America Online, Inc. Launches AIM Business Services
New Agreements with Lightbridge and WebEx Deliver Presence-Enabled Voice and Web Conferencing to Millions of "At Work" AIM(R) Users
DULLES, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 10, 2004--
America Online, Inc. ("AOL"), the world's leading interactive services company, today announced the launch of AIM Business Services, new, presence-enabled communication services that will help users be more productive in the workplace. AIM Business Services are part of AOL's ongoing commitment to giving users exactly what they want: 'on-demand' services that extend the value of the AIM(R) service and are tailored to the way they work and interact with others.
The AIM Business Services introduced today are designed to make conference calls and web meetings easy to initiate, easy to join and more effective. They include AIM(R) Voice Conferencing by Lightbridge, created in partnership with Lightbridge, Inc., and AIM(R) Web Meetings by WebEx, created in partnership with WebEx Communications, Inc. These new services are available to all AIM users on-demand, and can be launched via the AIM(R) Buddy List(R) feature in just a few easy clicks.
AIM Business Services build on the central role that AOL(R) Instant Messenger(TM) (AIM) already plays in people's everyday work lives by enabling "at work" users to launch online meetings, interactive work sessions and multimedia demonstrations right from their Buddy List feature. According to Osterman Research, 24 million instant messaging users in the US log on from work, and 58 percent (nearly 14 million) of them use the AIM service.
"The AIM service plays an important role in accelerating business communications, and many of the two billion daily instant messages sent on our network progress into telephone calls and meetings," said Ed Fish, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Desktop Messaging, America Online, Inc. "At work users now have a seamless way to move from one-to-one exchanges to new shared and collaborative experiences through AIM. Presence and real-time communications help boost efficiency, making the AIM service an even more valuable business tool."
AIM Voice Conferencing by Lightbridge makes it easy and convenient to gather the right people for a conference call when needed. AIM Voice Conferencing by Lightbridge calls are conducted over telephone connections using dial-out conferencing technology that places toll-free calls directly to participants.
Invitations can be sent to any desired participant via AIM to a PC, via AIM and SMS to a PDA or cellular phone, and via any telephone number entered by the host. An 'AutoConnect' feature and mobile IM support enable business travelers to participate nationwide. No dial-in numbers or pass codes are needed, which helps ensure that conference calls are well-attended and start on time.
"The need for reservation-less, on-demand voice conferencing continues to grow rapidly, and we are very pleased to provide AIM users with premium conference calling services that simplify initiation and increase attendance," said Kevin Thornton, Vice President & General Manager, Enhanced Services, Lightbridge, Inc. "Together with America Online, we'll empower small and mid-sized businesses with pay-as-you-go voice services that support full participation from any phone and meet these traditionally underserved markets' growing need for affordable solutions."
AIM Web Meetings by WebEx is a presence-enabled Web meeting service that lets users escalate from text conversations to multimedia online meetings and interactive demonstrations right from their AIM Buddy List feature. WebEx meetings support real-time data, voice and video, and allow people to share any application, from Microsoft(R) Office to Adobe PhotoShop(R). Users can invite an unlimited number of participants to join the meeting, including non-AIM users. In addition, WebEx corporate customers can now invite attendees through the AIM service or email and use their company's existing WebEx Meeting Center subscription at no additional cost.
"We are excited to provide tens of millions of AIM users, their colleagues and clients with one-click access to our MediaTone Web communications services," said Subrah Iyar, CEO, WebEx Communications, Inc. "Whether you are a current, corporate subscriber or a new pay-per-use customer, AIM Web Meetings by WebEx make it even easier to hold Web meetings."
Availability
AIM Business Services are available today and can be accessed via aimatwork.com (http://www.aimatwork.com). The AIM Business Services Communications Tools will be presented to new users as an option the first time they log on and will appear thereafter as a part of the Buddy List feature. The first time users want to use each of the new AIM Business Services, they will be prompted to register on a secure site and provide their credit card information for billing purposes.
Current AIM 5.5 users can go to aimatwork.com, click on the link for AIM Business Services and read easy instructions for how to access the new services. For more information, please visit http://www.aimatwork.com. Members of the media are invited to review the Electronic Press Kit for this announcement at http://www.aimatwork.com/epk.
About America Online, Inc.
America Online, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. Based in Dulles, Va., America Online is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services.
About the Updated AIM(R) 5.5
Designed to give users a more expressive instant messaging experience, America Online's AIM 5.5 offers a number of new advanced instant messaging capabilities that extend the vibrant social interaction that takes place within the AIM community. Users have the ability to conduct live video instant messaging conversations(1), link-up and manage multiple AIM screen names from the same session, invite their buddies to play online games through their instant messaging connection and access WeatherBug's precise live weather conditions. Effective today, AIM 5.5 users can also access AIM Business Services, a suite of presence-enabled communication services that help make the workplace more productive.
About Lightbridge, Inc.
Lightbridge, Inc. (Nasdaq:LTBG) is a leading provider of technology services and software that manage customer transactions. The Lightbridge suite of solutions leverages both intelligent automated systems and human expertise, delivered primarily through the efficiencies and cost savings of an outsourced business model. Businesses around the world use Lightbridge to manage their customer transactions so they can make smarter decisions, deliver better services, provide secure payments and optimize the Lifetime Value of their customers. For more information, visit www.lightbridge.com or call 1-800-LIGHTBR. Lightbridge, and the Lightbridge logo are registered trademarks of Lightbridge, Inc.
About WebEx Communications, Inc.
WebEx Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: WEBX) is the world's leading provider of web communications services. WebEx services are used across the enterprise in sales, support, training, marketing, engineering and product design. WebEx provides carrier-class services using its MediaTone communications platform deployed over the WebEx MediaTone Network, a high-speed global network specifically designed for real-time web communications. With its unique information-switching technology, multimedia capabilities and standards-based APIs, MediaTone is the "dial tone" for web communications. WebEx Communications is based in San Jose, California and has regional headquarters in Europe and Asia. Please call toll free (877) 509-3239 or visit http://www.webex.com for more information.
(1) Requires Windows XP and a webcam.
Contacts
AOL Corporate Communications
Krista Thomas, 703-265-5880
kristadthomas@aol.com
or
Lightbridge, Inc.
Glen Zimmerman, 781-359-4705
gzimmerman@lightbridge.com
or
Antenna Group for WebEx
Colin Smith, 415-977-1912
colin@antennagroup.com
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