Convoq to Offer IM-Based Web Conferencing for $0.10 Per Minute.LEXINGTON, Mass. -- "Pay Per Use" Option Provides Market's Most Cost-Effective Solution for Individuals Seeking IM-Based Rich Media Collaboration Tools Convoq, Inc. (www.convoq.com), the developer of ASAP (chat) asap - As soon as possible. , an innovative presence-driven Web conferencing A videoconferencing session via the Internet. In order to interact with other participants, attendees use either a Web application or an application downloaded into their client machines. system, today announced new "pay per use" licensing. Individual users can download and use ASAP for an introductory price of $0.10 per minute per conference participant, the lowest-priced "pay per use" IM-based Web conferencing offering in the market. With this "pay per use" pricing, Convoq's ASAP remains the most cost-effective and robust solution for IM-based online collaboration, for both spontaneous and scheduled rich media meetings. Rather than loosely coupled See loose coupling. partnerships between larger providers such as AOL (A division of Time Warner, Inc., New York, NY, www.aol.com) The world's largest online information service with access to the Internet, e-mail, chat rooms and a variety of databases and services. and WebEx (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on : WEBX), ASAP seamlessly combines high-quality video and audio conferencing See audioconferencing. over IP, text chat, screen-sharing and PowerPoint presentations into one service. A three-person meeting for 20 minutes with video conferencing See videoconferencing. (communications) video conferencing - A discussion between two or more groups of people who are in different places but can see and hear each other using electronic communications. and a PowerPoint presentation would cost just $6 (three participants @ $.10/minute X 20 minutes), easily the least costly available option for Web conferencing on the market. ASAP uses IM in unique ways, including: --Cross-IM Support - ASAP allows users to track presence and invite meeting participants from one or more of the five major instant messaging Exchanging text messages in real time between two or more people logged into a particular instant messaging (IM) service. Instant messaging is more interactive than e-mail because messages are sent immediately, whereas e-mail messages can be queued up in a mail server for seconds or systems available today (AOL Instant Messenger See AIM. , Yahoo! Messenger Yahoo!'s instant messaging (IM) service, which includes text messaging, voice calling and file sharing. The IM client includes Internet radio and the regular phone calling at rates as low as one cent per minute. Starting with Version 8. , MSN Messenger, IBM/Lotus IM, and Microsoft Live Communication Server). --Instant Participation - Meeting invitations to prospective participants can be sent via IM or email. Invitees simply click on an embedded link in their chat window or email inbox and instantly join meetings without needing to download or install any software. --MeetASAP - If the people needed for a meeting are shown as unavailable, you can select the "MeetASAP" option, and ASAP will monitor the invitees' presence and alert you when they are all available to meet. --Presence-Driven Tools - ASAP offers you the ability to designate role-based contacts as resources for a particular area of expertise ("Lifelines"), as well as context-sensitive delegates for the individual user when he or she is unavailable ("Stand-ins"). "Business people are increasingly using IM as a starting point for escalating 'chats' into rich online meetings," said Paul Ritter, Senior Analyst and Research Director, Wainhouse Research. "Convoq's ASAP, with its 'instant-in' capabilities, provides a tightly integrated IM and conferencing solution for initiating and conducting ad-hoc, spontaneous meetings. The new pay-per-use licensing model provides a cost-effective means for organizations of all sizes to provide users the ability to conduct collaborative meetings using IM as an invitation tool." "The rapid adoption of ASAP has proven it is a better and more cost-effective option for IM-based Web conferencing, particularly for individuals and small businesses," said Chuck Digate, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Convoq. "We've seen growing interest in a more flexible pricing model for individual, 'pay per use' IM escalation scenarios. With this additional option, we feel that we now offer the best solution for IM-based Web conferencing available today, both from a functionality and a price standpoint." ASAP is available for individual, "pay per use" access at www.convoq.com at a cost of $0.10 per minute per conference participant. Companies can also purchase subscriptions for $199.95/year for an unlimited number of meetings for up to 25 people per meeting. For more information on purchasing ASAP, please visit the company's Web site or contact Convoq at 781-676-6700. About Convoq, Inc. Convoq, Inc. delivers presence-driven collaboration solutions. The company's products help you find and interact with the people you need, when you need them. Convoq's initial product, ASAP, is an IM-based Web conferencing system for instantly gathering the right people at the right time in a rich-media, Web-based environment. The company is located in Lexington, MA. For more information, visit www.convoq.com. |
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