SAN MATEO, Calif., March 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Avistar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: AVSR) has announced the addition of two new features to its C3 platform for unified communications, plus the availability of a Japanese language version. An all-software multi-point control unit (MCU) provides multi-party videoconferencing capabilities designed and priced for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMB). New firewall traversal capabilities ease connections to Avistar and third party videoconferencing endpoints. The Japanese version of C3 has been developed for Media Plus, an Avistar value-added reseller (VAR) in Japan and Asia, to support further growth in these markets.

"We believe these latest additions to our C3 platform make Avistar's market-leading solutions for unified communications even more affordable, easier to deploy and more widely available," commented Stephen Epstein, Avistar's chief marketing officer. "C3 is the only product on the market today that can deliver scale, quality, and reliability, all without specialized hardware. It is a revolution in design, and another example of how communications are rapidly evolving. Our software delivers simple, immediate, and predictable 1-click, multi-party conferencing to desktops, laptops and meeting rooms anywhere on the planet. And now, built-in firewall traversal makes call connection to clients, partners, counterparties and communities a cinch without compromising security."

Responding to demand generated by Media Plus, a VAR specializing in videoconferencing serving markets in Japan and across Asia, Avistar has released a Japanese language version of C3. "We were pleased to be able to provide this support to Media Plus as Avistar furthers its international growth," added Epstein.

Avistar's C3 platform for unified communications delivers benefits in terms of improved quality of interaction, greater workflow efficiency and easier collaboration at distance. Clients report as much as a 20 percent reduction in travel expense and carbon emissions, increases in productivity, and immeasurably improved decision making and relationship building within their organizations, as well as with suppliers and customers. "C3's ability to deliver complete turnkey solutions for meeting rooms and at the desktop with connectivity to any third-party system, for the SMB and Enterprise markets makes Avistar's approach to unified communications very compelling in our markets," said Shuji Ozaki, president of MediaPlus.

The addition of an all-software MCU to the C3 platform creates a highly- featured yet low-cost audio and videoconferencing solution that is ideal for the small and mid-tier unified communications market. In addition to instant, "click-to-call" connectivity, the MCU is fully automated to eliminate administrative overheads. It leverages existing videoconferencing investments by providing interoperability with external third party installations by enabling connections with H.323 and SIP endpoints in multi-point conferences. Additional conferencing capacity can be added in minutes using standard corporate servers. Avistar's MCU is integrated within its C3 desktop and Teamroom MP solutions for the SMB market. Enterprise-scale deployments will continue to be supported through Avistar's partnership with RADVISION and its SCOPIA MCU.

To ensure no-hassle connections between virtually any SIP-based audio and videoconferencing endpoints, even those at external third parties, C3 has been updated with new firewall traversal capabilities. Companies deploying Avistar require no changes to their existing firewall configurations. Calls can be connected both within the enterprise network and across the public Internet, with the C3 software making intelligent, automatic adjustments to use the optimal media path according to the firewall configuration it detects. A further benefit for those opting to use Avistar's Hosted service is the removal of the need for a virtual private network (VPN) connection to Avistar's hosting center, saving the time and costs of VPN availability and management.

"Despite some impressive pressures that are being applied to Avistar by large players that think solving unified communications challenges at scale is simple, we continue to innovate, continue to lead, and continue to be the benchmark in product design," stated Epstein.

About Avistar Communications Corporation

Avistar creates technology that provides the missing critical element in unified communications: bringing people in organizations face-to-face, through enhanced communications, for true collaboration anytime, anyplace. Its latest product, Avistar C3, draws on over a decade of market experience to deliver a single-click desktop videoconferencing and collaboration experience that moves business communications into a new era. Available as a stand-alone solution, or integrated with existing unified communications software from other vendors, Avistar C3 users gain instant messaging-style ability to initiate video communications across and outside the enterprise. Patented bandwidth management enables thousands of users to access desktop videoconferencing, Voice over IP (VoIP) and streaming media, without requiring substantial new network investment or impairing network performance.

Avistar's desktop videoconferencing and collaboration installations are among the world's largest, including more than 18,000 seats in more than 40 countries. Clients report as much as a 20 percent reduction in travel expense and carbon emissions, increases in productivity, and immeasurably improved relationship building within their organizations, as well as with suppliers and customers. Avistar holds a portfolio of 80 patents for inventions in video and network technology and licenses IP to videoconferencing, rich-media services, public networking and related industries. Current licensees include Sony Corporation, Polycom, Inc., Tandberg ASA, Radvision Ltd. and Emblaze- VCON.

For more information, visit www.avistar.com

SOURCE Avistar Communications Corporation