Broad Suite of Web-Based Meeting Tools Now Includes Event
Services, Additional Streaming Products, and Expanded Global
Capabilities
CLINTON, Miss., Dec. 12, 2000 - In step with its "generation d"
initiatives to be at the forefront of the digital economy, WorldCom
Conferencing today introduced an array of web-based services that allow
organizations to stream conference calls via the Internet, produce and
webcast live events, and blast voice messages to multiple recipients.
WorldCom also announced that it has expanded global access to its
audioconferencing services and has signed a global reseller agreement
with a major videoconferencing equipment manufacturer. In addition, the
company announced that it is launching an online affiliate marketing
program to increase the distribution and reach of its industry-leading
conferencing services.
New Streaming Capabilities
WorldCom Conferencing, already one of the world's largest and
fastest-growing service providers, expects many of its customers to
take advantage of a new offering it is launching in January: Audio
Streaming. With this service, organizations can stream conference calls
over the Internet, cost-effectively extending the reach and scope of
meetings and presentations worldwide.
With the SEC's recently instated Regulation Fair Disclosure, a new
rule designed to ensure that all investors have equal access to
material financial information, conference calls streamed over the
Internet are quickly becoming a vital means of communicating to
constituents. According to a recent survey commissioned by Business
Week, 86 percent of the S&P 500 hold quarterly earnings calls; 56
percent now also webcast these calls, up from seven percent just two
years ago. WorldCom expects that this percentage will rise even higher
in 2001.
Conference calls that are streamed over the Internet can be recorded
and stored on a Web server for on-demand access. The service, Audio
Replay, is ideal for such applications as sales training, employee
updates, and any important meeting that not all participants may be
able to attend.
WorldCom's Audio Streaming and Audio Replay services are part of its
Conference Webcast family of streaming services. The company has
offered interactive Video Streaming since May.
WorldCom Conferencing Event Servicesm
With WorldCom's new Event Services, available immediately,
organizations can webcast traditional auditorium-style meetings (such
as product launches, sales meetings, and investor briefings), opening
them to a much broader audience. In many cases, on-site gatherings can
be replaced with completely virtual events-often a more productive,
cost-effective solution. WorldCom provides all the necessary planning,
project management, production, and follow-up. This can include design,
development, and execution of the event; graphic design and video
production; interactive streaming services; web site design and
hosting; pre- and post-meeting communications; and travel
logistics.
Multipoint Voice
To communicate timely messages to an increasingly mobile workforce,
WorldCom Conferencing has introduced Multipoint Voice. Available in
early 2001, Multipoint Voice gives customers the ability to blast a
voice message to multiple recipients. The service is ideal for
situations like client communications, crisis management, CEO updates,
and general communications to broad audiences.
Expanded Global Capabilities
WorldCom is expanding its presence and meeting the communication
needs of businesses around the world with two new offerings available
in 2001: Universal International Freephone Number and European Local
Access.
With a Universal International Freephone Number, international
conference call participants from 18 countries have toll-free access to
U.S.-based calls, ideal for international business travelers and
multinational companies.
To make it even more convenient and cost-effective to attend virtual
meetings, WorldCom is also introducing European Local Access. Five
European cities-Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, London, and Paris-will
have local-number access to London-based conference calls. Future plans
call for extending this capability to major cities in Italy,
Switzerland, Spain, Norway, Finland, and Sweden.
WorldCom also announced that it has signed a global reseller
agreement with PictureTel Corporation (NASDAQ: PCTL), a leading
manufacturer of visual collaboration solutions. Under the terms of the
agreement, WorldCom will offer its global customer base
videoconferencing solutions (multipoint bridging, equipment
installation, and maintenance) based on the new PictureTel 900 series
platform.
Affiliate Marketing Program
WorldCom Conferencing also announced that is has signed an agreement
with BeFree Inc. (NASDAQ: BFRE), a leader in performance-based
affiliate marketing technology and services, and is launching an
affiliate marketing program powered by BeFree in January. The program
is expected to help WorldCom Conferencing increase revenue, extend its
brand reach worldwide, drive traffic to its Website, and lower customer
acquisition costs.
WorldCom Conferencing's affiliate marketing program will allow the
company to merchandise its services throughout a channel of affiliate
partners-complementary business-to-business Websites-extending
WorldCom's reach and exposure to thousands of new prospective
customers.
Strategically Positioned
With today's sweeping announcements, WorldCom Conferencing signals
its commitment to continue as the preeminent global provider of
electronic meetings.
"The conferencing market is very dynamic and growing rapidly
worldwide," said Tim Reedy, vice president of marketing and finance,
WorldCom Conferencing. "We're in a great position to continue to
capitalize on these trends: We have a broad suite of 'gen d' services,
a superior global network, a large and growing international customer
base, and a sound strategy to capitalize on the Internet."
More information on WorldCom Conferencing services can be found at
http://www.wcom.com/conferencing or by calling 800-475-3555.
About WorldCom
WorldCom (NASDAQ: WCOM) is a preeminent global communications
company for the digital generation, operating in more than 65
countries. Global revenues in 1999 were $36 billion, with $15 billion
from high-growth data, Internet and international services. WorldCom
provides the innovative technologies and services that are the
foundation for business in the 21st century. For more information go to
http://www.wcom.com.
