News

Verizon and 7-Eleven providing phone services at Vcom kiosks

April 8, 2003

NEW YORK CITY -- Verizon customers in select markets now can pay their phone bills through Vcom kiosks in 400 7-Eleven stores.

According to a news release, Verizon users also can use the Vcom to order premium phone services like Caller ID, Home Voice Mail and others, as well as request repair service. Customers will have the option of conducting their transactions in English and Spanish.

Initially, 7-Eleven will accept only cash bill payments at the kiosks. The company is considering adding other payment options such as credit and debit cards and money orders in the coming months.

The service is available only for Verizon's landline customers.

Currently, Vcom kiosks offering Verizon services are located in Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Washington, D.C. Verizon wants to have 1,000 Vcoms offering its services by June.

According to the release, this is the first U.S. agreement between a convenience store company and a telecom company to provide online bill payment and service orders.

"7-Eleven is an ideal partner for this service," said Bill Freeman, president of Verizon's Public Communications group. "Like Verizon, 7-Eleven has a national footprint and is customer-focused."

Vcom, which stands for "virtual commerce," is 7-Eleven stores' proprietary machine providing financial and other services 24 hours a day. It is unique among kiosks because of the variety of offerings on a single device.

Currently, Vcom users can conduct ATM transactions, cash checks, and purchase money orders and money transfers. (See "7-Eleven's Vcom wins raves at RD.")