Verizon Business Manages Network and Mobility Services for Global Transaction-System Manufacturer
MEI Signs Three-Year Agreement for Private IP Network Supporting Remote Access
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., June 20 - MEI, one of the world's leading manufacturers of unattended payment systems, has turned to Verizon Business to provide a new global network that includes remote access for MEI's mobile employees.
Under terms of the three-year agreement, Verizon Business designed and deployed a global, managed Private IP network. It seamlessly connects MEI's company headquarters in West Chester, Pa., with its major business centers in Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Mexico, as well as locations in Australia and China, and several U.S.-based distribution centers. The MPLS-based network also links to the company's disaster recovery site to help ensure its operations run continuously.
MEI manufactures electronic bill acceptors, coin mechanisms and other unattended payment systems for the amusement, gaming, retail, transport and vending markets. It has the world's largest installed base of unattended payment systems, handling in excess of 2 billion transactions per week in over 90 countries. The company's recent divestiture created new requirements for local- and wide-area networks.
Integral to MEI's new Private IP network is the capability to provide remote access for more than 200 mobile employees located around the world. Verizon Secure Gateway - Mobile User Service provides MEI's mobile employees with convenient, secure and dependable remote access to the corporate network.
"We needed to build a new global network from the ground up," said Tim Michel, chief information officer, MEI. "The relatively small size of our enterprise belies a highly sophisticated and dispersed operation. The decision to fully outsource the management of our global infrastructure to Verizon Business made sense in terms of global presence, proactive network management, support for future growth and cost efficiency."
With a widely dispersed mobile workforce, MEI is open for business worldwide 24 hours a day. This requires a dependable network to enable employee access to critical e-mail and enterprise resource-planning applications that support manufacturing, finance and human resources functions. Verizon Business fully manages MEI's Private IP network, delivering a high degree of reliability and strong security supported by proactive, round-the-clock management. Today more than 40 percent of Verizon customers using Private IP service opt for full management.
"MEI had a specific set of requirements critical to building out their new network, including making sure their mobile workforce could access corporate resources when and where needed," said Steve Young, senior vice president of sales, Verizon Business. "Our broad portfolio of managed networking and global mobility capabilities gave MEI the flexibility and choice needed to find the right approach for their business."
Verizon's mobility strategy builds on the power of the company's expansive, world-class wireline and wireless networks along with its advanced collaboration technologies. Verizon offers a comprehensive suite of mobility solutions that enable professionals to seamlessly conduct business while away from the office.
Verizon mobility services include: managed wireless LAN; wireless voice and data; fixed-mobile convergence services; and Verizon Secure Gateway, which provides flexible access into a corporate virtual private network for mobile users. In addition, the mobility services feature Verizon's advanced collaboration tools, including audio, video and Web-based conferencing services; secure instant messaging; and managed e-mail.
Nancy Gofus, Verizon Business senior vice president and chief marketing officer, said the agreement with MEI reflects a growing trend. "As the world becomes more global and more mobile, organizations are looking for us to solve their unique mobility requirements," she said. "Our comprehensive suite of mobility solutions enables professionals to seamlessly conduct business while away from the office."
Verizon Business manages more than 3,700 customer networks in 142 countries, overseeing non-Verizon connections from more than 60 network providers around the world. Verizon Business' industry-leading service-level commitments and award-winning IMPACT management platform underscore a legacy of service and innovation. The company is the recipient of the 2006 Frost & Sullivan Customer Service Leadership Award for Managed Services and the 2006 Cisco Systems Global Managed Services Partner of the Year Award. It has also been listed by Gartner Inc. in the leaders quadrant of a report titled "Magic Quadrant for U.S. Managed and Professional Network Service Providers, 1H06."(1)*
About MEI
MEI, headquartered in West Chester, Pa., holds the world's largest installed base of unattended payment systems, handling in excess of 2 billion transactions per week in over 90 countries. The company developed the first electronic coin mechanism in the 1960s, followed by the first electronic non- contact bill validator, and more recently its credit card capability and vending management solution. It is the leading supplier of vending cashless systems in Japan. Its products are in widespread use in the vending, bottling, gaming, amusement, transportation, retail, and kiosk markets. For more information on MEI and its products, visit www.meigroup.com or call 1-800-345- 8215.
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.
VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.
* 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.
(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
Source: Verizon Business
CONTACT:
Kevin W. Irland,
+1-703-974-5454,
kevin.w.irland@verizon.com, for Verizon Business
Web site: http://www.verizon.com/
http://www.meigroup.com/
