Full Range of Enterprise Collaboration and VoIP Issues To Be Explored Extensively At NetWorld+Interop Las Vegas 2004 Event.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

NetWorld+Interop 2004 Las Vegas 

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 3, 2004

Most Comprehensive IT Event of The Year Deepens Discussion

Around The New Technologies Redefining

How Enterprise Workers Interact and Communicate

MediaLive International, Inc. today announced one of the most thorough enterprise Collaboration and VoIP programs the industry has seen to date, taking place at NetWorld(SM)+Interop(R) Las Vegas 2004, May 9-14. NetWorld(SM)+Interop(R) is the only event that brings a systematic approach to enterprise collaboration and VoIP issues, investigating the full range of security, deployment and performance issues, in the context of real-world buyer concerns and priorities.

Collaboration and VoIP highlights at the NetWorld+Interop event will include a 3-day dedicated Collaboration and VoIP conference sponsored by MCI; keynote speeches from collaboration and VoIP leaders including Cisco Systems, MCI, Nortel Networks and Siemens; and a close examination of VoIP using SIP (session initiation protocol) in the popular iLab testing series.

"There's no doubt: VoIP is incredibly hot right now. Our research shows that the No. 1 enterprise priority for 2004 is implementing VoIP infrastructure and applications," said Robin Gareiss, Principal Research Officer and Senior Partner at Nemertes Research, and conference chair of the VoIP conference track at the NetWorld+Interop event. "But there remains a steep learning curve, both for organizations just starting their VoIP implementations and for those looking to leverage their existing converged infrastructure. The demand is high for education and training."

Another highly-anticipated VoIP area at NetWorld(SM)+Interop(R) is the "VoIP using SIP" iLab initiative done in association with Network World. In response to strong demand from attendees for more education on how to build out their IP networks, this focus area will demonstrate interoperability of SIP-based VoIP products, with an emphasis on creating real-world, economical and reliable replacements for traditional telephony equipment. Led by Craig Watkins, Principal for Transcend, Inc., this iLab will feature the IP sector's most significant contributors, including: 3COM, AudioCodes, Avaya, Cisco Systems, ClearSight, Digium, D-Link, Free World Dialup, Intetex, ipDialogue, Inc., iptel.org Services, MultiTech Systems, Nortel Networks, Pingtel, Polycom, Siemens, snom technology AG, WildPackets, and Xten.

The Siemens 2nd Generation IP Forum -- another significant collaboration and VoIP element at NetWorld(SM)+Interop(R) -- will take place on Wednesday, May 12, as a free program for event attendees. The Siemens program will allow attendees to discover real-time IP communication and collaboration applications to improve workflow and lower costs while boosting personal productivity, streamlining business processes and reducing information overload.

The NetWorld+Interop exhibition floor will also be well-populated with collaboration-focused vendors, highlighted by a VoIP and Collaboration Pavilion sponsored by Microsoft Live Meeting. Participating companies in the VoIP and Collaboration Pavilion will engage attendees -- through interactive demonstrations and presentations -- to help network professionals better understand the collaboration technologies available today and in the future. Collaboration Pavilion participants will include: Advanced Reality, Arel Communications, Audio Codes, Microsoft, Oridus, and Spectel.

"The move to real-time collaborative communications within the enterprise is underway and the continuing penetration of high-speed data networks and VoIP is paving the way for exciting new applications like video conferencing and converged collaboration from the desktop," said Craig Lynar, vice president of product marketing with Polycom, a leading provider of collaborative communications solutions. "The barriers to broader adoption of these types of technologies have fallen, while the overall effectiveness and value is increasing dramatically as they converge into an integrated set of powerful unified collaborative communications tools."

In addition to participating in the "VoIP using SIP" iLabs initiative, Polycom is also participating in two education sessions at the NetWorld+Interop event. On Wednesday, May 12, Robert Hagerty, President and CEO of Polycom, will be participating in a "Great Debate" collaboration vendor panel, and Ed Ellet, Senior VP of Video Communications, will be participating in the "A New View of Videoconferencing" conference session, also on Wednesday, May 12.

VoIP solutions are also planned to be on display in the eNet, the NetWorld+Interop show network built from scratch by 12 leading IT vendors. Avaya will lead the eNet VoIP focus for the second year in a row, delivering solutions powered by Avaya Communication Manager, the company's IP telephony software in its MultiVantage(TM) Communications Applications suite. Avaya's IP telephony software, media servers and gateways, and telephones are featured in NetWorld+Interop's eNet.

Avaya will also have two speakers participating at NetWorld(SM)+Interop(R). Tom Lessica, group vice president for global IT and business operations, will speak in the "IT Function: A View from the Top" session at Strategic Interop on Sunday, May 9. Micky Tsui, vice president and general manager of the company's communications systems division, will participate in the "Grill the IP Vendors" session on Tuesday, May 11, in the Collaboration and VoIP conference.

"Enterprise IP telephony has clearly moved into the mainstream as one of the most significant technologies of our time," said Tsui. "Businesses are not only migrating to IP telephony for improved cost efficiencies, but also for the ability to create new business models that closely link employees working in any location. Whether they are in a branch office, on the road, or working from home, employees can readily access advanced capabilities based on VoIP, SIP and Presence, driving new levels of mobility, collaboration and productivity throughout an enterprise."

About NetWorld(SM)+Interop(R)

Part of the MediaLive International, Inc. family of global brands, NetWorld(SM)+Interop(R) is the leading destination for networking technology buyers and sellers. Through in-depth educational programs, workshops, real-world demonstrations and live technology implementations in its unique eNet and iLabs programs, NetWorld(SM)+Interop(R) provides the industry's only platform for collaboration, communication and commerce for the end-to-end network. NetWorld(SM)+Interop(R) Las Vegas 2004 will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, May 9-12, 2004. For more information about the event, please visit www.interop.com.

About MediaLive International, Inc.

MediaLive International is producer of the world's best-known events, related media and marketing services for technology buyers and sellers. MediaLive International's products and services encompass the IT industry's largest exhibitions, including COMDEX and NetWorld(SM)+Interop(R), such highly focused educational programs as Next Generation Networks, custom seminars including JavaOne(R), respected publications including Business Communications Review, and specialized vendor marketing programs. Created in 2003 from the assets of Key3Media, MediaLive International is a privately held company headquartered in San Francisco, with offices throughout the world. For more information about MediaLive International, visit www.medialiveinternational.com.

MediaLive International, Seybold, Seybold Seminars, COMDEX, NetWorld+Interop, Next Generation Networks, Business Communications Review, and associated design marks and logos are trademarks or service marks owned or used under license by MediaLive International, Inc., and may or may not be registered in the United States and other countries. Other names mentioned may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. JavaOne is a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.