Deliver Your News to the World

AOL and WebEx Team to Develop On-Demand Service for Instant Messaging Users at Work


WEBWIRE

February 23, 2006, Businesses and individuals looking for a secure instant messaging (IM) solution will soon have access to an innovative on-demand service that includes unparalleled collaboration capabilities. AOL and WebEx Communications (NASDAQ: WEBX), the leading provider of on-demand collaborative business applications, have teamed to create a secure, feature-rich version of the popular AIM service for businesses and at-work instant messaging users.

According to The Radicati Group, Inc., instant messaging has become a mission-critical collaboration tool for an estimated 135 million workers in organizations of all sizes, and is projected to grow to more than 477 million by 2009. Many of these users rely on consumer products such as AOL’s industry leading AIM® service, the nation’s largest online community.

Codenamed ’AIM Pro,’ the new service will build on the central role that the AIM service already plays in people’s work lives while offering a customized interface for business users. The new service will be available in two editions: a professional edition designed for individual professionals and small to mid-size businesses, and an enterprise instant messaging (EIM) edition with centralized administrative controls for larger corporations. Both editions of the service will work with enterprise directory services and allow users to securely chat, launch conference calls, online meetings and live demonstrations with any AIM user with just a few quick clicks to the customized AIM® Buddy List® feature.

The jointly developed service will deliver additional security as well as the unparalleled voice, video and web collaboration capabilities of the global WebEx MediaTone Network. It will allow workers to instantly connect with the more than 70 million users on the AOL® instant messaging network via the AOL,® AIM, ICQ® and Apple® iChat™ services. Through AOL’s AIM Clearinghouse service and federation agreements, users will also be able to securely connect with existing on-premise enterprise instant messaging users.

“We are extremely pleased to be working with WebEx to offer at-work users a customized AIM experience that works in a professional environment and addresses today’s business communications needs,” said Brian Curry, vice president, Premium and Subscription Services, AOL, Inc. “Co-created with the recognized business collaboration leader, the new service will bring business-class IM, online conferencing, collaboration, desktop sharing and advanced multimedia services to the global workplace.”

“Our new service combines the reach and flexibility of the consumer AIM service with the security, compliance and administration controls of enterprise instant messaging to create a cost-effective, zero-maintenance business and EIM solution,” said Subrah Iyar, chairman and CEO, WebEx. “Over twenty-two thousand companies rely on WebEx applications every day to accelerate the pace of their businesses and optimize interactions with customers, partners and co-workers. By partnering with AOL, the nation’s leading IM provider, WebEx is able to deliver an on-demand business IM solution with access to hundreds of millions of AIM and federated IM users.”

Availability
The new services are expected to be available in Q2 2006.

About the AIM® Service
The AIM® service (http://www.aim.com) is at the center of one of the largest and most dynamic online communities, and is available for use on computers, cell phones and other handheld devices. The AIM service is an integrated communications client that offers instant messaging, email and SMS mobile texting as well as voice and video chat services. Features include a Plaxo®-enabled AIM® Address Book and integrated access to the AOL® Explorer, AOL® Mail, AIM® Mail, AOL® Radio and AIM® Talk services. Through the AIM® Enterprise Federation program and AIM® Clearinghouse service, the AIM service reaches more than 75 percent of enterprise instant messaging users worldwide, including users on systems from IBM, Microsoft Corporation, Reuters, Inc., Jabber, Inc., Antepo, Inc., Omnipod, Inc., Communicator, Inc., Parlano, Inc., Thomson Financial as well as Pivot Solution’s IMTrader™ service. About America Online, Inc.

America Online, Inc. and its subsidiaries operate a leading network of Web brands and the largest Internet access subscription service in the United States. Brands include the AOL® service, the AOL.com® website, and the AIM®, MapQuest®, Moviefone®, Netscape®, CompuServe® and ICQ® services. America Online offers a range of digital services including the TotalTalk® voice service. The company also has operations in Canada and Europe. America Online, Inc. is based in Dulles, Virginia, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX).

About WebEx Communications
WebEx Communications, Inc. is the global leader of on-demand applications for collaborative business on the web. WebEx applications are used across the enterprise in sales, support, training, marketing, engineering and product design. WebEx delivers its range of applications over the WebEx MediaTone Network, a global network specifically designed for secure delivery of on-demand applications. WebEx Communications is based in Santa Clara, California and has regional headquarters in Europe, Asia and Australia. Please call toll free 877-509-3239 or visit www.webex.com for more information.

MediaTone is a trademark of WebEx Communications, Inc. AIM, AOL and Buddy List are trademarks of AOL, Inc. All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may be identified by use of the terms anticipates, believes, continue, could, estimates, expects, intends, may, plans, potential, predicts, should or will, or the negative of those terms or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those described in such statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties. In particular, these forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the growth of the business instant messaging market and the features and availability of an unreleased product. Factors which could contribute to risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the failure of the market to grow as expected and the failure to deliver the EIM product as described, on schedule, or at all. A fuller discussion of the risks and uncertainties that could affect WebEx Communications, Inc. are more fully set forth in WebEx Communications, Inc.’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including WebEx’s Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 8, 2005. WebEx Communications, Inc. assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information contained in this press release. This press release includes reference to market data produced by Radicati Group an independent third party that is not affiliated with WebEx Communications, Inc. The opinions, analysis, or predictions regarding the instant messaging market are the opinions of Radicati Group alone and do not represent opinions, analysis or predictions of WebEx Communications, Inc. or its management. WebEx Communications, Inc. does not by this press release imply its endorsement or adoption of such opinions, analysis or predictions.



WebWireID10002





This news content was configured by WebWire editorial staff. Linking is permitted.

News Release Distribution and Press Release Distribution Services Provided by WebWire.