Service Combines Video Streaming, Multimedia Content and
Interactive Capabilities to Help Businesses Communicate More
Effectively
CLINTON, Miss., May 15, 2000 - Businesses can now extend the
reach of their meetings over the Internet with Conference Webcast, a
new offering from WorldComSM Conferencing that combines live and
recorded video with multimedia content and interactive capabilities.
Conference Webcast allows companies to stream traditional audio and
videoconferences over the Internet, and add interactive capabilities
like slides, polling, and messaging. These new capabilities can help
businesses turn a standard videoconferencing system into an Internet
broadcasting tool, ideal for conducting Web-based seminars, remote
training, employee updates, and large meetings.
Conference Webcast provides a one-to-many communications vehicle by
broadcasting video content to a large, geographically dispersed
audience over the Internet. Audience members do not need
videoconferencing equipment to participate. Anyone with an
Internet-connected computer, Web browser, and media player can view a
Conference Webcast.
"Businesses need technology that works for them and actually
makes a difference," said Tim Reedy, vice president of marketing
and finance, WorldCom Conferencing. "Conference Webcast is a
cost-effective way for businesses to extend the reach of their meetings
over the Internet by streaming their messages to hundreds of
participants."
Streaming media allows professionals to view video on the Web
without having to wait for it to download completely onto a computer.
In addition to delivering live and replay video streaming, Conference
Webcast enables businesses to view presentation slides and conduct Web
tours. Interactive capabilities, such as question-and-answer sessions
and audience polling, create a rich and engaging experience for
participants.
Business Applications
Conference Webcast enables businesses to improve internal and
external corporate communications. For example, it can be used for
marketing purposes, such as CyberSeminars, focus groups and market
research; employee training and education; public relations and
investor relations, including virtual press conferences, town hall
meetings and earnings reports; and E-commerce applications and product
launches.
"Marketing executives can introduce new Web applications and
gain feedback from hundreds of their top customers by hosting a live
Conference Webcast that includes a Web tour and polling," said
Reedy. "In addition, a replay of the Webcast can be posted on a
Web site-exposing the message to thousands of people after the
fact."
Conference Webcast is an extension of WorldCom's recently
announced "Generation D" initiative, under which the company
is expanding its network and transport services to deliver a broad
range of new value-added services to facilitate e-business
solutions.
WorldCom Conferencing provides a one-stop-shop for planning,
hosting, and attending a Conference Webcast at
http://e-meetings.wcom.com/webcast. Elsewhere on the site, visitors can
browse through The Cyber Meeting Place to learn how to plan for,
schedule, and conduct CyberSeminars, and can reserve or modify any type
of conference call in real-time via the company's Online
Reservation System.
WorldCom (NASDAQ: WCOM) is a global leader in
"all-distance" communications services with operations in
more than 65 countries. Revenues in 1999 were $37 billion, with more
than $15 billion from high-growth data, Internet and international
services. WorldCom and Sprint have announced a merger agreement, which
the companies expect to close in the second half of 2000 after
regulatory and shareholder approvals. For more information go to
http://www.wcom.com.
