Verizon Communications

ABOUT THIS COMPANY:

Verizon—whose name combines the Latin word “veritas,” meaning “truth,” with “horizon”—was created in 2000 when Bell Atlantic merged with General Telephone & Electronics Corporation (GTE), formerly the largest, independent local-exchange telephone company in the United States. Verizon is the second-largest U.S. phone company providing local phone services, controlling one-third of all local phone lines. Verizon Wireless, a joint venture with Vodafone, is also one of the leading wireless carriers in the nation. In addition, the company—providing long-distance and Internet services—is the world’s largest producer of print and online directory information.