ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LOTUSPHERE -- Avistar Communications Corp. (Nasdaq: AVSR), a leader in desktop video communications, today introduced two significant enhancements to its C3 desktop solution that make it easier and more cost-effective to deploy business-class videoconferencing.

Avistar C3 Conference(TM) powers multiparty videoconferences from the desktop, conference room or the road by providing industrial-strength multipoint control unit (MCU) capability through standards-based software -- without the use of a hardware appliance. Avistar C3 Tunnel Server(TM) enables corporations to connect with people at any location across multiple firewalls. Both products offer the superior quality, security and flexibility corporations want from business productivity software and are available immediately through resellers and distributors.

Avistar will demonstrate these products integrated with IBM Lotus Sametime at the Avistar booth, #336, at Lotusphere.

"Avistar C3 offers value-minded corporations a lower cost of entry to videoconferencing and the business-class features they want," said Simon Moss, CEO, Avistar. "Given today's economy, corporations are cutting travel costs but they are afraid of losing the face-to-face interaction that is critical for business. Avistar C3, especially with its new C3 Conference(TM) and C3 Tunnel Server(TM), can replace most business travel with face-to-face video communications that keep relationships strong and projects moving forward with ease.

"These enhancements are integral to Avistar's go-to-market strategy, as resellers want solutions that open up new lines of business and/or help them provide extended value to existing customers. We are here at Lotusphere to showcase Avistar C3 and its new features, our relationship with IBM and our expanding channel program," said Moss.

Avistar C3 Conference(TM)

Avistar C3 Conference(TM) provides users the ability to conduct multiparty conference calls with a single click. Seamlessly delivered via a standards-based Window server, Avistar C3 Conference(TM) allows for multiple combinations of up to 12 ports of simultaneous conferencing per server. Quality is assured through full transcoding and transrating, which provide the best possible media experience for all users whether they be down the hall, across the country or elsewhere in the world.

Avistar C3 Conference(TM) is fully scalable to accommodate the number of ports that customers might need via a centralized or decentralized configuration. Unlike hardware-based MCU appliances in the market that are bundled in pre-set port configurations, Avistar C3 Conference(TM) enables customers to purchase only the number of ports they need at one time, and then grow into additional ports as the need arises. Additionally, software-based Avistar C3 Conference(TM) utilizes a customer's existing technology investment, as no new hardware is needed.

"We at Avistar believe customers should have the option of determining what makes the most sense from a port capacity perspective and not be locked into the pre-set and potentially unused capacity of an MCU appliance. Why should customers pay for what they don't need? Avistar C3 Conference(TM) offers the deployment flexibility, features and functions business people use, with the investment protection corporations now expect," Moss said.

Avistar C3 Tunnel Server(TM)

Avistar C3 Tunnel Server(TM) allows customers to videoconference with remote users across multiple firewalls and without a virtual private network. Whether a corporation is communicating with partners, vendors, employees or others, Avistar C3 Tunnel Server(TM) can make videoconferencing ubiquitous, by transparently determining the best way to seamlessly connect videoconference calls among parties in the face of different firewalls and network configurations, without compromising quality, security or connectivity.

With Avistar C3 Tunnel Server(TM), businesses can easily conduct simultaneous, secure videoconferencing calls, anywhere, any time, all with crystal clear audio and world-class video quality. The Tunnel Server is integrated with the Avistar C3 Desktop(TM), enabling remote users to go right into their enterprises without making configuration changes. For resellers, the Avistar C3 Tunnel Server(TM) opens new possibilities including offering videoconferencing as a hosted service.

Avistar C3 Tunnel Server(TM) is a business-class firewall traversal solution; as such it is standards-based (H.323 and SIP), fully scalable, highly reliable, simple to use and easy to deploy. It is also completely interoperable with multiple vendors' systems.

"Avistar C3 Tunnel Server(TM) is more proof of our commitment to empower video communications anywhere, any time, providing truly ubiquitous video communications," said Moss.

About Avistar Communications Corporation

Avistar (Nasdaq: AVSR) is a leader in desktop video communications, providing proven business-class technology. Avistar's desktop videoconferencing installations include more than 100,000 committed desktop seats worldwide, bringing together business users any time and any place. Companies such as IBM Corp., Sony Corp., LifeSize Communications, Inc. and Polycom Inc. use Avistar technology to power their unified communications solutions. Avistar works with leading-edge technology partners and resellers including CityIS, Beyondis and Fontel in more than 40 countries. For more information, go to http://www.avistar.com.

IBM, Lotus, Sametime and Lotusphere are trademarks of IBM Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both.

SOURCE Avistar Communications Corporation