BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – October 13, 2010 – Verizon Business will provide an array of advanced Internet protocol-based voice and data services, information technology and managed services to state agencies, colleges and universities and other nonprofit entities throughout the country, under a new agreement with a nationwide group-purchasing organization, MiCTA.
The agreement, which runs through 2012, names Verizon Business as an “endorsed national vendor” for advanced communications and IT solutions, including Verizon Computing as a Service (CaaS), the company’s cloud-computing solutions suite. CaaS will offer state agencies and educational institutions on-demand computing resources including server, network and storage capacity, with high performance and built-in security that are ideally suited to the complex needs of large institutions.
State agencies and educational institutions can deploy cloud computing platforms to drive efficiencies within their operations as well as a way to provide enterprisewide access to applications while delivering enhanced ease-of-use for end-users.
MiCTA members will also be able to take advantage of a wide range of other Verizon Business capabilities, including IP networking (with broadband and satellite access services), voice over IP (VoIP), managed services, security services, remote backup and restore, data center collocation, and audio, video and net conferencing.
“Our agreement with Verizon Business enables us to bring a wide range of valuable products and services to our members that harness technology to address their IT and advanced networking needs,” said Tim von Hoff, chief operating officer of MiCTA. “Verizon Business’ leadership delivering modern solutions, such as Computing-as-a-Service, makes it a strong technology partner for MiCTA and its members. This new agreement builds on a long-standing relationship while making the latest advances in technology today available to our membership.”
MiCTA (Michigan Collegiate Telecommunications Association) offers its more than 10,000 member organizations nationwide a streamlined contracting process for a wide range of voice, video and data network services that cuts the cost, complexity and risk of traditional IT contracting. Under the agreement, MiCTA members are eligible to purchase these services at competitively bid rates – delivering value to members and, depending upon local requirements, could help streamline the competitive bidding procurement process for many members.
