Comunicano

SIGHTSPEED JOINS AMERICAN TELEMEDICINE ASSOCIATION

Internet Video Communications Provider Becomes Corporate Member

BERKELEY, Calif.–Nov. 27, 2007—SightSpeed Inc., the leading provider of Internet video communications, said today it is proud to join the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), the leading resource and advocate promoting access to medical care for consumers and health professionals via telecommunications technology.

ATA seeks to bring together diverse groups from traditional medicine, academic medical centers, technology and telecommunications companies, e-health, medical societies, government and others to overcome barriers to the advancement of telemedicine through the professional, ethical and equitable improvement in health care delivery.

“SightSpeed is pleased to become a Corporate Member of ATA and we are confident that our SightSpeed service will advance the availability of health care in the United States and around the world,” said SightSpeed CEO Peter Csathy. “We certainly share the goals of ATA to advance the deployment of telemedicine and we believe that SightSpeed can help achieve that goal.”

Membership in ATA—established in 1993 as a non-profit organization and headquartered in Washington, D.C.—is open to individuals, companies and other organizations with an interest in promoting the deployment of telemedicine throughout the world, including:

• Educating government about telemedicine as an essential component in the delivery of modern medical care.
• Serving as a clearinghouse for telemedical information and services.
• Fostering networking and collaboration among interests in medicine and technology.
• Promoting research and education including the sponsorship of scientific educational meetings and the Telemedicine and e-Health Journal.
• Spearheading the development of appropriate clinical and industry policies and standards.

“ATA’s Corporate Members represent the cutting edge in the telemedicine industry,“ said Jonathan D. Linkous, ATA Executive Director. “We are pleased to count SightSpeed among the growing number of companies that are making a strategic investment in the field of telemedicine.”

About SightSpeed, Inc.

SightSpeed Inc. is the award-winning provider of Internet video communications for both the business user and consumer. The company offers two services: (1) “SightSpeed Business”, the world’s first high quality, cost-effective and hardware-free video conferencing service for all businesses (including SMBs); and (2) “SightSpeed 6.0”, the most widely praised consumer-focused video chat service that turns a PC or Mac into an easy-to-use video phone to communicate with friends and family around the world. SightSpeed's services are SIP-based and standards-compliant, and the company’s revolutionary human perception based technology is patented and based on more than ten years of research and development originating out of Cornell University.

Founded in 2001 and based in Berkeley, California, SightSpeed is a privately held company funded by The Roda Group, best known for launching Ask Jeeves and PolyServe. For more information about SightSpeed, visit www.sightspeed.com/.

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Contacts:
Sue Huss
Comunicano, Inc., for SightSpeed
sue.huss@comunicano.com
858-536-8137 (office)
619-379-4396 (cell)

Alice Watland, Deputy Executive Director
American Telemedicine Association
awatland@americantelemed.org
202-223-2786 (office)
202-302-0647 (cell)

VOXALOT ADDS “VOXCALL” APPLICATION TO FACEBOOK; SOCIAL NETWORKERS CAN NOW CALL THEIR FRIENDS FOR FREE

Facebook Friends Who Use VoIP Can Make Free Calls and Conferences by Clicking Friends’ Faces on Their “CallFriends” Application Tab 

SYDNEY, Australia-Nov. 26, 2007—Voxalot, the global voice applications provider, has announced that it has launched Voxcall, a voice communication application running on Facebook. Voxalot used its recently announced VoxConnect™  API to rapidly develop and deploy Voxcall. The API, in turn, leverages Voxalot’s core telephony platform to add free VoIP calling to the popular site’s applications. Voxcall is open to current Facebook users who sign up for a free Voxalot number or to subscribers of any open SIP-based VoIP service plan.

Voxcall enables Facebook friends to upgrade their interactions from messages, wall posts and “pokes” to real-time spoken conversation, without revealing their own phone numbers or knowing the phone numbers of others. No particular telecom expertise or equipment besides a software or hardware phone is needed, making Voxcall perfect for the wide range of Facebook users around the globe.  They just add Voxcall from the Facebook application list and enter their Internet telephone number (SIP URI). Voxcall validates that number by calling it and requesting a pin number displayed on screen.

Once the SIP URI is validated, all the registrant’s friends who have also added Voxcall show up in his or her “Call Friends” tab.  These friends now can call each other by clicking on each other’s faces; Voxcall initiates calls to both numbers and connects them.  The service also offers free “conference rooms,” where friends can call in and have a private or public chat.  Users can also set their status on the Call Friends tab, so friends can see whether they are available to take a call.

To extend calling beyond on-net calls to traditional PSTN and mobile phones, Voxalot can underpin Voxcall with its upgraded VoxPremium™ service.  Priced at $US15 per year per user, VoxPremium routes calls to or from PSTN phones, delivers voice mail as emailed recordings, and enables users to set call-forwarding rules to any phone, anywhere, depending on caller and time of day. Voxalot users are able to select their own Voice Service providers for off-net calls.

“As used on Facebook, VoxCall is an excellent demonstration of how the VoxConnect API can be used to quickly and easily embed Voxalot’s voice application into any online solution” said Tony Mascarenhas, Voxalot CEO.  “It demonstrates how any site or application can support voice calling within its own social or commercial context, and conversely, how you can put a natural interface – an actual face -- on phone calling or conferencing. Just as important, it shows how phone calls can be made without having to search for and key in telephone numbers.”

Facebook members who don’t subscribe to any VoIP network can still get the on-net, free Voxcall application by registering for a Voxalot Basic account at www.voxalot.com/action/memberRegister.

About Voxalot

Voxalot is a global voice applications provider that offers value-added services and features to existing customers of Internet Telephony Service Providers (ITSPs). Members use their own VoIP providers to make calls, while taking advantage of Voxalot’s free and low-cost advanced IP telephony services.

Voxalot’s basic (free) consumer service, VoxBasic™, includes a free and permanent Internet telephone number, which can reach any device or software-based telephony end-point logged onto the Internet. This makes it very easy for that member to change ITSPs should they desire, because contacts can keep using the same Voxalot-supplied number (the SIP URI) in their address books.  Basic service also expands its members’ range of free calling to the subscribers of more than 2,000 registered SIP domains around the world, and extends access to them through over 200 global PSTN dial-in numbers.

For less than the cost of one month’s VoIP service, a VoxPremium™ annual subscription supplies features that include selectable call routing rules, advanced telephony tools, Web-based voicemail, and Web-based call-back. For more information on these and other Voxalot features, please visit www.voxalot.com.

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Contact:
Sue Huss
Comunicano, Inc.
sue.huss@comunicano.com
+1 619-379-4396

IOTUM SECURES NEW CAPITAL INVESTMENT FROM VERDEXUS

Tech Industry Veteran Randall Howard Joins Board and Becomes Chairman

Ottawa, Ontario – Nov. 26, 2007 – iotum, a pioneer and leader in voice services for social networks, announced today that it has received new investment funding from boutique investment and management consulting firm VERDEXUS.  Financial details were not disclosed; iotum will use the new funding for ongoing operations. In addition, VERDEXUS General Partner Randall Howard has joined iotum’s Board of Directors and has been appointed Chairman of the Board.

“Our investment represents a strong endorsement of iotum and recognition of a fast-growing and potentially dominant player in the mobile presence universe,” said Howard, a veteran of Canada’s technology industry as an entrepreneur, executive, consultant and venture capitalist. “iotum has the potential to be the phone company for social networks, as shown by its strategic launch of the first conference-calling application for Facebook. The underlying, patent-pending technology foundation and experienced management team make iotum a compelling addition to our portfolio.”

Howard, a founding partner of VERDEXUS, brings a global network of senior-level business contacts based on his deep executive experience in international technology markets. As founder, Chairman and CEO of MKS Inc. (www.mks.com) (TSX: MKX), one of Canada's leading enterprise software vendors, he led growth to more than $40 million revenue annually and 350 employees worldwide, including seven acquisitions. From May 2004 to April 2006, Howard served as CEO of VERDEXUS’ portfolio company, Software Innovation (www.softinn.com).

Howard’s extensive board and advisor experience has included Necho Systems Corp, GoodContacts, Whitehill Technologies, Waterloo Maple Software, Arise Technologies and Nanodesign.

“Randall is recognized as one of the pioneers of the Canadian software industry. He is a serial entrepreneur who has earned a reputation as a respected visionary and innovator,” said iotum CEO Alec Saunders. “His decision to join iotum as investor, board member and Chairman is a strong endorsement of the iotum vision.”

About iotum

Founded in 2003, privately held iotum (http://www.iotum.com) is a Voice 2.0 company setting out to shape a world of relevant communications where devices, social networks and web services work seamlessly together to let people communicate with whom they want, when they want and on the device they want.  Iotum has been awarded the prestigious CATA Alliance Innovation Award for Emerging Technology Achievement as the best emerging technology company of the year in Canada; was named a DEMOgod at DEMO2006, and was named to the Branham 25 Emerging Companies in Canada as well as to Business 2.0's Next Net 25.  iotum and its innovative products, including the iotum Relevance Engine, iotum Talk-Now for Blackberry, and most recently iotum Free Conference Calls for Facebook, have garnered accolades from industry and users alike. 

About VERDEXUS

VERDEXUS (www.verdexus.com) is an international, strategic management and financial boutique dedicated to turning great technologies into globally competitive companies. We leverage our extensive management know how, finance partners and international networks to build technology ventures faster and further. Founded in 2001 by international technology entrepreneurs who have founded and built global technology companies, VERDEXUS uses a hands-on investment model that provides seasoned operational executives who turn strategy into execution and build new levels of strategic market value for technology companies.

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CONTACTS:   
Sue Huss
Comunicano, for iotum
619-379-4396
sue.huss@comunicano.com

Randall Howard, General Partner, VERDEXUS
519- 957-2231
rhoward@verdexus.com

SightSpeed, Mobivox, TalkPlus Featured In Los Angeles Times

Veteran Los Angeles Time reporter, and now business desk editor, Jim Granelli has written an exhaustive and defining story about the state of telephone service options in the Sunday Los Angeles Times.

In the three page story, Granelli has referenced three Comunicano clients SightSpeed, MobilVox and TalkPlus, and quoted users of SightSpeed and Mobivox in story's copy. I was also quoted, as a result of my blogging efforts to cover the VoIP industry.

The story is a breakthrough story in many ways for consumer print on a daily basis because in a very well written manner Granelli has validated three points previously recognized by early adopter media and put it into the mainstream press:

1. Computers work well for calling. (Skype, Gizmo, SightSpeed)

2. Video calling is working now and is a real deal (SightSpeed, Skype)

3. Alternatives for long distance calling on mobile phones are now available. (Mobivox, TalkPlus, Jajah, iSkoot)

Truphone shortlisted for Red Herring 100 Global Awards 2007

Red Herring Magazine has announced that Truphone has been shortlisted for the Red Herring 100 Global 2007 Awards, which celebrate the world’s most promising private technology ventures.

Red Herring 100 winners and finalists from North America, Europe and Asia of the last three years were eligible for this award. The Red Herring editorial team used a very competitive process to whittle down this pool of 1800 eligible promising companies to the 200 finalists of this first-time award. Evaluations were made on both quantitative and qualitative criteria such as financial performance, innovation, management, global strategy, and ecosystem integration.

James Tagg, Truphone’s CEO, said: “It’s a great privilege for Truphone to be identified as one of the 200 most promising technology companies in the world. It is testament to the work that we have done and continue to do in changing the world of mobile communications.”

Joel Dreyfuss, Editor-in-Chief of Red Herring, said: "The 200 finalists we selected from around the world are all excellent contenders. They are exceptional companies with smart and innovative platforms that attest to the importance of technology in today’s global economy.”

Notes to editors

1. Red Herring Global is an exclusive event honoring cutting-edge private technology companies from across the world. The event brings together an elite roster of entrepreneurial and global venture investment firms to showcase excellence in innovation. It features keynote discussions, roundtable panels and networking events designed for participants to make connections and learn what it takes to achieve the best worldwide in business and technology.

2. The names of the 200 companies short-listed as finalists for the "Red Herring 100 Global 2007" can be found online at http://www.herringevents.com/global07/index.html.

3. The finalists companies will be celebrated at the Red Herring Global event in Seattle, WA, between December 3rd-5th. The 100 winners will be announced at the Award Ceremony on December 4th.

About Red Herring

Red Herring is a global media company uniting the world’s best high technology innovators, venture investors and business decision makers in a variety of forums: a leading innovation magazine; an online daily technology news service; technology research, and major events for technology leaders around the globe. Red Herring provides an insider’s access to the global innovation economy, featuring unparalleled insights on the emerging technologies driving the economy. For more information, visit www.redherring.com.

SIGHTSPEED JOINS UNITED STATES DISTANCE LEARNING ASSOCIATION

SightSpeed Backs Non-Profit’s Commitment to Support Distance Learning and Serve Needs of Distance-Learning Community

BERKELEY, Calif., Nov. 14, 2007—SightSpeed Inc., the leading provider of Internet video communications, announced that it is joining the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), the nation’s leading advocate and promoter of distance learning. The announcement comes in the midst of USDLA-sponsored National Distance Learning Week, Nov. 12-16, when schools, colleges, businesses and government organizations across the nation reach out to highlight the accomplishments and potential of distance learning.

SightSpeed enables businesses and consumers to maintain face-to-face communications by offering simple video calling and multi-party video conferencing services over the Internet. Among its popular uses are to facilitate home schooling and distance learning.

USDLA, committed to being the leading distance-learning association in the United States, serves the needs of the distance-learning community by providing advocacy, information, networking and opportunity, and encompasses all technologies and forms of learning at a distance.

“When we speak of distance learning, we’re talking about acquiring knowledge and skills through shared information and instruction, regardless of the technology used to transmit that information,” said Dr. John G. Flores, chief executive officer of USDLA. “But it’s well-documented that most people learn best through visual as well as aural interaction. For that reason, we’re pleased to welcome SightSpeed, the recognized leader in Internet video communications, to the USDLA roster of supporters to share its expertise.”

SightSpeed CEO Peter Csathy said: “The concept of distance learning is one that resonates strongly with us at SightSpeed because the primary purpose of our service is to help people share information—no matter where they’re located. That shared information can be business-related or social in nature, but increasingly, it’s part of a formal or informal learning program. Through distance learning, SightSpeed contributes toward closing the digital divide and helps to address the growing need for greater digital inclusion, regardless of location. That’s why we feel at home as part of the USDLA family.”

With both free and premium Internet video and voice communications software, SightSpeed enables businesses of all sizes and consumers to conduct high-quality video and voice calls, and send video mail over the Internet, delivering a human touch to online communications. SightSpeed’s award winning services turn a PC or Mac into an easy-to-use video phone to communicate with friends, family and colleagues around the world.

USDLA will call upon SightSpeed to help focus and define education initiatives involving distance learning. Specifically, USDLA relies on premium sponsors to help support important legislative and administrative proposals in education and telecommunications policy. Kimberly F. Airasian, Esq., director of corporate and legal services of USDLA, said: “We are pleased to welcome SightSpeed as a USDLA Silver Sponsor and look forward to a continued relationship. The goal of USDLA is to promote the development and application of distance learning for education and training. We find tremendous value in the knowledge and experience of our industry leaders to help us accomplish this mission.”

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About SightSpeed, Inc.

SightSpeed Inc. is the award-winning provider of Internet video communications for both the business user and consumer. The company offers two services: (1) “SightSpeed Business,” the world’s first high quality, cost-effective and hardware-free video conferencing service for all businesses (including SMBs); and (2) “SightSpeed 6.0,” the most widely praised consumer-focused video chat service that turns a PC or Mac into an easy-to-use video phone to communicate with friends and family around the world. SightSpeed's services are SIP-based and standards-compliant, and the company’s revolutionary human perception-based technology is patented and based on more than ten years of research and development originating out of Cornell University.

Founded in 2001 and based in Berkeley, Calif., SightSpeed is a privately held company funded by The Roda Group, best known for launching Ask Jeeves and PolyServe. For more information about SightSpeed, visit www.sightspeed.com/.

Contact:
Sue Huss
Comunicano, Inc.
sue.huss@comunicano.com
858-536-8137 (office)
619-379-4396 (mobile)

Junction Networks Featured In Enterprise VoIP and VoIP News

Enterprise VoIP's Ted Stevenson has written a very positive story about Junction Networks' new onSIP hosted PBX platform. Stevenson goes into detail about the newly introduced offering, highlighting many of the new and useful features, as well as customer benefits that onSIP delivers.

onSIP was also featured in a very laudatory story by VoIP-News' Robert Poe who summed sees this as good for multinational SMB's and even small businesses.

SkyNews Covers Vringo

Vringo's CEO and co-founder Jon Medved was recently interviewed at Vringo's offices by Sky News, one of Europe's leading news outlets.

The Sky News video coverage shows, in vivid color, how Vringo works and reveals some of Vringo's content partners too.

MICROSOFT SELECTS SIGHTSPEED TO PROVIDE VIDEO CHAT SERVICE FOR WINDOWS HOME SERVER

BERKELEY, Calif., Nov. 5, 2007-– SightSpeed Inc., the leading provider of Internet video communications, today announced that Microsoft will feature SightSpeed’s award-winning video chat service with its new Windows Home Server product.

Delivered on hardware from leading manufacturers and system builders, Windows Home Server helps families with more than one PC easily protect, organize and share their digital pictures, music, documents and videos.  High quality video and audio content from SightSpeed’s market-leading video chat service will now be centralized and accessible throughout the home. With Windows Home Server running SightSpeed, talking face-to-face to anyone in your network, anywhere in the world -- for free -- is now easier than ever. 

“Windows Home Server provides an ideal platform for solutions to meet the needs of households with multiple PCs,” said Steven VanRoekel, director of Windows Server Solutions at Microsoft.  “We are pleased to work with SightSpeed to help our mutual customers get more out of their Internet video chat experience.”

As the use of digital media devices and broadband continues to grow, consumers are looking for new ways to communicate with friends and family. With SightSpeed, families can share their most significant experiences and “connect” more effectively by communicating over the Internet, intimately, in real-time. SightSpeed video communications service will now be available for use with Windows Home Server-based systems.

“SightSpeed is pleased to provide its award-winning video chat to families using Windows Home Server,” said Peter Csathy, chief executive officer of SightSpeed. “SightSpeed’s best-in-class video chat service makes it easy for everyone in your network to communicate face-to-face, anyplace.”

Named 2007 Company of the Year by industry analyst firm Frost & Sullivan, SightSpeed offers best-in-class video and voice over IP (VVoIP) that is easy to set up and use. Beyond video calling and multi-party video conferencing, users can easily record and send video mails and publish videos to blogs and Websites and can also make voice only calls to other PCs or to any landline or mobile phone anywhere in the world.

To learn more about SightSpeed or to download award-winning SightSpeed 6.0 for Windows Home Server, visit www.SightSpeed.com.

About SightSpeed 

SightSpeed Inc. is the award-winning provider of Internet video communications for both the business user and consumer.  The company offers two services: (1) “SightSpeed Business”, the world’s first high quality, cost-effective and hardware-free video conferencing service for all businesses (including SMBs); and (2) “SightSpeed 6.0”, the  most widely praised consumer-focused video chat service that turns a PC or Mac into an easy-to-use video phone to communicate with friends and family around the world.  SightSpeed's services are SIP-based and standards-compliant, and the company’s revolutionary human perception based technology is patented and based on more than ten years of research and development originating out of Cornell University.

Founded in 2001 and based in Berkeley, California, SightSpeed is a privately held company funded by The Roda Group, best known for launching Ask Jeeves and PolyServe. For more information about SightSpeed, visit www.sightspeed.com.

CONTACT:
Sue Huss
Comunicano
sue.huss@comunicano.com
619-379-4396