Cisco, Verizon join to offer teleworker programs

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By Linda Rosencrance

(IDG) -- Cisco Systems Inc. and Verizon Communications announced that they are teaming up to provide equipment and services to Fortune 1,000 companies so their employees can have the same network access at home that they have at work.

Manufacturer of computer-networking equipment Cisco and New York-based Verizon said they have joined forces to market high-speed, secure and reliable work-at-home services.

The companies said the services will be supported by equipment from the Cisco 800 and SOHO Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) and Integrated Services Digital Network and delivered over a Verizon Internet Protocol network.

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"Teleworking brings a new dimension to worklife in America," said Eric Bruno, vice president in Verizon's Enterprise Solutions Group, in the statement. "The powerful combination of Cisco equipment and the IP-enabled network made available by Verizon will help companies implement remote access programs."

Bruno said these programs can increase productivity and decrease costs, while helping employees to balance their work and home lives.

Available immediately, the products and services will initially be marketed to financial services and government customers in New York and Washington.

Cisco said this effort furthers its goal of delivering broadband connectivity and services to the home as well as the office.

Matt Davis, an analyst at The Yankee Group in Boston, said this was a big win for both companies.

"Verizon is looking to leverage its ability to offer ADSL [asymmetric DSL] into homes ... and that [involves] Cisco routers for more secure, robust platforms," he said.

The deal allows Cisco to sell customer-premises equipment to Verizon, since it had lost Verizon's office business to Paris-based Alcatel.