Communicast, Inc. Releases Communicast 3.0: the Industry's Easiest Solution for Web Event Conferencing and Webcasting
The secure browser-based solution now utilizes a clustered server architecture to reliably scale audio, video and data to thousands of users.

HERNDON, VA, April 22, 2004 – Communicast, Inc., the leader in easy-to-use, full-featured web event conferencing, announces the official release of Communicast 3.0. The most noticeable advancement moves the web-based technology to a clustered server architecture that enables the company to host thousands of simultaneous users on a single web event. The new solution is available immediately.

The new architecture applies to both of the company's most popular products, Event Center and Conference Center. Communicast Event Center is designed for managed, full-service web conferencing and webcasting events. Communicast Conference Center is ideal for reservationless, self-service or ad hoc web conferencing and teleconferencing. No proprietary software or downloads are required for any Communicast product.

Communicast 3.0 is a complete web conferencing solution that combines browser-based technology with the most comprehensive customer service in the industry to ensure successful delivery of high-profile interactive web events. Communicast makes web events simple to produce, engaging for attendees, and more affordable than other comparable web conferencing packages. Communicast web events increase user interactivity and improve client's bottom line by allowing them to conduct engaging remote meetings, presentations, seminars, classrooms and studies without the expense of travel. Communicast is unique in the industry because it works both in real-time (live/synchronous) and on-demand (pre-recorded/asynchronous) while collecting and reporting user data back to the audience, presenter or customer.

"Some of the largest advancements in the new release happen behind the curtains," explains Dale Coyner, Chief Technology Officer at Communicast. "Clustering is the use of multiple computers to form what appears to users as a single, highly available system. The new Communicast cluster includes traffic load balancing and scalability so that the cluster size can be increased with demand. The release also allows Communicast to work seamlessly with most firewall and proxy server configurations. Whether you are on a dial-up or in a network environment, it's easy to host or attend a Communicast."

Mr. Coyner continues, "We have developed the products internally that are the basis of our services delivery platform. Advantages lie in the product architecture which was developed to easily support add-ons, such as streaming, Voice over IP (VoIP), Video over IP, new interactive features, and specialized application tools that enable all these elements to work together through enterprise firewalls and without the need for software downloads."

"Communicast is the easiest and most useful application I have found in the web conference world," said Andrea Singer, Web Conference Services Manager, Deborah Wood & Associates. "They are also the only company that combines the newest technology with practical tools and options for all of our participants. The development team proves to be service-driven time and time again and my Communicast ‘tech team' organizes and supports my client's every whim seamlessly. Participant issues and client requests push every limit; I have a safety net in Communicast."

Liz Winfeld, co-author of The Web Conferencing Book said, "Communicast has an incredible array of options and tools to enhance collaboration and online communication – either live or on-demand. I use Communicast to create asynchronous assessment tools. Their in-depth VCharts, surveys, polling, assessments and other tools have unique capabilities in web conferencing that I can't get with other products in the industry."

Key Features of Communicast 3.0

  • Simple, intuitive interface for presenters and participants.
  • Supports everything from simple slide presentations to multimedia content including Flash animation, pre-recorded video, JPEG images, and more.
  • The most interactive reusable tools to capture audience participation either live or on-demand including:
    • Multiple choice polling
    • Testing
    • Evaluations & surveys
    • Brainstorming
    • Group decision making
    • Games and more
  • Broadcast video with a webcam, TV-quality camera, and anything in between.
  • Deliver audio with streaming, teleconference or both.
  • Slides are synchronized according to A/V medium in use.
  • Application and desktop broadcasting.
  • Web tours – pre-staged or on-the-fly.
  • Whiteboarding and annotations on-the-fly.
  • Unlimited number of presenters with no "hand-off" required.
  • Robust post-session reporting gives instant reports by session or individual.
  • Customizable registration tool automatically sends login information to participants and shows the registrant list – in real time. Also supports multiple events and collection of payment information.
  • Archiving/recording includes slides, streamed audio/video, document download/print/view, text Q&A, live polling and other interactive features.
  • Security options include unique PIN and URL access, plus 128bit SSL encryption.
  • Brandable presentation area (by reseller or customer).
  • Unlimited free training.
  • Unconditional customer support before, during and after an event.

Availability and Pricing

As an Application Service Provider (ASP) or hosted solution, Communicast 3.0 does not require current customers to load new software or plan a "migration path" as other web conferencing products require. The solution is available immediately. Pricing is designed to fit customers needs "per event," "per minute" or "per seat."

Communicast Event Center flat rate pricing starts as low as $675 US per event for a 50-person event and includes the following:

  • Executive production services to oversee all event logistics.
  • Unlimited free usage of Communicast web conferencing software between events for practice, rehearsals and collaboration on event production.
  • Content uploading service or self-service tools provided – client's option.
  • Unlimited storage for session content.
  • Unlimited training for presenters and support staff covering usage of Communicast functions and features.
  • Dedicated presenter assistance and live technical support during conference and accessible via teleconference or web.
  • Moderator services for opening conference, introducing speakers, Q&A sessions and administrative announcements as required.
  • Post event debriefing and consultation on event reports.

Communicast Conference Center per-minute pricing starts at $0.29 US/per minute and is discounted based on volume. Per-seat pricing allows customers to purchase 5 seats of unlimited usage starting at $345 per month ($69/seat/month) and 10 seats of unlimited usage at $595 per month ($59.50/seat/month) with discounts based on increased seats.

About Communicast, Inc.

Communicast, Inc. is the leader in providing the easiest full-featured web event conferencing and webcasting solutions. Organizations rely on Communicast for web-based seminars, presentations, meetings, training and research. The company's technology requires no proprietary software, offers the most interactive tools, and scales to audience sizes from two to thousands. Solutions include high-visibility managed web events, reservationless conferencing, audio/video streaming and simulcasts. Services cover production support, event management, archiving/hosting and more. Solutions are offered through resellers, OEMs, and direct to corporate, government, association, education and non-profit clients. Established in 1999, privately-held Communicast is located in Herndon, VA and online at www.communicast.com.

Media Contact: Bryan Crum, media@communicast.com, 703-435-2819