Virage Enhances Webcasting Software for Enterprise Deployments; VS Webcasting 2.1 Meets Cisco AVVID Program Requirements for Interoperability with Cisco ECDN

Available on Sun Solaris, Supports Macintosh Player, and Provides Advanced Producer Features


SAN MATEO, Calif., Feb. 12, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Virage, Inc. (Nasdaq:VRGE) today announced the immediate availability of the latest release of its VS Webcasting(tm) application, the first comprehensive software solution that empowers organizations to efficiently manage the entire workflow related to producing live, on-demand and re-broadcast events. With this latest release, the Virage webcasting software also offers enhanced interoperability with the Cisco Systems Inc. Enterprise Content-Delivery Networks (ECDN) system for enterprises that are looking for a highly scalable content creation and network delivery solution for rich media.

"VS Webcasting allows us to manage the entire webcasting workflow and control every aspect of the viewer's experience," said Greg Barker, senior systems specialist for the University of Michigan Business School. "After looking at numerous audio/video indexing and webcasting products, we found Virage to have the best overall solution and support team on the market."

"Virage is working with leading infrastructure providers, such as Cisco Systems, to deliver a first-class webcasting solution to many Fortune 100 companies and leading universities," said Dave Girouard, senior vice president of Marketing and Business Development at Virage. "As an enterprise application provider, we're committed to delivering reliable and scalable software solutions and we realize that infrastructure companies are critical to achieving that goal."

Virage, a leading provider of video and rich media communication software, has been involved in the Cisco AVVID (Architecture for Voice, Video, and Integrated Data) Partner Program as a Content Networking Solutions member since December 2001. Within the program, partner applications, such as the Virage VS Webcasting solution, complete interoperability tests with Cisco's ECDN system, which in turn help common customers utilize their existing IP infrastructure investment to deliver new content services, such as live and on-demand video.

Virage developed VS Webcasting for public meetings, executive communications, human resource briefings, and sales and marketing communications. With VS Webcasting, organizations can schedule and deliver live and on-demand interactive webcasts that include audio and video synchronized with slide presentations, other related documents, audience polls, surveys, and Q&A. VS Webcasting now supports both Windows( and Macintosh( webcast players to maximize audience reach. In addition, the software is now available on the Sun Solaris( platform.

VS Webcasting was designed to facilitate communication anywhere, anytime for corporations, educational institutions and government agencies to promote knowledge delivery via the Internet and corporate Intranets. VS Webcasting instantly archives each live webcast, making it available for on-demand search and review moments after the presentation ends. The latest VS Webcasting editing capabilities enable producers to better manage the table of contents and delete unnecessary video and audio clips for on-demand webcasts, yielding full producer control over the end-user viewing experience. Built upon the company's award-winning rich media content management platform, which includes the Virage SmartEncode( suite of products and Virage Solution Server(, VS Webcasting offers additional benefits, such as:

- Complete workflow support from event scheduling through reporting

- Significant cost savings versus satellite communications and outsourced webcasts

- Better, more frequent communication with employees, partners, and customers

- One-click conversion to a searchable, on-demand webcast

- Auto-archiving of media files to ECDNs

- Engaging and interactive viewer experience

- Low and high bandwidth options to maximize audience reach

- Simple web-based wizard workflow enables anyone to be a webcast producer

- Scalable to thousands of concurrent users

- Deployable behind company firewalls for added security

- Closed-loop feedback through detailed user-level event reporting

For more information about VS Webcasting, including product specifications, a whitepaper, and a self-running product demonstration, please go to http://webcasting.virage.com.

About The Cisco AVVID Partner Program

The Cisco AVVID Partner Program sets criteria for interoperability testing by independent third parties and is a co-marketing program enabling leading product and services firms to deploy innovative e-business solutions. The program provides enterprise customers with information regarding Cisco AVVID Partner products and services that an independent testing facility has tested, verified and found to interoperate with Cisco networking technology.

Content Networking partner solutions provide customers with a variety of tools and applications for enabling rich services such as content acceleration, security, e-learning, e-communications and point of sale video delivery using existing IP networks. Partner applications interoperate with the Cisco Enterprise Content Delivery Network (ECDN) system, which includes Content Engines, Content Distribution Managers, Content Routers and IP/TV Broadcast and Control Servers.

About Virage

Established in 1995, Virage is a leading provider of video and rich media communication software. Virage builds integrated rich media business solutions for corporations, media & entertainment companies, universities and government agencies worldwide. Headquartered in San Mateo, California, Virage (www.virage.com) has offices throughout the United States and Europe.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements about the products and services of Virage, as that term is used in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are denoted by such words as "will be made," and similar terms and phrases. These types of statements address matters that are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially. In addition, our forward-looking statements should be considered in the context of other risk factors discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to our annual report on Form 10-K and 10-Q filings, available online at http://www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements are based on information available to the company on the date hereof, and the company assumes no obligation to update such statements.

Virage and VideoLogger are registered trademarks. The Virage logo, SmartEncode, Virage Solution Server, VS Webcasting, VS Learning, VS Publishing and VS Production are trademarks of Virage, Inc. Other company product and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others, and are hereby acknowledged.



            

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