HEAR-Breaking out on the following news!!
HearMe Brings VoicePresence To Web Pages Across the Internet
More Than 8,000 Sites Registered For New Free Product In Sneak Preview
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 6, 1999--Imagine if every time someone visited a Web page, they could instantly communicate with everyone else at that site using their own voice. HearMe (Nasdaq: HEAR - news), today announced the immediate availability of HearMe(TM) VoicePresence(TM) for Web Sites, a FREE product for instantly adding live voice to any Web page. VoicePresence enables personal and engaging experiences for Web users that translate into site ``stickiness' and a more effective selling environment for businesses. In its push to make live voice ubiquitous on the Web, HearMe has released VoicePresence and at the same time, empowered Web-based organizations with a simple way to offer consumers one of the most compelling experiences online.
More than 8,000 Web sites have registered for VoicePresence during a sneak preview in November. In that time, there have already been more than 350,000 downloads of the VoicePresence plug-in by users on these Web sites. Such positive response at an early stage demonstrates the growing demand for a more ``human' environment on the Web.
HearMe CEO Paul Matteucci believes that HearMe VoicePresence will dramatically change the use of live voice on the Web. ``The paradigm for live voice is shifting - it is moving beyond a singular community destination and becoming an integral part of the entire Internet experience. Instead of going some place special to participate in live voice conversations, with VoicePresence, real-time communications can be available anywhere you go on the Internet,' explained Matteucci. ``Whether it's an online grocery store, business-to-business collaboration site, celebrity event, or personal Web site - you can now use live voice to interact with other people using VoicePresence. Right there. Immediately. VoicePresence is designed to increase the accessibility of live voice for the millions of Web sites and Web users.'
Designed for Any Web Application
Web sites using VoicePresence can bring personal, real-time voice communications to virtually any type of Web content including:
-- News and information
-- E-commerce
-- Online customer service
-- Distance learning and training
-- Discussion groups
-- Communities, and
-- Personal information and interests
With VoicePresence, Web sites can offer personal real-time communications services that make it easy for users to talk directly to site representatives, participate in live site sponsored voice events, and talk directly with each other. As a result, Web site creators can:
Personalize the customer experience to increase loyalty and customer satisfaction,
-- Add fresh content to drive usage, and
Offer engaging activities that increase site ``stickiness' and build value.
Quick and Simple Web integration and User-Friendly Experience
Anyone who knows how to create a Web page can bring live voice functionality to a Web site with VoicePresence. Based on HearMe's proven, third generation technology, VoicePresence is free to developers and requires minimal effort and maintenance. Embedding VoicePresence onto a site involves just a few lines of Web code (HTML). Once embedded on a Web page, VoicePresence is easy for consumers to use - it requires a one-time minimal download (less than 30 seconds on a basic modem connection including 28.8 K), installs automatically, and works readily with standard PC configurations.
Upon installation, VoicePresence transparently utilizes HearMe's extensive network of servers for all voice traffic - allowing Web sites to add voice communication to their sites with no investment in hardware or other hidden costs associated with hosting an infrastructure to support voice communications. Once installed, there are no additional downloads so a user with VoicePresence installed on his or her computer can instantly join in on a voice chat conversation on a page embedded with VoicePresence. In addition to voice chatting, VoicePresence also offers text chat functionality and includes user-friendly community features such as a ``mute' feature for blocking out unwanted conversations.
VoicePresence is the cornerstone product in HearMe's comprehensive line of technology products for live voice on the Internet. For Web sites who want additional tools for added functionality, flexibility and customization or advanced system management, HearMe's product line includes an SDK, starter applications, and full platform for real-time interactivity and live voice.
VoicePresence is now live on the HearMe.com Web site demo area at www.hearme.com/company/products/vp.
Based on State-of-the-Art Technology
VoicePresence delivers high quality sound and is based on proven back-end technology that can support millions of users via HearMe's reliable and robust network of servers. HearMe VoicePresence works through most standard firewalls, enabling corporate users to take advantage of VoicePresence.
HearMe technology and services are already providing live voice capabilities to over 30,000 Web sites including such leading companies as Yahoo!, MTV.com, E! Online, Entertainment Boulevard, and Bolt.com.
Product Availability, Pricing and Specifications
VoicePresence supports both Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer Web browsers (v4.x and higher) running on Windows 95/98 or Windows NT systems. The product is free and is immediately available at www.hearme.com. |
