Colin Communications Selects the PictureTel 900 Series Integrated Collaboration Platform.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

ANDOVER, Mass. & MUNICH, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 31, 2000

PictureTel Corp. and Siemens Enterprise Networks LLC Deliver

Integrated Collaboration Capabilities

PictureTel(R) Corporation (NASDAQ:PCTL), the world leader in integrated collaboration, and Siemens Enterprise Networks LLC, leader in communication server platforms, announced today that Colin Communications, a network service provider that is pioneering new models of delivery for rich media communications, has selected the PictureTel 900 Series integrated collaboration platform, and will offer the PictureTel 900 Series to its customers.

The PictureTel 900 Series products utilize the next-generation iPower(TM) integrated collaboration architecture, developed jointly by PictureTel and Intel.

Colin Communications recently purchased multiple PictureTel 970s from PictureTel partner Siemens, with commitments to acquire future units from Siemens to support GRYPHON(TM). GRYPHON(TM) is the platform created by Colin to support distance learning and video teleconferencing for their clients nationwide. Colin Communications is working together with Onyx Corporation, a Detroit-based videoconferencing distributor that will serve as the firm's local marketing arm for videoteleconferencing and bridging services.

"The PictureTel 900 Series enables organizations to harness corporate knowledge in its many forms - human creativity, as well as data from Web pages, e-mail messages, corporate databases, presentations, etc.," says George Nolen, CEO, Siemens Enterprise Networks LLC. "This ability delivers a critical competitive advantage, enabling organizations to share ideas, make decisions, and win in a highly competitive global marketplace."

Colin Communications Inc. is a national provider of multimedia telecommunication services, with target audiences of governmental, educational and the automotive sectors. Headquartered in Highland Park, MI., Colin Communications was founded in 1996 with the commitment to bringing leading edge integrated communication capabilities to the desktop.

"Colin Communications is significantly streamlining the process for multimedia communications to be available to anyone from almost anywhere." states James Colin, president. "Under the traditional model, a company would interact with multiple points - including the ISP, a videoconferencing solution provider, and the network service provider. Today, with our partners, Colin can offer a single source solution for all three components - enabling end users to focus on how their firm can benefit from the next generation of technology today, rather than trying to determine how to implement the technology. The new PictureTel 900 Series is a key component in this mix - and will enable our customers to leap from static "talking head" meeting to productive working sessions."

"The PictureTel 900 Series is a perfect complement to the efforts of organizations such as Colin, who are pioneering new models of delivery for rich media communication services - and are streamlining the process," says Norman Gaut, chief executive officer, PictureTel. "The iPower architecture resolves the issues traditionally associated with establishing links across mixed environments, networks, and end points, as well as maintaining those links over the duration of the session. The patent-pending technologies ensure that the call is connected the first time, and ensures that the call stays up by adapting to the limitations of the network and remote sites. Users can focus on the meeting rather than on managing the technology."

The iPower architecture, as embodied in the PictureTel 900 Series products, is a breakthrough technology that finally gives users as much power and flexibility to share information in a meeting with remote sites as most users enjoy in meetings at one location. Full resolution slides and PC information is simply provided at all sites with the touch of a button. Complete, full-resolution interaction with the user's LAN or the Internet is a built in feature. The systems feature the most powerful system management capabilities of any product in this class of communications equipment.

About Siemens

Based in Boca Raton, Fl., Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc., with its subsidiaries is a leading provider of integrated voice and data networks with a comprehensive portfolio of products and solutions for enterprises, carriers and service providers. Last year, the company's 7,000 U.S. employees generated sales of nearly $2 billion. Siemens Information and Communication Networks Inc. is comprised of Siemens Carrier Networks LLC, Siemens Enterprise Networks LLC and Optisphere Inc.

Siemens Enterprise Networks, LLC., is a leading provider of converged enterprise-class networks. Siemens' enterprise convergence architecture, called HiPath, is strengthening business to business and business to consumer communications by allowing companies' existing voice and data applications to globally operate over one network.

For more information, visit the company's web site at www.icn.siemens.com.

For Siemens product information, call 800/814-1680.

About PictureTel

PictureTel Corporation (NASDAQ: PCTL) is the world leader in developing, manufacturing, and marketing a full range of visual- and audio- collaboration platforms. PictureTel also owns 1414c, a communications ASP that greatly simplifies the network complexity inherent in mixed rich media collaboration.

PictureTel markets network conferencing servers in addition to the complete range of end-point products and delivers a global capability to service, support, and provide complete solutions for customers needing rich media communications. PictureTel is fundamentally in the business of eliminating the barrier of distance, enabling people to be Anywhere Now.(TM)

This release includes projections and other forward-looking statements about the company's revenues, earnings, and other measures of economic performance. Actual results could differ materially from forecasts due to many factors such as, for example, competitive pressures, changes in technology, and the difficulty in forecasting in overseas markets and indirect channels. Additional information concerning risks that could cause actual results to differ is contained in the company's annual report on Form 10-K and its Form 10-Q as filed with the SEC. The company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

PictureTel is a registered trademark of PictureTel Corporation. PictureTel 900 Series, iPower, and Anywhere Now are trademarks of PictureTel Corporation.

All other terms and products names may be trademark or registered trademarks of their respective owners.