Introduction

HISTORY

Verizon Communications

“Verizon today is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers”-Verizon

Verizon was formed as a result of Bell Atlantic Corp. and GTE Corp. joining forces in the year 2000.  Verizon Communications Inc., was incorporated in Delaware with the purpose of creating a powerful company that would compete in the wireline and wireless telecommunications industry and go beyond traditional communications and IT.  Although Verizon is a relatively new corporation, it was formed by two of the largest telecommunications companies.  Bell Atlantic engineers were the creators of the fax, the first all-cable telephone system, and were involved in the launching of the first telecommunication satellite.  GTE served the United States and even internationally through affiliates and subsidiaries providing wireless connections, and telecommunications information services and systems.  Bell Atlantic was even more successful in telecommunications than GTE, due to its domestic and global wireless unit that served internationally. 

The results of the merge were more than what was imagined,

 “With well more than 100 million Americans connecting to a Verizon network daily….Verizon is also the leading provider of advanced communications and information technology solutions to large-business and government customers worldwide.”-Investor Relations/Corporate History 2010. 

Verizon has invested in other communications companies (like Rural Cellular Corp., Alltell Corp., and MCI) in order to expand its network to nearly all of the 50 states.  Verizon targets two segments, wireline and wireless. Fiber optic internet and TV, FIOS, has been one of the most recent innovations and one more successful service for this top competitor.

CEO

Ivan G. Seidenberg

“At Verizon, we…look forward to using our investment, innovation and imagination to create lasting value for our world.”- Chairman & CEO Ivan Seidenberg. 

Ivan G. Seidenberg is the CEO and Chairman that has led Verizon since its development in 2000. Seidenberg was involved in the merging of Bell Atlantic and GTE; he was the chairman and CEO for Bell Atlantic at the time of the merger.   He was responsible for introducing the wireless network and FiOS fiber-optic technology.  Seidenberg is known for his social responsibility and concern to solve world issues through technology and has not only created innovations for the success of Verizon; he has also founded programs to enhance education like Thinkfinity.org, and HopeLine to aid domestic violence victims.  In addition, he is a member of the Business Roundtable, which is an association of CEOs and was also assigned to the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee.  Ivan G. Seidenberg’s administration has guided Verizon successfully into the number one telecommunications company.