SAN FRANCISCO -- Conference to Spotlight Tools and Techniques for Increasing Productivity and Improving Communication

NetWorld(SM)+Interop(R) 2005, produced by MediaLive International, Inc., today announced the content of its VoIP and Collaboration program, which will provide expert insight and education on VoIP systems, data and voice network convergence, and real-time collaboration applications. This program will feature six days of education including a dedicated VoIP and Collaboration Conference, designed to allow participants to focus on best collaboration practices for driving productivity and streamlining communication, as well as providing options in migrating voice networks to IP Telephony and convergence. The NetWorld+Interop VoIP and Collaboration Conference will be led by Chairperson Melanie Turek, Principal Analyst and Senior Partner, Nemertes Research, and will be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, May 1-6.

The VoIP and Collaboration program, sponsored by Avaya, Siemens and LifeSize, includes the three-day conference, related workshops, an event-wide VoIP network, a multi-vendor lab focused on SIP development, and a dedicated show floor area and pavilion. Extreme Networks and 3Com will supply the infrastructure and support to provide NetWorld+Interop attendees and exhibitors with free Internet access and VoIP phone usage throughout the six-day event. The comprehensive VoIP and Collaboration program is one of six key themes at NetWorld+Interop 2005, also focusing on Network Infrastructure and Services, Data Management and Compliance, Wireless, Security and Performance.

Conference sessions will offer an opportunity for attendees to examine topics related to the broad spectrum of collaboration and voice integration issues including:

--Instant Messaging: An Immediate Priority

--Tapping the Power of Presence

--All Softphones, All the Time: Welcome to My World

--Cost Models: Making the Case for Converged Collaboration

--Turning Point: Drivers for VoIP Adoption

--Preparing Your Infrastructure for VOIP and Collaboration

--Optimizing Your Network for Convergence: Lessons Learned from IT Executives

--The Standards Debate: How Important is SIP to the Future of Presence and Convergence?

--Capitalizing on Contact Centers

--The Porous Perimeter: Secure Sharing

--Real-Time Communications Portals: Will they Fly?

Workshops will focus on the following topics:

--Understanding Voice over IP

--Building Voice over IP and IP Telephony Architectures

--Building SIP-Based Networks

--Real-time Collaboration and Audio-Video Technologies

"The VOIP and Collaboration program curriculum has been specially developed to help people navigate new technologies and applications for today's virtual workplace," said Craig Malloy, CEO of LifeSize Communications. "Through our relationship with the NetWorld+Interop VoIP and Collaboration program, LifeSize is proud to support the effort to make VoIP, collaboration and related applications, such as video communications, more widely accessible."

"As VoIP and collaboration are becoming further embedded into the network infrastructure, IT professionals are facing a greater need to stay ahead of the curve with the latest technology developments," said Lenny Heymann, General Manager of NetWorld+Interop. "For the past twenty years, IT pros have looked to NetWorld+Interop to provide answers to the industry's most pressing concerns through education, demonstration and showcasing of the latest tools and solutions."

For two decades, NetWorld+Interop has provided the nuts-and-bolts training, solutions and insight attendees need to make the best decisions for their IT infrastructure. This year's event continues a long-standing tradition of helping IT professionals learn about the latest technology innovations by focusing on the most vital technology trends defining the IT infrastructure industry today.

For more information on the VoIP and Collaboration Conference visit: http://interop.com/lasvegas/key_themes/?s=voip_collaboration.

NetWorld(SM)+Interop(R) 2005 Attendee Registration Information is now available at www.interop.com/lasvegas/registration.

NetWorld(SM)+Interop(R) 2005 Press and Analyst Registration Information is now available at: www.interop.com/lasvegas/media_center.

About NetWorld(SM)+Interop(R)

Part of the MediaLive International, Inc. family of global brands, NetWorld(SM)+Interop(R) is the leading destination for networking technology buyers and sellers. Through in-depth educational programs, workshops, real-world demonstrations and live technology implementations in its unique eNet and iLabs programs, NetWorld(SM)+Interop(R) provides the industry's only platform for collaboration, communication and commerce for the end-to-end network. NetWorld(SM)+Interop(R) Las Vegas 2005 will take place at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, May 1-6, 2005. For more information about the event, please visit www.interop.com.

About MediaLive International, Inc.

MediaLive International connects companies to the markets they serve through media properties, software tools and marketing solutions that educate buying communities, deepen relationships between buyers and sellers, and fuel market growth. MediaLive International's media brands encompass the IT industry's largest exhibitions, including NetWorld(SM) +Interop(R), as well as highly focused educational programs as Next Generation Networks(R), VoiceCon(R), Seybold Seminars(SM), the Collaboration Technologies Conference, Mobile Business Expo, GTEC, the Web 2.0 Conference and respected publications including Business Communications Review and The Seybold Report. The Wingate Studios division delivers the industry's leading end-to-end event management software platform WingateWeb and professional services -- including strategic planning, technical integration, analytics and event programming -- that help companies produce their own live marketing programs.

MediaLive International is a privately held company headquartered in San Francisco, with offices throughout the world. For more information about MediaLive International, visit www.medialiveinternational.com.