ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 31 -- Internet2, the foremost U.S. advanced networking consortium led by the research and higher education community, has announced that Verizon Business has joined Internet2 as a corporate member. The company plans to engage the consortium in several innovative ways, including collaboration with the Internet2 community on projects involving advanced optical networking as well as in important areas of next-generation content delivery and network security.

"Verizon Business has been actively engaged with Internet2 from its inception back in 1996. As a corporate member, we look forward to collaborating with Internet2 on applications and technologies to have an impact on the research and higher education community and the commercial marketplace," said Dennis Elwell, director for Verizon Business' government and education organization. "Affordable optical access, wireline/wireless IP convergence, alert and notification services along with security are the hot-button issues with university chief information officers across the nation and we look forward to working with the Internet2 community on these important initiatives."

Elwell recently was named to the Internet2 Applications, Middleware & Services Industry Advisory Council, where he will collaborate on middleware and application services for the consortium, as well as provide feedback to Industry on the trends and requirements for higher education.

One of the strongest values of the Internet2 community is its commitment to the exploration and development of leading-edge Internet technology. Internet2 thus provides an expedited life cycle path from idea to inception to research to commercialization for advanced network technologies and applications. The Internet2 community provides Verizon Business innovative partnership opportunities and a test bed for examining future network-based services and capabilities such as new network security methodologies as well as emerging technologies like IPTV.

"Internet2 relies on its corporate members like Verizon Business to play a key role in transferring technology developed within the Internet2 community into the commercial marketplace," said Ellen Vaughan, Internet2 program manager for member and partner relations. "We are pleased to partner with Verizon Business, a leader in advanced communications and networking, on many important technology initiatives. Our shared interest in developing the latest in content distribution, security and optical technologies will provide myriad benefits to the research and education community and we believe, in the long- term, will have a long lasting impact on consumers and businesses alike."

About Internet2

Internet2 is the foremost U.S. advanced networking consortium. Led by the research and education community since 1996, Internet2 promotes the missions of its members by providing both leading-edge network capabilities and unique partnership opportunities that together facilitate the development, deployment and use of revolutionary Internet technologies. http://www.internet2.edu/.

About Verizon Business

Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications , is a leading provider of advanced communications and information technology (IT) solutions to large business and government customers worldwide. Combining unsurpassed global network reach with advanced technology and professional service capabilities, Verizon Business delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world. For more information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com.

[via CNNMoney]