DaimlerChrysler Extends Relationship with Verizon Business for Managed Network Services; Enters New Agreement for Mercedes-Benz Unit

Basking Ridge, New Jersey (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Verizon Business Provides Secure, Customized IP Solutions for
Auto Manufacturer's Operations Worldwide

Verizon Business today announced that its 17-year global
communications services agreement with DaimlerChrysler has been
extended. In addition, Verizon Business will now deliver managed
services to the auto manufacturer's Mercedes-Benz unit.

Under the extension, Verizon Business will continue to provide
managed network services for DaimlerChrysler worldwide, including
DaimlerChrysler's assembly networks in North America and in Europe,
the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Under the new Mercedes-Benz
agreement, Verizon Business will provide a combination of managed
services to support the luxury automaker's network, end-to-end.

"DaimlerChrysler was our first Managed Services customer in 1989,
and we have had a concentrated commitment to the success of their
business ever since," said Blair Crump, group president of premier
accounts for Verizon Business. "From building and managing their
custom production networks to helping the company transition to IP in
various regions of the world, we continue to deliver leading-edge
solutions to meet DaimlerChrysler's evolving needs."

In 2004, DaimlerChrysler began its transition to Internet protocol
(IP) in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Using Verizon Business'
Private IP, the company's fastest-growing service, the auto
manufacturer today links 90 business facilities, including production
plants across the region, in a fully managed network environment.
With MPLS-based Private IP connections in 116 countries, Verizon
Business can closely control service quality across geographic
regions.

DaimlerChrysler benefits from the industry-leading service-level
agreements Verizon Business delivers for Managed Services, ensuring
the highest level of quality of service available today. Verizon
Business' IMPACT -- an award-winning platform that isolates network
faults -- helps ensure consistent operation of DaimlerChrysler's
network.

Verizon Business operates the North American assembly networks
DaimlerChrysler uses to help manufacture millions of cars, trucks and
SUVs each year, and also provides the global backbone network linking
DaimlerChrysler's primary business locations in Stuttgart, Singapore
and Detroit. The custom North American data network spans 400 sites,
including 32 manufacturing and assembly plants, and delivers
computer-generated cues so employees know specifically which parts to
assemble at any given point in the production process.

DaimlerChrysler also relies on Verizon Business for
customer-contact-center services to help deliver high-quality
customer service to its global dealers.

Since 1998, Verizon Business along with the DaimlerChrysler team
has designed, built and managed each of DaimlerChrysler's regional
networks, integrating them into a seamless, global infrastructure. As
a result, DaimlerChrysler achieves maximum network diversity and
resiliency, optimum use of bandwidth and high performance, all in a
cost-effective advanced network environment.

Verizon Business manages more than 3,500 customer networks in 142
countries, overseeing more than 25,000 non-Verizon connections from
more than 60 network providers around the world. Verizon Business is
a recognized leader delivering advanced communications and
information technology (IT) services for large-business customers
worldwide. The company was positioned in the leader's quadrant by
Gartner, Inc. in the "Magic Quadrant for U.S. Managed and
Professional Network Service Providers, 1H06[1]," and the 2006
"Highest Customer Satisfaction With Large Enterprise Business Data
Service Providers" award by J.D. Power and Associates in its annual
study of small, mid-size and large-business customers.

About DaimlerChrysler

DaimlerChrysler is one of the world's leading automotive
companies. Its passenger car brands include Maybach, Mercedes-Benz,
smart, Chrysler, Jeep(R) and Dodge. Commercial vehicle brands include
Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star and Setra. It
offers financial and other automotive services through
DaimlerChrysler Services. With more than 380,000 employees,
DaimlerChrysler achieved revenues of EUR 149.7 billion in 2005.

About Verizon Business

Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is
a leading provider of advanced communications and information
technology (IT) solutions to large business and government customers
worldwide. Combining unsurpassed global network reach with advanced
technology and professional service capabilities, Verizon Business
delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers
around the world. For more information, visit
www.verizonbusiness.com.

[1] Gartner Research "Magic Quadrant for U.S. Managed and
Professional Network Service Providers, 1H06" by E. Goodness, D. Neil
and D. Willis. July 11, 2006

(i)The Magic Quadrant is copyrighted July 11, 2006 by Gartner,
Inc. and is reused with permission. The Magic Quadrant is a graphical
representation of a marketplace at and for a specific time period. It
depicts Gartner's analysis of how certain vendors measure against
criteria for that marketplace, as defined by Gartner. Gartner does
not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in the Magic
Quadrant, and does not advise technology users to select only those
vendors placed in the "Leaders" quadrant. The Magic Quadrant is
intended solely as a research tool, and is not meant to be a specific
guide to action. Gartner disclaims all warranties, express or
implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of
merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

J.D. Power and Associates Disclaimer: Verizon Business received
the highest numerical score among data service providers in the
proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Major Provider Business
Telecommunications Data Services Study(SM). Study is based on 3.138
total responses measuring 6 providers and measures opinions of
consumers utilizing telecom services at small/midsize and large
enterprise U.S. businesses. Proprietary study results are based on
experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed in January 2006.
Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com/cc.

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Contact:
Debbie Lewis, +1-610-257-7974, debbie.lewis@verizon.com