REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 3, 2003 — Microsoft®
Business Solutions announced today that Microsoft bCentral (TM) , a leading online resource for small business, has expanded its solution offerings for small businesses through a new relationship with Verizon SuperPages.com. The 2 million registered users of bCentral, as well as new customers, now can sign up for premium listings in the largest online Yellow Pages in the country through bCentral.com.
“bCentral offers tools and solutions that help small businesses manage everyday business processes; Microsoft bCentral Yellow Pages builds on this commitment to small business,”
said Jeff Riley, general manager of small-business marketing for Microsoft Business Solutions at Microsoft Corp.
“Verizon SuperPages.com is the premier online Yellow Pages, and we’re excited to offer bCentral customers the opportunity to have a premium listing in that directory, right from the bCentral Web site.”
The new bCentral Yellow Pages Listings offers small businesses premium listings on SuperPages.com, Verizon’s online yellow pages directory. Users of bCentral have a choice of three listing levels: Introductory, Standard and Professional. Each level offers preferred placement in SuperPages.com search results and allows the business to include a link to its Web site, a map and driving directions to its location. Businesses can customize the look of their listings, including font size, style and text color. Customers can choose up to five search categories where their business listing will appear, and the listing can be modified or updated at any time.
“All bCentral users are potential SuperPages.com advertisers who can benefit from the more than 9 million unique visitors to SuperPages.com each month,”
said Patrick Marshall, group vice president of marketing for Verizon Information Services.
“This relationship should be very significant to users of bCentral who are interested in promoting their business online.”
The bCentral Yellow Pages Listings service complements the online services currently available on bCentral, including tools to easily create and manage a Web presence, to respond more quickly to customers, and to improve online sales and marketing effectiveness. bCentral can be found online at http://www.bcentral.com/.
Pricing and Availability
bCentral Yellow Pages Listings are available now at bCentral.com. Pricing is as follows:
-
Introductory Listing: $399 per year (U.S.)
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Standard Listing: $799 per year (U.S.)
-
Professional Listing: $1,199 per year (U.S.)
About Microsoft Business Solutions
Microsoft Business Solutions offers a wide range of business applications designed to help small, midmarket and corporate businesses become more connected with customers, employees, partners and suppliers. Microsoft Business Solutions’ business applications automate end-to-end business processes across financials, distribution, project accounting, electronic commerce, human resources and payroll, manufacturing, supply chain management, business intelligence, sales and marketing management, and customer service and support. More information about Microsoft Business Solutions can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/businesssolutions/ .
About Verizon Information Services and SuperPages.com
Verizon Information Services is the world’s leading print and online directory publisher, a content provider for communications products and services, and the largest publisher of Hispanic directories in the United States. With operations in 14 countries and annual revenues of more than $4.3 billion, Verizon Information Services publishes more than 1,200 U.S. Verizon SuperPages directories and nearly 400 international directories with a total circulation of approximately 150 million copies worldwide.
Based in the Dallas area, Verizon Information Services produces and markets SuperPages.com, the Internet’s No. 1 online directory and shopping resource. SuperPages.com receives as many as 14 million visits and 9 million unique visitors a month and powers directory services on MSN®
, InfoSpace, AltaVista, Excite, Lycos, Ask Jeeves, HotBot, BigFoot, Tripod and Angelfire as well as more than 2,500 affiliate Web sites.
The company supports computer literacy with philanthropic programs and through the Enlighten Me and Internet Learning Tutor sites on SuperPages.com . Enlighten Me is a fun site where children and their caregivers go to read, learn and explore. The Internet Learning Tutor is specifically designed for adults who are just learning their way around the Internet.
Verizon Information Services is a unit of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE
“VZ”
), one of the world’s leading providers of communications services. Through its signature Verizon Reads program and the Verizon Literacy Network, Verizon is leading the fight to increase U.S. literacy levels by creating community and corporate awareness, raising funds, encouraging collaboration among literacy providers and engaging employees in supporting literacy programs.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft, bCentral and MSN are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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