NEW YORK -- More than ever during 2012, global connections between people, machines and their environments will shape the global business landscape and drive the future of work. In its annual review of top business-technology trends for the year ahead, Verizon sees enterprise technology helping business leaders re-engineer the workplace, power more effective customer service models, and create opportunities for broad societal benefit.

“The future has never looked brighter for business and governments to employ technology to generate growth, solve industry challenges, and enrich lives and our global society,” said Mike Palmer, vice president of enterprise strategy and marketing for Verizon’s global enterprise unit. “Next year will be pivotal in applying technology solutions in such areas as health care and smart energy management, while keeping pace with the borderless lifestyle we’ve come to embrace at work, at home and everywhere in between.”

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ)