First Collaboration Service to Integrate High-Definition Video, Web and Audio in a Simple, Natural Combination

CITRIX SYNERGY 2011, Gerrards Cross, UK, 26 May, 2011 – Today at Citrix Synergy™, the event where virtual computing takes centre stage, Citrix Systems CEO Mark Templeton announced the open beta of its highly anticipated, high-definition video conferencing solution Citrix® GoToMeeting® with HDFaces™ to new and existing customers. General availability is scheduled for end of July.

Representing a market first by combining high-definition video, web and audio for a simply integrated and natural, real-time collaboration experience, the company believes HDFaces will fundamentally change the way people communicate in the workplace – by effectively bringing telepresence to everyone.

GoToMeeting with HDFaces provides the highest resolution video conferencing quality available on the market: up to six streams are provided at a resolution of 640p x 480p each, for a total maximum resolution of 1920p x 960p. A superior and simple user experience is delivered at any bandwidth and video optimisation automatically adjusts to fit the standard hardware and network each participant is using when video, audio or screen sharing are in use. No specific or proprietary hardware configuration is needed; users just need a PC or Mac computer, webcam and HDFaces for a telepresence-quality experience.

What Is New
All GoToMeeting customers and trial users can access the HDFaces beta version at http://gotomeeting.com/hdfacesbeta. A free 30-day trial is available

Synergy attendees have the opportunity to see a demonstration of GoToMeeting with HDFaces in the Citrix booth, #100

GoToMeeting with HDFaces, upon general availability, will be included in all GoToMeeting subscriptions at no additional cost

Why It Matters
The cost and complexity of existing telepresence solutions have made integrated collaboration with high-definition video out of reach of many companies, including SMBs

Simplifying the collaboration experience by providing one-click participation for attendees, with no registration required, will now enable telepresence for everyone

Quotes
“Seeing your facial expression should always be part of the online collaboration experience. There have been too many barriers to holding video meetings – complexity of technology tools in the market and people’s apprehension over adopting or using it due to either complexity or fear of not knowing how to use it. We’ve used the HDFaces beta daily in real-time collaboration sessions with colleagues and patients. They have been thrilled with the experience – easy, live meetings with video that is clear, high quality, natural and easy to use.” Dr. Andrew Barbash, M.D., Neurosciences Program and Director, Holy Cross Hospital

“Our faculty and staff collaborates with colleagues and students across the country and around the world. As a professional school of psychology, we depend on video conferencing for that critical face-to-face connection. Part of my job is to find and promote technologies that not only increase productivity but advance our core mission of teaching and learning.  GoToMeeting with HDFaces, for most of our video conferencing needs, delivers to The TCS Education System a ubiquitous, cost effective, simpler to use and support solution. Saving time, travel and money, whether it’s not having to walk across the Chicago River to a meeting when it’s 5 degrees below,  faculty discussing a paper with an online student across the country, or meeting with our international programs staff who are in Hong Kong, Brazil, Peru and Chicago.”  Donald L. Tom, Associate Vice President, Information Technology, TCS Education System

“We all know that natural face-to-face interactions build trust and enrich collaboration, from team meetings and sales presentations to training sessions. High-definition video conferencing has historically been reserved for the few companies able to invest tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in complex telepresence rooms and has remained largely inaccessible to many due to cost, complexities and scarcity. With just a PC or Mac and a webcam, GoToMeeting with HDFaces brings telepresence to everyone. We revolutionised the complex and expensive web conferencing market with our award- winning solutions, GoToMeeting, GoToTraining and GoToWebinar. We are now doing the same to telepresence with HDFaces, enabling a simply integrated collaboration experience for everyone and changing the way we work and live.” Bernardo de Albergaria, Vice President and General Manager of Collaboration, Citrix Online Services Division, Citrix Systems

Pricing and Availability
HDFaces, upon general availability, will be included at no additional charge in all GoToMeeting subscriptions. GoToMeeting subscriptions start as low as $39 per month.