"
will replies: 'if you can get a local number from Vonage thats a good deal BUT they could never give me a number where if my neighbor called me it would be a long distance charge for them. They usually give you an area code thats not local to your area'
Geoff S replies: 'Vonage is good. They're the number 1 VoIP provider and you get free unlimited calls, free long distance to US and Canada, free voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, etc. all for one low price. There are cheaper VoIP providers out there that do the same, but reliability could be questionable and we're just after seeing the 2nd largest VoIP company Sunrocket go under. As for phone number availability, it's likely you could keep the number from the cell phone you're not using and have that be your Vonage number. I have family that lives out in the sticks and they were able to keep their number but had the option to get a new local number no problem. Check the website to see if this would be an issue for you or not. It'll let you know if they would be able to port your number. Do I find it helpful? Anywhere I can save money for getting the same product (or more) is a great help! We used to have Sprint home phone with unlimited long distance. That cost around $70/mo so this is a huge savings!'

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