A new on-demand networking service that enables Verizon Business IP Trunking customers to improve the efficiency of their VoIP networks has been recognized by Technology Marketing Corporation's publication INTERNET TELEPHONY as a 2008 TMC Labs Innovation Award winner.

The Verizon Burstable Enterprise Shared Trunks (BEST) service enables IP Trunking customers in the U.S. to use idle VoIP trunk capacity in one location to accommodate an increase in traffic from another location. The BEST service capability helps customers better manage their local and long-distance traffic by sharing capacity on demand. This offering, introduced in December 2007, is currently available in 350 U.S. metropolitan markets to customers with select IP Trunking plans.

Verizon IP Trunking, a service that connects switching systems, uses SIP signaling and an IP private branch exchange to translate VoIP to time division multiplexing (TDM) and TDM to VoIP calls. This flexibility allows customers to harness the power of VoIP by easily replacing traditional TDM trunk lines provided through the public-switched telephone network.

"Verizon has demonstrated to the staff of TMC Labs that BEST for IP Trunking is indeed truly innovative in the IP communications industry," said TMC President Rich Tehrani. "BEST for IP Trunking has made contributions which have resulted in significant advancement to the industry."

Tom Keating, chief technology officer and editorial director of TMC Labs, added, "The Innovation Awards exemplify the best and the most unique products and services that this industry has to offer. Verizon Business has proven its commitment to quality and the further development of the IP communications industry through its BEST for IP Trunking. I look forward to seeing more innovative solutions from Verizon Business as it continues to contribute to the future of IP communications."

The TMC Labs Innovation Awards honor products that display innovation, unique features, and significant contributions toward improving communications technology. The TMC Labs Innovation Awards are granted not necessarily to the best-selling products, but instead to those demonstrating ground-breaking contributions to the industry.

The INTERNET TELEPHONY TMC Labs 2008 Innovation Award highlights will be published in the July and August issues of INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine.

Verizon Business offers an extensive VoIP portfolio comprised of IP Flexible T1 (available only in the U.S.), IP Integrated Access, IP Trunking, Hosted IP Centrex and Managed IP PBX. These services enable high-quality voice communications in a converged network environment, leveraging Verizon Business' vast national and international footprint and a wide range of innovative features. Multinational companies can take advantage of Verizon VoIP services in the U.S., France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom, with further expansion planned over the next two months to Italy, Spain, Sweden and Ireland.

Verizon Business is a leader in developing and delivering IP solutions that help large businesses and government agencies transition to VoIP on their own path and pace. By offering new and advanced capabilities such as BEST, Verizon Business can help customers more simply adopt VoIP while making their IP networks work harder and smarter to meet their business objectives.