HearMe Offers AOL ICQ Users A Live Voice Solution
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 20, 2000--
-- 50 Million ICQ Users Can Now Easily Talk For Free Through Access
to HearMe Voice Services --
Extending live voice capabilities to millions of potential new consumers, HearMe (Nasdaq:HEAR) today announced its first live voice product specifically targeting personal communications on the Internet. Part of HearMe's expanding VoicePresence(TM) product offerings, the new software solution makes live voice services instantly available to users on ICQ, AOL's popular instant communications service. Developed independently, HearMe's first personal communications product was designed to allow ICQ's 50 million plus users(a) to automatically participate in live voice conversations with friends and family using their computer microphone and speakers. By extending its technology beyond Web page-focused chat forums to ICQ's direct, personal communications environment, HearMe is again delivering on its vision to empower all Web users, Web sites, and Web applications with live voice. The product is available today as a FREE download at CNET's Download.com (www.download.com).
"We created this product to introduce, in a quick and efficient manner, millions of consumers to live voice for personal communications via the Internet. This product represents the next step in HearMe's ongoing efforts to bring live voice to people wherever they are on the Internet, whenever they want it," explained Jeremy Verba, COO and president of HearMe. "Our solution for ICQ extends our technology to support a new model for online voice interaction. Now, millions of users can initiate one-to-one and group voice conversations without leaving their communications application.
"While this product was developed independently from AOL, it demonstrates clearly the versatility of AOL's ICQ messaging solutions," added Verba. "We are excited about extending the ICQ platform with live voice. Further, ICQ's international popularity, coupled with the ease of live voice (versus using a keyboard) for non-English speakers, makes it a very exciting addition for global Web users."
With easy accessibility from within the ICQ application, HearMe's voice services can enhance private and direct online communications by building upon ICQ's existing feature set. HearMe's vision is to continue to expand its product offering to support additional person-to-person voice functionality.
HearMe's ICQ solution makes it simple to bring live voice capabilities to the ICQ environment. ICQ users simply download and install a small program that automatically embeds a HearMe voice chat window onto a user's ICQ home page, making it easily accessible by others from within the ICQ application or a standard Web browser. When a person visits the ICQ home page with HearMe technology, a HearMe(TM) VoicePresence window pops-up to enable voice communication. As each visitor accesses the page, the ICQ user who owns the page is automatically alerted by ICQ's audio notification feature. People can both talk and type to each other using their PC microphone and keyboard, and additional users can join the chat for group discussions.
HearMe's technology makes it easy for ICQ members to add live voice capabilities to the mix, adding new forms of communication that are personal and "human." HearMe technology and live voice enable real-time communications that add emotion or personality to an online conversation. With VoicePresence on their Web pages, ICQ users can save time by talking instead of typing and even save money on long distance phone charges.
Specifications
The product supports both Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer Web browsers (v4.x and higher) running on Windows 95/98 or Windows NT systems. Users can download the free product at CNET's Download.com (www.download.com). The product will also be available through the HearMe Web site at www.hearme.com. The installation requires a few simple mouse-clicks and no formal programming experience.
About HearMe VoicePresence
HearMe VoicePresence offers simple implementation to allow home page creators to "drop" live voice features onto their Web pages in minutes. VoicePresence requires only a few lines of Web code (HTML) to implement so anyone who has built a Web site can add it to their site without additional programming experience. Once installed, VoicePresence is easy for Web page visitors to use - it requires a minimal download and automatically installs. Users with a computer microphone and speakers can participate in live voice conversations quickly and easily. 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/company/products/vp.
Since its availability in November 1999, tens of thousands of Web sites have registered for and received the VoicePresence product and there have been more than 1.4 million consumer downloads of the HearMe VoicePresence plug-in by consumers. In addition, leading consumer sites including theglobe.com, Talk City, and FortuneCity.com have teamed with HearMe to make VoicePresence available to their many Web site creators.
About HearMe
HearMe is dedicated to reshaping today's Internet applications into real-time interactive experiences through which large groups of people can interact and communicate using text, voice and video. The Company develops, operates and licenses technology that enables real-time Internet communication and communities where people can gather to share affinities, interests, or ideas. Communication tools such as text chat applications and instant messengers are already incorporating HearMe technology to enable real-time voice interaction among multiple people.
The Company operates its own real-time consumer Internet communities, HearMe.com(TM) and Mplayer.com(TM). Through HearMe Technology Products, the Company provides software products and services for leading third-party site operators building their own branded real-time experiences. HearMe technologies can enhance a wide range of Internet applications including e-commerce, live customer support, business-to-business collaboration, distance learning, entertainment and consumer communities. Companies working with HearMe technology and services include MTV Online Networks, Macromedia, theglobe.com, StarMedia Network, GTECH Corporation, LG InterNet and CSK Sega. Founded in early 1995, Mpath Interactive, Inc., dba HearMe, is located in Mountain View, Calif. The Company can be found on the Internet at www.hearme.com or reached at 650/429-3900.
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the Company's dependence on its ability to significantly increase its membership base, user minutes, advertising revenue and revenue from HearMe Technology Products customers; to launch new products, to maintain and develop strategic relationships with media, Internet and technology companies; and to compete effectively. These and other risk factors are described in detail in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, the Company's report on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 1999, June 30, 1999, and September 30, 1999 and in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
HearMe, VoicePresence, HearMe.com, and Mplayer.com are trademarks of Mpath Interactive, Inc., dba HearMe. All other product or service names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners.
(a) AOL ICQ user data based on public release figures issued by AOL.
CONTACT:
HearMe
Paula Fujimoto, 650/429-3610
paula@hearme.com
or
Cunningham Communication
Nan Stillinger, 650/858-3772
nstillinger@ccipr.com |
