Friday December 18, 8:02 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: VideoServer, Inc.
VideoServer Collaborates with IBM to
Deliver E-Commerce Enabled Distance
Learning Solutions
Enables Real-time, Interactive Distance Learning Applications
BURLINGTON, Mass., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- VideoServer, Inc. (Nasdaq: VSVR - news), a global leader of
networked conferencing, today announced an initiative with IBM to bring distance learning solutions to educational
providers. Under the agreement, IBM will provide marketing and development support to VideoServer for an
e-commerce enabled distance learning version of its Encounter™ family of IP-based multimedia conferencing
products. The Encounter products will be bundled with the IBM Enterprise Suite for Windows NT** and IBM
Net.Commerce*. The solutions will feature live, interactive collaboration with audio, video, and data for use via
intranets and switched digital networks.
''This relationship with IBM extends our leadership with new conferencing applications and expanded distribution
channels,'' said Khoa D. Nguyen, president and CEO of VideoServer. ''Distance learning is a key growth area for
networked conferencing and we are very pleased to work with IBM to deliver best-of-breed solutions.''
The IBM and VideoServer bundle will facilitate business-quality multimedia applications for distance learning and will
deliver valuable features, such as tracking and charge-back capabilities, not found in traditional conferencing
offerings. Important applications include face-to-face student project reviews, presentations and digital lectures and
educational certification for such professionals as doctors, lawyers, human resource professionals and CPAs.
''Web-based information transfer is an ideal way to provide professional organizations, learning institutions and
corporations with a cost-effective, business-quality alternative to traditional classroom-based learning,'' commented
Steve Solazzo, vice president, Solution Developers and Small/Growing Businesses, IBM Software Group. ''The
combination of VideoServer's networked conferencing solutions and industry expertise with IBM's market-leading
Internet and productivity middleware will deliver a new standard of service to the market.''
The bundled solution will consist of VideoServer's Encounter family and the IBM Enterprise Suite for Windows NT
and IBM Net.Commerce. VideoServer's Encounter family includes the Encounter NetServer, a multimedia conference
server for IP-based conferencing applications; the Encounter NetGate, a gateway server connecting ISDN and IP
conferencing endpoints; and the Encounter Gatekeeper, for facilitating management and control of conferences. The
IBM Enterprise Suite for Windows NT will provide collaboration, data and systems management, communications
and transaction serving and back-up and recovery; and IBM Net.Commerce will provide the payment vehicle system.
Applications Help Professionals Make Informed Decisions;
Broaden Educators' Reach
''Ongoing education is fundamental to understanding not only the medical issues but for working effectively under
managed care risk arrangements. The VideoServer and IBM relationship will provide on-line education to our
physicians in remote settings creating efficiencies for us and translating into more effective care for our patients,'' said
John A. Gianino, Esq., CEO of PersonalCare Community Physicians, a 200 physician multi-specialty independent
physician organization (IPO) affiliated with Partners Community HealthCare, Inc. ''The business of healthcare has
changed immensely requiring greater time commitments from all physicians, altering their practice patterns, their
personal lives and requiring them to make some very hard decisions about patient care that they may not have had to
previously consider.
''As part of our distance learning services we host up to 25 multi-site, virtual classes every day connecting students all
over the world for language classes, college preparatory classes, and interactive field trips,'' commented Cleo Nelson,
customer service supervisor at Plymouth, Minnesota-based MEANS Telcom. ''More and more students are benefiting
from the real-time classroom experience each year. We see both educational institutions and businesses benefiting
from the business value and efficiencies afforded by networked conferencing, leading them to explore new
applications beyond the classroom.''
Availability
This bundled solution is scheduled to be available in early 1999 through VideoServer and IBM distribution channels.
About VideoServer
VideoServer, Inc. (Nasdaq: VSVR - news) is a leading global provider of networked conferencing solutions that
enable people in multiple locations to communicate together using any combination of audio, video and data.
VideoServer connects employees, customers, and partners, reliably to each other by providing seamless integration of
networked conferencing over LANs, WANs, and any IP- based network. The Company's Multimedia Conference
Servers (MCS) and other products provide multipoint conferencing, gateway services, conference control, network
management and bandwidth management.
VideoServer sells its products worldwide through leading resellers and integrators, as well as remarketers of
videoconferencing and networking solutions. VideoServer also sells directly to providers of conferencing services,
including Internet Service Providers, telecommunication carriers, Regional Bell Operating Companies and global
PTTs.
IBM Enterprise Suite for Windows NT
The IBM Enterprise Suite for Windows NT makes it easy for users to build, deploy and manage business
applications. The product integrates leading software from IBM, Lotus and Intel, bringing greater reliability,
scaleability and security to the Windows NT platform. The IBM Enterprise Suite for Windows NT is designed for
large companies that want to leverage existing information technology assets and skills by integrating their Windows
NT applications into core business systems, and use data from core business systems in departmental Windows NT
applications.
About IBM Net.Commerce
IBM Net.Commerce is part of the WebSphere family, a commerce server product that breaks new ground by making
it easier for merchants to establish online storefronts with industry-leading security, intelligent catalog tools and the
most extensive database access in the industry.
* Indicates trademark or registered trademark of International Business
Machines Corporation.
** Indicates trademark or registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
SOURCE: VideoServer, Inc. |
