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One-Click Connectivity: Avistar Brings Video to IBM Workplace Managed Client; Avistar Combines Live Visual Interactivity With IBM Workplace Managed Client

Posted on: Thursday, 19 January 2006, 18:00 CST

Avistar Communications Corp. (Nasdaq:AVSR), a video collaboration platform provider, today announced that it is demonstrating integration of its presence-based video capability with IBM(R) Workplace(TM) Collaboration Services and IBM Workplace Managed Client(TM). This integration extends the capabilities of these products to allow users to connect by video with web conferencing presenters and participants, and was completed using IBM Workplace Collaboration Services APIs. Avistar will showcase this solution at its booth #725 at Lotusphere(R) 2006 -- IBM's premier event for developers, administrators, IT, and business professionals looking for collaborative software and solutions -- in Orlando, Florida, January 22-26.

In addition, Avistar will present a demonstration of this newly integrated technology at the ISV Solutions Theatre on Monday, January 23 at 4:15 p.m. The ISV Solutions Theatre provides a forum in which ideas on the future of collaboration are demonstrated and discussed with developers in an interactive, informal setting.

The integration of Avistar's video operating software (AvistarVOS(TM)) with Workplace Managed Client enables users to engage in "face-to-face" interactions with web conferencing presenters, while simultaneously viewing shared presentation materials. This new video capability allows users to further increase the effectiveness and speed of their communications while using Workplace Managed Client, their desktop communication and collaboration tool. This integration is a result of the combined development efforts of IBM and Avistar, an Advanced level member of IBM PartnerWorld(R).

"Easy-to-use video technology, when incorporated into a powerful collaborative tool such as Workplace Managed Client, provides a key advantage to those seeking clear, concise, effective communications," said Gerry Kaufhold, Principal Analyst, In-Stat. "Organizations are increasingly realizing the value of face-to-face interactions, which provide viewers with important non-verbal cues and nuances that are almost impossible to detect through other means. Video technology offers the best of both worlds -- effective communication combined with reduced travel costs and increased employee productivity."

"By adding desktop video to IBM Workplace Managed Client, Avistar is helping businesses extend the value of their enterprise collaboration solution, allowing them to smooth the flow of communication and help make their employees more productive," said Ken Bisconti, vice president Workplace, Portal and collaboration products, IBM.

At IBM Lotusphere 2005, Avistar demonstrated a first level of integration that utilized presence information to connect Workplace Managed Client users by video in the context of everyday applications such as e-mail, documents, and instant messaging -- with a single click. For this integration -- which will become generally available through Avistar with the release of Workplace Managed Client 2.6 -- Avistar was named a Silver 2005 Lotus Advisor Editor's Choice Award winner and finalist for the prestigious IBM Lotus Chief Technology Officer award.

"Avistar's self-service video collaboration platform provides end users with access to unparalleled, high quality video communication capabilities at the desktop," said Gerald J. Burnett, Chairman and CEO of Avistar. "Avistar is bringing the richness of visual communication to IBM's robust collaborative tools, empowering organizations and end-users to build stronger business relationships, transfer knowledge more effectively, speed decision-making, reduce expenses, and increase productivity and revenue streams. By leveraging IBM technology, Avistar is adding a new dimension to business communications."

About Avistar Communications Corporation

Avistar Communications Corporation develops, markets, and supports a video collaboration platform for the enterprise, all powered by the AvistarVOS(TM) software. From the desktop, Avistar delivers business-quality video calling, recording, publishing to web and emails, video-on-demand, broadcast origination and distribution, and document sharing. Avistar video-enables business processes by integrating visual communications into the daily workflow and connecting communities of users within and across enterprises. Founded in 1993, Avistar is headquartered in Redwood Shores, California, with sales offices in New York and London. Avistar's technology is used in more than 35 countries.

Collaboration Properties, Inc. (CPI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Avistar, holds a current portfolio of 70 patents for inventions in the primary areas of video and network technology. CPI pursues patents for presence-based interactions, desktop video, recorded and live media at the desktop, multimedia documents, data sharing, and a rich-service network video architecture to support Avistar's product suite and customers. CPI offers licenses to its patent portfolio and Avistar's video-enabling technologies to companies in the video conferencing, rich-media services, public networking, and related industries.

For more information, visit www.avistar.com.

Copyright (c) 2006 Avistar Communications Corporation. All rights reserved. Avistar, AvistarVOS, and the Avistar logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avistar Communications Corporation. IBM, Lotusphere, PartnerWorld, Workplace and Workplace Managed Client are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporations in the United States, other companies or both. Other company, product or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.

Source: Business Wire

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