Polycom und Glowpoint richten für Kiehl"s weltweite Telepresence-Pressekonferenz aus

Hallbergmoos, 18. November 2010 - Als Kiehl"s, ein Hersteller von Körperpflegeprodukten, den Vertrieb der Limited Edition Creme de Corps Holiday Collection aufnahm, um damit gleichzeitig ein internationales Kinderhilfsprojekt finanziell zu unterstützen, waren die Verbraucher schnell von der neuen Pflegelinie beeindruckt. Journalisten aus zahlreichen Ländern wussten allerdings bereits seit Monaten von der künstlerisch beeindruckenden Edition und von der Tatsache, dass Kiehl"s zugesagt hatte, seinen Reingewinn aus der Edition in Höhe von bis zu 200.000 Dollar für eine Initiative der US-amerikanischen Organisation International Center for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC) zu spenden. Während einer weltweiten Pressekonferenz hatten die Journalisten Gelegenheit, vorab einen Blick auf die Edition zu werfen. Möglich wurde dies dank der HD-Telepresence-Räume von Polycom (Nasdaq: PLCM), einem weltweit führenden Anbieter im Bereich Unified Communications (UC), und den Managed-Video-Services von Glowpoint (OTCBB: GLOW). Die im Juli einberufene Pressekonferenz wurde live mit Polycom Immersive Telepresence übertragen, um Journalisten weltweit den Dialog in HD-Qualität mit Cheryl Vitali, General Manager von Kiehl's, und Ernie Allen, President von ICMEC, zu ermöglichen, die sich beide im Executive Briefing Center von Polycom in New York befanden. Die Journalisten sahen die neuen Verpackungsdesigns, erfuhren Hintergründe über die Zusammenarbeit und stellten den Vortragenden Fragen: und das alles aus den Polycom Executive Briefing Centers in Seoul, Hongkong, Singapur, Tokio, Madrid, Sao Paulo und Toronto. Dank der immersiven Telepresence-Technologie von Polycom konnten Gastgeber und Teilnehmer einer Konferenz beiwohnen, die den persönlichen Dialog lebensecht vermittelte. Möglich wurde dies durch die Polycom UltimateHD?-Technologie und die patentierte Polycom EyeConnect?-Technologie. Gesprächsnuancen, Gesichtsausdruck, Augenkontakt und Körpersprache waren wie in einer persönlichen Begegnung mitzuerleben. Die immersive Umgebung wurde durch nahtlose Videowände unterstützt, die bis zu etwa 5 Meter breit sind und es ganzen Gruppen ermöglichten, sich von Angesicht zu Angesicht zu begegnen. Für die reibungslose Verbindung zwischen den Standorten war Glowpoint zuständig, der Anbieter der hierzu notwendigen Managed-Telepresence-Dienste. Polycom arbeitet mit Glowpoint und anderen Serviceanbietern im Rahmen einer Gesamtlösung aus Managed-Telepresence-Services zusammen, beispielsweise 24x7 Meeting-Monitoring, Fault-Management, Usage-Reporting sowie Reservierung und Terminplanung. Die vollständige englische Pressemitteilung finden Sie unten im Text. Polycom and Glowpoint Host Global Telepresence Press Launch for Kiehl"s Event Reveals How Immersive Telepresence Gives Distant Audiences the Sense of Being There LONDON/SLOUGH, UK - Nov. 16, 2010 - When skincare products innovator Kiehl"s began selling its Limited Edition Creme de Corps Holiday Collection, in a global effort to raise funding and awareness for child abduction, the new line"s colourful packaging immediately made a big impression on consumers. But journalists in several countries had known for months about the stunning artwork collection and that Kiehl"s has pledged to donate its worldwide net profits from the collection, up to $200,000 to an initiative of the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC). The journalists had received an up close, sneak preview during a global press conference enabled by high definition (HD) telepresence rooms from Polycom, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCM), a global leader in unified communications, along with managed video services provider Glowpoint, Inc. (OTCBB: GLOW). The July event was conducted live via Polycom immersive telepresence, enabling reporters from around the world to interact in HD with Kiehl"s General Manager Cheryl Vitali, and ICMEC President Ernie Allen, who were located at Polycom"s Executive Briefing Centre in New York. Journalists viewed the new packaging designs, learned about the collaboration, and asked questions of presenters - all from Polycom Executive Briefing Centres in Seoul, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Madrid, Sao Paulo, and Toronto. "Kiehl"s unique collaboration required a truly global press event that brought our charitable effort to reporters in every part of the world," said Vitali. "We consider this launch to be one of the most innovative we"ve ever had. "At Kiehl"s we are conscious of the environmental impact of our initiatives. It was important to us to reduce the carbon footprint of flying journalists from Asia, Europe and Latin America to New York," Vitale continued. By relying on Polycom immersive telepresence, the event"s hosts and attendees experienced the world"s most lifelike meeting experience, enhanced by Polycom UltimateHD? technology and patented Polycom EyeConnect? technology. Participants can pick up every nuance of a conversation, see facial expressions, make eye contact, and read body language. The immersive environment is made even more realistic with seamless, cinematic video walls that reach up to 16 feet wide, enabling entire groups to meet face-to-face. "Polycom is proud to have provided the telepresence needed to put Kiehl"s and ICMEC in the same room with journalists from around the globe," said Joe Burton, Polycom chief strategy and technology officer. "This event underscores the power of immersive telepresence to engage people, enable clearer communication and faster decisions, and create an environment that supports real collaboration." The global locations participating in the press conference were connected flawlessly through managed telepresence service provider, Glowpoint. Polycom works with Glowpoint and other service providers to offer managed telepresence services such as 24x7 meeting monitoring, fault management, solution usage reporting and reservation and scheduling, as part of Polycom"s complete solution. "Kiehl's pioneering use of Polycom"s Executive Briefing Centres sets the stage for companies and news organisations around the world to come together at a moment"s notice and have the full support they need to conduct interviews and disseminate information," said Jonathan Brust, Glowpoint"s vice president of marketing. "Beyond the communication benefits, we also calculated travel savings of more than $40,000, time savings of 910 hours and overall carbon reduction achieved in this meeting to be the equivalent of taking 8 cars off the road for an entire year." About Glowpoint Glowpoint, Inc. (OTCBB: GLOW) enables video users to effortlessly and securely call one another regardless of their video technology or network. With unlimited, "open" access to Glowpoint's cloud-based, hosted-video infrastructure and services, video calling within - and between - companies is dramatically simplified. From full-featured telepresence and video conferencing suites to desktop video, Glowpoint supports customers around the world with 24/7 managed services that allow business professionals to enjoy "in-the-same-room" intimacy and cost savings. To see a video-in-the-cloud demonstration, and to learn more about how cost-effective and easy telepresence and video conferencing can be for your business, email us at contactme@glowpoint.com or visit http://www.glowpoint.com. About Kiehl"s Since 1851 Kiehl"s was founded as an old-world apothecary in New York"s East Village neighborhood more than 159 years ago. Its unique, extensive background represents a blend of cosmetic, pharmaceutical, herbal, and medicinal knowledge developed and passed on through the generations. For more information, visit Kiehls.com, Facebook, Twitter, and the Kiehl's Blog. Polycom (Germany) GmbH Angelika Kempf Am Söldnermoos 17 85399 Hallbergmoos +49 89 41 77 61-14 http://www.polycom.com Pressekontakt: Lucy Turpin Communications GmbH Eva Hildebrandt Prinzregentenstraße 79 81675 München polycom@lucyturpin.com +49 89 41 77 61-14 http://www.lucyturpin.com