CompTIA Member Matters
How Verizon is Powering the Future When people think of Verizon, they think of networks and cell phones. But what they often don’t know are all the other technology solutions and offerings that Verizon has and how they collaborate with the vendor community along with government customers to develop ideas and new products. These ideas and products are showcased in Verizon’s state-of-the art Innovation Centers located in Waltham, Massachusetts and San Francisco. In San Francisco, the Innovation Center features technology demos
across emerging mobile and platform ecosystems. In Waltham, the center features flexible collaboration space and lab facilities to accelerate IoT adoption and advance mobile technologies such as 5G. According to Ross Shapiro, Verizon’s enterprise director for U.S. west, public sector, and former chair of the CompTIA State and Local Government and Education (SLED) Council’s Procurement Committee, the Verizon Innovation Centers are a phenomenal opportunity for any customer – whether they’re in the public or private sector – to come in and learn about new technologies. “We share with themwhat innovation means,” Shapiro said. “We share with them different solutions that are fulfilled by technology.” This includes the forthcoming 5G. “We look at speed and capacity and how data transmits and responds as pressed against 4G and then we go and apply that to things like public safety,” he said. “With autonomous vehicles, you may have beacons along the sides of the roads or a
transmission between a car in front and a car behind. When visitors come to the Innovation Center, they see the speed difference between 4G and 5G and how a piece of information transmits and allows for a faster reaction.” The Verizon Innovation Centers highlight about 80 different technologies, including tech not
"We share with them what
innovation means – different solutions that are fulfilled by technology.”
Ross Shapiro, Verizon, CompTIA State and Local Government and Education Council
yet on the market but in the works, as well as technology in the market today. Those technologies are rotated periodically throughout the year.
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CompTIAWorld | SPRING 2018
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