Verizon (News - Alert) Communications, which provides broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers, announced a series of online bill payment and analysis capabilities to its business customers. 

These capabilities provide simplified payment options and enable businesses to analyze their bills, track their communications expenses in detail, and obtain faster responses to billing inquiries, according to Verizon officials.

The enhancements, which build on the online billing options currently available through Verizon Enterprise Center, or “VEC,” are offered to businesses of all sizes through the VEC global customer portal, company officials said. 

“IT managers are hungry for new tools to help them manage their business processes and spending -- and Verizon is delivering,” Mark Chodoronek, Verizon executive director for e-commerce and digital customer enablement, said. 

There are a number of important enhancements to the online billing solution. 

The Global Billing Report is now available in 62 currencies. It compiles worldwide billing data into a consolidated summary that enables multinational companies to monitor and analyze their global Verizon technology costs.  There are monthly reports that provide snapshots of customers' expenses for voice, data, Internet and wireless services. 

And, the new Global Charges by Product feature provides an at-a-glance summary of companies' invoices sorted by expenditures for specific products and services.

The online payment options are now simplified. Verizon customers can now view the status of their payments and see adjustments reflected in near real time.

Customers can also view invoices with unpaid balances on any of their accounts. 

Another feature, the billing inquiry form, enables customer inquiries to be routed even more quickly for proper resolution. 

According to Chodoronek, use of the Verizon Enterprise Center's online billing services has jumped 50 percent over the past year, which shows there is a need and demand for enhanced online billing capabilities offered by Verizon.

Verizon also offers business customers a range of online billing options through the VEC that provide a compelling alternative to paper-based billing. The options include EDI Billing, BillManager, Direct Data Billing Services and Online Billing, company officials said.

The company recently announced special incentives to Internet users who are eager to cut ties with their cable company. Under this offer, Verizon is offering the first six months of High Speed Internet free when ordering Verizon's up-to- 1, 3 or 7.1 megabits per second service as part of a one-year agreement with the company. The offer expires Jan. 16, 2010.