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Press Release
FaceTime and Microsoft Expand Relationship; FaceTime Authorized to Develop And
Deliver IM Business Applications for MSN IM Network
FaceTime's IMAuditor First Product to Achieve Authorized IM Network Access From
All Leading Providers Including Microsoft, AOL, Reuters, and IBM Lotus
FOSTER CITY, Calif., Aug. 6, 2002 -- FaceTime Communications, the premier provider of
network-independent instant messaging (IM) applications for business, today
announced an expanded relationship with Microsoft Corp. as the first enterprise
software provider authorized to develop and deliver IM business applications on
the MSN Messenger Service. In addition, FaceTime's IM Director family of
products, including IMAuditor, Instant Customer and IM Call Center, now
support Microsoft's full suite of .NET messaging solutions. This expanded
relationship will ensure network reliability, network privileges and investment
protection for enterprise customers using Microsoft IM networks.
Microsoft and FaceTime's agreement provides IT professionals, information
security managers and compliance officers the assurance, confidence and
controls they need to safely deploy strategic IM business applications on any
IM network without disruption from changes in network protocols. In addition,
users benefit by having single points of contact for technical support and
escalation paths for both companies to ensure priority attention for users.
"IDC notes that 70% of firms have employees performing work-related activities
using either business IM or consumer IM services," according to Robert
Mahowald, research manager with IDC. "These employees are communicating with
one another and with external partners, suppliers, or other colleagues using
business IM or public IM networks such as MSN. IDC believes that firms who want
to continue using consumer IM services for business activities should protect
their investments by working with IM application providers that are authorized
to develop and deliver solutions on these networks."
"Consumers and enterprises want to use instant messaging to reach friends,
family, and customers respectively," said Blake Irving, Vice President, MSN and
Personal Services. "MSN Messenger is a premier instant messaging service that
consumers are using around the world. With FaceTime, a leader in
network-independent messaging applications, MSN will be able to extend our
Messenger service to those in a networked enterprise environment."
"Enterprise IT organizations require that deploying applications to provide
management control for IM networks are not subjecting the enterprise to costly
service interruptions caused by unauthorized access to IM networks," said Glen
D. Vondrick, FaceTime's President and CEO. "FaceTime's unique, authorized
partnerships with the major IM network providers, including our long-term
relationship with Microsoft, enable our customers to receive the highest level
of support required to feel comfortable safely deploying strategic business
applications on public or business IM networks. We are delighted that Microsoft
has selected FaceTime as an authorized MSN network access partner to develop
solutions that run on all Microsoft IM networks."
FaceTime's unique technology advantage, IM expertise, and ability to provide
customers with authorized application access and integration to any network,
enables the company to deliver practical, value-add solutions on multiple IM
network infrastructures for regulatory compliance, business-to-business,
business-to-customer and call center communication.
About FaceTime Communications
FaceTime Communications enables the safe and productive use of instant
messaging, Web usage and Unified Communications platforms. Ranked number one by
IDC for four consecutive years, FaceTime's award-winning solutions are used by
more than 900 customers – including nine of the 10 largest U.S. banks – for
security, management and compliance of real-time communications. FaceTime
supports or has strategic partnerships with all leading public and enterprise
IM network providers, including AOL, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo!, Skype, IBM and Jabber.
FaceTime is headquartered in Belmont, California. For more information visit
http://www.facetime.com or call 888-349-FACE.
The FaceForward blog, at http://blog.facetime.com,
offers thoughts and opinions about the changing nature of Internet communications.
NOTE: Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of
their respective owners.
PR Contact:
Emily Chamberlin
650-762-2945
echamberlin@ar-edelman.com
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