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TANDBERG Integrates With Microsoft Office Communicator 2005

Posted on: Wednesday, 13 July 2005, 09:00 CDT

TANDBERG, a global leader in visual communication (OSLO:TAA.OL), announces a new solution that integrates with Microsoft Office Communicator to provide rich video capabilities that allow users to communicate more effectively. With the combined solution, users of Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 and Communicator can launch TANDBERG video calls using the Communicator interface. Future releases will enable TANDBERG video calls to be launched from within a Microsoft Office application, facilitating collaboration on documents, spreadsheets and presentations.

TANDBERG's integration also brings PC-based video users into the same network as the rest of the TANDBERG Solution. PC users can utilize Communicator as a software video codec and connect with TANDBERG's end-to-end solution. Now, regardless of location, everyone can be engaged visually in the same meeting and can have access to the multipoint conferencing, presentation-sharing, and security features of the full TANDBERG Solution.

"Microsoft and TANDBERG share the vision of a fully integrated, real-time collaboration environment," said Andrew Miller, TANDBERG chief executive officer. "Microsoft's ground-breaking presence and integration capabilities help bring TANDBERG's business quality video communication to professionals and others who rely on collaboration to gain a business edge."

"We're excited that TANDBERG has joined our vibrant industry partner ecosystem, building a valuable integrated video solution on our Microsoft Real-Time Collaboration platform," said Marc Sanders, senior product manager, Real-Time Collaboration Group, at Microsoft Corp. "Microsoft and TANDBERG are helping customers to share and collaborate on issues, information and ideas with virtually anyone, anytime from anywhere and on any device."

Business communications are increasingly complex, requiring employees to manage multiple devices and applications to stay connected each day. Delays reaching decision makers are costing businesses untold millions in higher costs.

Live Communications Server and Communicator integrate numerous communications tools and capabilities with existing productivity applications. They enhance collaboration by monitoring individuals' presence and routing communications based on their personal preferences.

Such integrated communications, say analysts, soon will be a business necessity.

Wainhouse Research, an independent market research firm that focuses on critical issues shaping rich media conferencing and communications, has analyzed the rapid emergence and value of integrated communications. Wainhouse Research contends that instant, collaborative communications can significantly boost the speed of business by decreasing the human latency found in many business processes. Additionally, the firm believes the ability to launch a rich-media conference from within a specific business application could deliver the next wave of productivity gains for an organization.

"Integrated solutions such as that from TANDBERG and Microsoft are crucial to delivering the total value of instant, collaborative communications," says Andrew W. Davis, senior analyst and managing partner at Wainhouse Research. "The combination of video communication, Web conferencing, Instant Messaging and Presence and Availability Management promises a more productive workforce and increased agility for organizations around the world."

The TANDBERG-Microsoft solution is designed to provide the video user with a rich media experience in any type of environment. The solution includes a management application, infrastructure components and systems for every workspace. It comprises the following:

-- Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005

-- A standards-based communications server that enables presence-driven multi-media communications within enterprise and service provider networks

-- Microsoft Office Communicator 2005

-- A multi-media collaborations client for Live Communications Server that interfaces with the TANDBERG Solution

-- Single interface for presence, IM, voice, video, web and data conferencing

-- TANDBERG Management Suite 10

-- Centralized management system for scalable deployment of visual communication tools

-- TANDBERG MXP video endpoints

-- Systems for every workspace link with Live Communications Server and have embedded multi-protocol bridging capability for SIP, H.323 and H.320

-- TANDBERG MCU portfolio

-- Scalable MCU infrastructure enables communication with those outside of the organization

The integrated solution will be demonstrated to customers at the Wainhouse Research Summit in Boston, MA, today and will be available next week.

About TANDBERG

TANDBERG is a leading global provider of video communication products and services. The Company has dual headquarters in New York and Norway. TANDBERG designs, develops and markets systems and software for video, voice and data. The Company provides sales, support and value-added services in more than 90 countries worldwide. TANDBERG trades publicly on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker TAA.OL. Please visit www.tandberg.net for more information.

TANDBERG is a registered trademark of TANDBERG in the U.S. and select other countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Source: Business Wire

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