Telecommunications provider Verizon Business (verizonbusiness.com) said on Friday it is expanding its use of technology to help US military personnel based in Iraq stay in touch with their families back home.
The company says for the fifth consecutive year, it is providing free calling for Iraq-based troops from May 8 to 14 for Mother's Day, June 12 to 18 for Father's Day and July 2 to 8 for Independence Day.
According to the press release, the calls home are made possible through a "state-of-the-art" Verizon Business mobile communications vehicle currently deployed to Iraq.
Verizon is also teaming with Cisco, Wal-Mart and the USO to provide free video connections from April 2 to July 6 between two bases in Iraq and two Wal-Mart stores - one located near Camp Pendleton in Temecula, California and one located near Fort Drum in Evans Mills, New York.
Verizon will be providing the IP connections for Cisco's "lifelike immersive video technology," known as Cisco TelePresence.
"Verizon Business is proud of the technology we deploy to help members of the US Armed Forces stay in touch with their families at home," says John Killian, president of Verizon Business. "The women and men serving overseas make sacrifices every day and we hope this effort will help them feel closer to their loved ones by being able to sit across from each other and talk - even though they are located at opposite ends of the world."
Verizon Business has been vocal about its support for the US army. Over the last year the company has faciliated frequent video-conferencing between soldiers in Iraq and their families in the US, as well as sponsoring a virtual toy drive via the Internet for the US Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program. Verizon also recently helped the US Army modernize its communications infrastructure and systems at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.
On Wednesday, Verizon Business announced that it plans to open an office in Dubai Internet City to further strengthen its service and support capabilities across the Middle East.
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