MessageMedia and VStream Partner to Use Voice-Over-Email Technology to Enhance Customer Communications
Customer Relationship Management Gets A Voice
BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 26, 1999--VStream (http://www.vstream.com), the leader in Web-based conferencing, and MessageMedia (NASDAQ:MESG - news), the leading provider of email-based customer relationship management and direct marketing services, jointly announced today a partnership that will bring voice communications to MessageMedia's robust suite of messaging services.
This announcement with MessageMedia comes fast on the heels of VStream's May 17 launch of the consumer voice-over-email service, called Beep. Beep allows people to instantly send voice mails from their telephone to email recipients and/or publish their voice to the Web. VStream and MessageMedia will work together to combine the next-generation technology behind Beep with the powerful and effective relationship management and direct marketing email services offered by MessageMedia.
The new MessageMedia offering will be available to MessageMedia clients as a business-to-business service in June. Using this service, MessageMedia clients will be able to add a voice - via media streaming technology - to the customized and targeted email messages they distribute.
VStream has the unique ability to record and convert hundreds of simultaneous messages to streamable format, enabling VStream to automatically record and publish over five million voice messages per month. Beep is made possible in part by a technology alliance with Tellsoft Technologies. Tellsoft produces the core technology allowing real-time recording and encoding in Microsoft Media Technology and Real Networks formats.
MessageMedia currently offers a complete set of outsource messaging services, and according to Andrew Currie, vice president of product marketing for MessageMedia, the addition of streaming audio will greatly enhance current business communications. ''This is an exciting new milestone towards incorporating multimedia applications into MessageMedia's email service offerings,'' said Currie. ''VStream's Beep will allow us to integrate audio communications into email that will create an even richer relationship between company and customer.''
''This is another example of how we are changing the way people communicate,'' said Paul Berberian, CEO and co-founder of Boulder-based VStream. ''The technology we put behind Beep will help MessageMedia's clients further enhance communications with their customers.''
About VStream
Founded in April 1997, Boulder, Colo.-based VStream is the leading Internet communications provider. The company offers a suite of services including live-on-demand webcasting, audio/visual conferencing and voice-to-email services. VStream leverages streaming technologies developed by Microsoft Windows technologies (NASDAQ: MSFT - news) and Real Networks' Real Media streaming technologies (NASDAQ: RNWK - news). For more information, call 800-VSTREAM (878-7326) or visit vstream.com.
About MessageMedia
MessageMedia (NASDAQ: MESG - news) is the leading provider of email-based customer relationship management and direct marketing services. The Company offers a comprehensive suite of outsource messaging services for information delivery, permission-based direct marketing and ongoing customer communications using industry standard Internet protocols. MessageMedia's customer portfolio includes clients from the financial services, publishing, direct marketing, retailing and electronic commerce industries. Clients include E*TRADE, USA Today, GeoCities, Intuit, CMP Media, Barclays Bank and Bertelsmann.
''Safe Harbor'' Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. With the exception of the historical information contained in this release, the matters described herein contain forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties. These risk factors include, but are not limited to, the integration of a new senior management team, the Company's limited operating history, the integration of recent acquisitions, the anticipated fluctuations in operating results, the uncertain acceptance of new services being offered, and undeveloped and rapidly changing market. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. MessageMedia undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Note to Editors: This press release contains an asterisk, which may not transmit properly into some systems
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
Alexander Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
Megan Castle, 303/615-5070 ext. 134
mcastle@alexanderogilvy.com
or
Edelman Public Relations Worldwide
Renee Schwager, 312/297-7430
renee_schwager@edelman.com
|
