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Filed by First Virtual Communications, Inc. pursuant to Rule 425 under the
Securities Act of 1933.
Subject Company: CUseeMe Networks, Inc. Commission file No.: 000-21415
CONTACT
Melissa Malley Eileen Cassidy
First Virtual Communications Public Relations EDS
408.330.7315 703.742.1698
MMALLEY@FVC.COM EILEEN.CASSIDY@EDS.COM
FIRST VIRTUAL COMMUNICATIONS AND EDS TO DELIVER THE WORLD'S FIRST
RICH MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS ASP FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
CLICK TO MEET(TM) POWERS DISTANCE LEARNING AND OTHER APPLICATIONS FOR FEDERAL
AGENCIES
Santa Clara, California - April 18, 2001 - First Virtual Communications, Inc.
(Nasdaq: FVCX), a leader in rich media communications solutions, today
announced that EDS (NYSE: EDS) has selected its flagship offering, Click to
Meet(TM), to power a new application service provider (ASP) offering for the
Federal government. Under an expanded alliance agreement, the easy to use
Click to Meet platform will deliver rich media communications services -
including video telephony, data collaboration, and streaming - to the EDS
portfolio of Federal government clients.
The first of its kind, the new ASP will host managed, reliable and secure rich
media communications for solutions such as distance meetings, distance learning,
human resources training, telecommuting, customer support, and electronic
commerce. Powered by Click to Meet, these applications will enable Federal
employees to access two-way video, streaming, and web collaboration through
their desktop computers and room systems. EDS will host the service using its
video operations center in Herndon, Virginia.
The agreement enables EDS, a reseller and integrator of First Virtual
Communications products, to deliver both systems and services based on the Click
to Meet platform, and lays the foundation for the two companies to collaborate
on the marketing and sales of these solutions. EDS will play two unique roles in
marketing Click to Meet: as the service provider delivering video telephony
services to subscribers through its new Federal ASP, and selling the entire
Click to Meet platform to service providers and enterprises that wish to manage
the service for themselves. By strengthening their alliance, the two experienced
market leaders will deliver a comprehensive portfolio of rich media solutions
and create a new offering for the Federal government.
EXTENDING THE SUCCESSFUL ALLIANCE TO INCLUDE CO-MARKETING
"This alliance with EDS is a significant step forward in our ability to service
the Federal market and ultimately enterprise and government customers around the
world," said Ralph Ungermann, chairman and CEO, First Virtual Communications.
"Our marketing strength will come from our ability to leverage joint resources
to reach these markets and deliver a differentiated set of solutions that
integrate rich media communications into applications for distance learning,
e-commerce, and e-justice, among others. First Virtual and EDS have a long,
successful history of collaboration, which we can greatly expand through this
agreement. "
"Click to Meet is a highly reliable, simple to use, and easy to deploy platform
that will change the way Federal clients communicate. EDS is very excited about
this new service and our alliance with First Virtual Communications," said Gary
Yenser, vice president and deputy chief operating officer, EDS Federal.
The Click to Meet platform will integrate the CUseeMe Conference Server,
specifically developed and adapted for high-performance, highly scalable
conferencing environments. The market-leading software-based H.323 MCU, the
CUseeMe Conference Server enables standards-based group conferencing with a
variety of endpoints.
EXPANDING VIDEO TELEPHONY SERVICES FOR THE US ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
First Virtual Communications and EDS have provided the US Army National Guard
with video telephony and streaming solutions since 1998. With one of the world's
largest broadband networks, the National Guard has expanded its video services
to include more than 700 classrooms in 53 states and territories.
EXHIBITORS AT E-LEARNING CONFERENCE AND EXPO, WASHINGTON, D.C.
April 18 to April 20, 2001, First Virtual Communications will exhibit Click to
Meet in the EDS booth #1020 at the e-learning Conference and Expo at the
Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Focused on online training,
distance learning and enterprise collaboration, the e-learning Conference is the
only event where the entire e-learning market converges to strategize,
understand and discover new methods and solutions.
ABOUT FIRST VIRTUAL COMMUNICATIONS First Virtual Communications, Inc.
(Nasdaq: FVCX) is a leader in rich media communications solutions, providing
systems and services that enable system integrators and service providers to
deliver an integrated suite of collaboration applications to its enterprise
customers. First Virtual Communications also delivers solutions directly to
corporate and public sector enterprises. The company's flagship product,
Click to Meet(TM), is the industry's communications platform for high
quality, face-to-face e-collaboration. It is designed to seamlessly integrate
video and audio telephony, data collaboration, and streaming across IP, ISDN,
DSL, and ATM networks. Click to Meet provides the optimal platform for
delivering a new generation of video enabled B2B web applications, for
commerce, distance learning, telemedicine, federal and state governments, and
the judiciary.
First Virtual's strategic partners include Accord, Adaptive Broadband, Alcatel,
British Telecommunications plc, China Telecom, Cisco Systems, Inc., CUseeMe
Networks, EDS, Ezenia!, France Telecom, Ideal Technology Solutions, Nortel
Networks, Polycom, Qwest Communications, SBC Communications Inc., Shanghai
Telecom, Telstra, Verizon Communications, Wind, Zydacron, and other leading
companies worldwide. Further information about the company is available at
HTTP://WWW.FVC.COM.
CUseeMe Networks and First Virtual Communications have announced the execution
of an agreement under which the two companies would be merged to create one of
the market's leading rich media communications providers. The transaction is
intended to allow the merged enterprise to leverage greater market opportunities
through its combined resources, products, and expertise. The transaction is
expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2001.
ABOUT EDS
EDS, the leading global services company, provides strategy, implementation and
hosting for clients managing the business and technology complexities of the
digital economy. EDS brings together the world's best technologies to address
critical client business imperatives. It helps clients eliminate boundaries,
collaborate in new ways, establish their customers' trust and continuously seek
improvement. EDS, with its management consulting subsidiary, A.T. Kearney,
serves the world's leading companies and governments in 55 countries. EDS
reported revenues of $19.2 billion in 2000. The company's stock is traded on the
New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: EDS) and the London Stock Exchange.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release
contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements
containing the words, "believes," "anticipates," "expects" and words of similar
import. Such forward-looking statements have known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance
or achievements of First Virtual Communications, or industry results, to be
materially different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include,
among others: First Virtual Communications' variability of operating results,
First Virtual Communications' recent launch of its broadband video services
offering, market acceptance of video technology, First Virtual Communications'
dependence on ATM backbone technology, potential inability to maintain business
relationships with telecommunications carriers, distributors and suppliers,
rapid technological changes, competition and consolidation in the video
networking industry, the importance of attracting and retaining personnel,
management of First Virtual Communications' growth, the risk that the merger
with CuseeMe will not be completed as anticipated and that the two companies may
not be successfully integrated, and other risk factors referenced in First
Virtual Communications' public filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including the company's report on Form-10 K for the year ended
December 31, 2000.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Investors and security holders are urged to read the Proxy Statement/Prospectus
regarding the proposed merger when it becomes available because it will contain
important information about the transaction. The Proxy Statement/Prospectus will
be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by First Virtual
Communications, Inc. and CUseeMe Networks, Inc. Investors and security holders
may obtain a free copy of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus (when it is available)
and other documents filed with the Commission at the Commission's web site at
http://www.sec.gov. The Proxy Statement/Prospectus and these other documents may
also be obtained for free from First Virtual Communications, Inc. and CUseeMe
Networks, Inc.
First Virtual Communications, Inc. and CUseeMe Networks, Inc., and their
respective executive officers and directors may be deemed to be participants in
the solicitation of proxies from stockholders of First Virtual Communications,
Inc. and CUseeMe Networks, Inc. with respect to the transactions contemplated by
the merger agreement. Information regarding such officers and directors is
included in First Virtual Communications, Inc.'s Proxy Statement for its 2000
Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on March 30, 2000 and CUseeMe Networks, Inc.'s Proxy Statement for its 2000
Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on March 28, 2000. These documents are available free of charge at the
Securities and Exchange Commission's web site at http://www.sec.gov and from
First Virtual Communications, Inc. and CUseeMe Networks, Inc.