AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, October 17 /PRNewswire/ --

- Outsourced Solution Moves Global Spirits and Wine Seller Toward Unified 
IP Communications

Maxxium, the global premium spirits and wine distribution company, has
selected Verizon Business to host a voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP)
service for Maxxium's international headquarters in the Netherlands. The
service will help Maxxium to leverage the functionality, flexibility and cost
efficiencies of outsourced VoIP communications to meet its business goals in
the highly competitive and rapidly changing global beverages marketplace.

Maxxium's implementation of Verizon Hosted IP Centrex for its
international headquarters in the Netherlands represents a further step in
the company's strategy to move to an IP-based unified communications
architecture. The company selected Verizon Business in 2001 to provide a
Private IP network connecting Maxxium's 2,300 employees in 50 offices spread
over 35 countries, and has since deployed Verizon Direct Voice, Verizon
Internet Dedicated, Verizon Conferencing and Verizon Colocation as part of a
comprehensive, integrated communications solution.

In January 2007, Maxxium consolidated its international headquarters and
its local Dutch office into a single building in Amstelveen, prompting the
company to reconsider its existing voice communications infrastructure.
Rather than implementing a traditional in-house PBX, Maxxium decided to opt
for a fully outsourced, IP-based voice communications infrastructure, built
on Verizon Hosted IP Centrex.

"A cost-efficient and scalable IT infrastructure is crucial for any
business operating globally and in highly dynamic marketplaces -- and
externally managed IT services are an important component to achieve this,"
said Bart van den Heuvel, IT operations manager at Maxxium. "A key advantage
of Hosted IP Centrex for us is that no capital expenditure is required, only
operational cost; associated costs such as separate cabling for voice systems
disappear. Best of all, we don't have to even think about system maintenance,
since we are leaving that to the experts within Verizon Business. Verizon
Business convinced us that they can provide the performance and uptime that
we need, without us ever having to worry about it."

Jeff Rallet, regional vice president, Verizon Business, said: "Maxxium is
one of our key Hosted IP Centrex customers in the Netherlands, and their
deployment perfectly illustrates how a fully hosted VoIP solution can take
away much of the pain and cost of installing and running on-premises
telephony systems. The Verizon VoIP portfolio can help companies achieve
significant efficiency wins in tandem with improving business flexibility. We
look forward to supporting Maxxium achieve its future business objectives."

Van den Heuvel concluded: "Our aim has always been to rely on a set of
carefully selected, globally capable vendors, as exemplified by companies
such as Verizon Business. The company has proven to be a highly reliable
partner over the years, and so the decision to entrust it with our
headquarters' voice infrastructure, was simple."

About Maxxium

Maxxium Worldwide is responsible for the sales, local marketing and
distribution of many of the world's premium spirits and wine brands,
including ABSOLUT Vodka, The Famous Grouse Scotch Whisky, Jim Beam Bourbon
and Remy Martin Cognac. Maxxium is owned by four equal shareholders, The
Edrington Group, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Remy Cointreau and the V&S
Group. Its unique partnership model offers excellent opportunities for growth
of its company and partner brands. For more information, visit
www.maxxium.com.

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 communications, security and
other professional service capabilities, Verizon Business delivers innovative
and seamless business solutions to customers around the world. For more
information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com.

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Web site: http://www.verizon.com/news
              http://www.verizonbusiness.com
              http://www.maxxium.com