SAN MATEO, Calif and LONDON, May 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Avistar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: AVSR) has signed a partnership with Focus 21, one of the UK's leading audio visual integrators, as a value-added reseller (VAR) for the UK market. The agreement enables Focus 21 to extend the scope of its videoconferencing solutions from large scale room systems and mobile systems to personal desktop systems. The move has been made in response to growing demand among global organizations which now regard video communications as essential to their business operations and market competitiveness.

Commenting on the partnership, Jim Harwood, managing director at Focus 21, said: "We're finding that among our larger clients, as they get used to videoconferencing and perceive its benefits more clearly, there's rising demand for the service to be available wherever they need to be - whether that's in a meeting room, at their desk, or even working from home. Fundamentally for our clients, Avistar integrates seamlessly with systems from other vendors and comes with the confidence of being thoroughly tested and proven in the market."

Focus 21 installs and maintains audio visual and videoconferencing facilities for major global organizations. Its services cover integration of systems for offices, conference rooms, boardrooms and lecture theatres, and the provision of VoIP.

Avistar's C3 software provides video, voice and collaboration at the desktop, through a range of room-based systems, or on the move as a mobile system. Capable of delivering video communications at scale, without needing significant network upgrades, it is designed as a "self-service" videoconferencing solution requiring no technician support or advance call scheduling.

A crucial factor for Focus 21 when evaluating C3 was its compatibility with industry video standards, such as H.320, H.323 and SIP, plus built-in firewall traversal, to ensure no-hassle interconnectivity with existing and external room-based videoconferencing systems from other popular vendors. Another key benefit was C3's integrated IP network bandwidth management technology, which allows videoconferencing to be rolled out at scale without impairing network performance or requiring higher levels of network bandwidth.

Focus 21's technicians were also pleased to find time-saving centralized administration and maintenance tools. These enable them to perform most support functions remotely over the IP network, plus easily and inexpensively add additional videoconferencing locations into the Avistar network.

Avistar C3 delivers proven gains 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.

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, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI), Polycom, Inc., Tandberg ASA, Radvision Ltd. and Emblaze-VCON.

For more information, visit www.avistar.com

SOURCE Avistar Communications Corporation