Education & Distance Learning Enthusiasts- Oklahoma Telecommunications Network Selects Meetingpoint for IP-based Videoconferencing and Distance Learning

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Oklahoma Telecommunications Network Selects Meetingpoint for IP-based Videoconferencing and Distance Learning

Business Wire - July 13, 1999

NASHUA, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 13, 1999--

OneNet Deploys Hundreds of Ports Over

State-Wide Communications Network

White Pine Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: WPNE), a leading provider of multimedia conferencing applications for the Internet and intranets, today announced that OneNet, Oklahoma's telecommunications and information network for education and government, has made a second major purchase of MeetingPoint(TM) and continues to deploy it as the server of choice for IP-based videoconferencing.

OneNet, which is operated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education in cooperation with the Office of State Finance, is deploying hundreds of MeetingPoint ports throughout its network for H.323 conferencing and distance learning applications. This deployment is part of a state-wide strategic initiative for technology in education. OneNet will be demonstrating the MeetingPoint server and its multipoint interactive videoconferencing capabilities this week as part of the State Department of Education Leadership Conference in Oklahoma City, July 14th-16th.

"OneNet and the State of Oklahoma have made a strong commitment to H.323 conferencing as the means for connecting our schools and delivering distance education," said Bill Shafer, Director of OneNet. "As we have designed and built the network, we have focused on efficient and effective technology solutions, and the MeetingPoint server has become a core component that will enable us to deliver the best quality of education possible. The performance and scalability of MeetingPoint and feature-rich options such as continuous presence have allowed us to realize the quality of communication that we had envisioned providing."

Last May the Oklahoma State Department of Education awarded $8.2 million in grants to its 165 school districts for the purpose of building distance learning mechanisms into its schools. H.323, the industry standard for conferencing over the Internet and IP networks, was specified in the grant bid proposals. Oklahoma is the only state to have a unified IP network that links its public schools; vocational-technical schools; colleges and universities; libraries; courts; hospitals; and other local, county, state, tribal and federal government agencies throughout the state. This state-of-the-art fiber optic network, including OC-48, OC-12, 45 DS3 lines and over 1000 T1 lines, was recently recognized by Cisco Systems as one of the top one percent of networks worldwide. OneNet plans to purchase and deploy additional MeetingPoint ports throughout the network in Q4 of 1999 and in the year 2000.

"OneNet is blazing the way for wide-scale H.323 conferencing deployment," said Gary McGuire, director of sales for White Pine Software. "They've truly taken advantage of MeetingPoint's advanced architecture for server distribution and linking throughout the network. OneNet is providing an excellent model for how other educational groups and businesses might implement IP-based conferencing and collaboration on a large scale."

The MeetingPoint server is a standards-based software product that enables real-time multipoint group conferencing over an IP network using the H.323 protocol. MeetingPoint works over small or large networks and includes specialized features for controlling bandwidth management. It is compatible with standard videoconferencing clients such as Intel(R) ProShare(R), Intel TeamStation(TM), Microsoft(R) Netmeeting(TM), Polycom ViewStation(TM), PictureTel(R) LiveLAN(TM), and White Pine CU-SeeMe(R) Pro. MeetingPoint is currently available for Windows NT and Solaris systems. A Linux version of MeetingPoint will ship later this year.

About OneNet

OneNet is Oklahoma's official telecommunications and information network for education and government. The network provides an integrated, comprehensive mix of video and data services utilizing fiber optic cable, digital microwave and wireless technologies. Additionally, it offers access to online information databases, network planning, equipment discounts and video scheduling. As one of the largest distance learning networks in the world, the network transports more than 1,100 interactive video courses sessions across the state each week.

About White Pine Software

White Pine Software develops, markets and supports multi-platform browser-based internetworking software that facilitates worldwide video and audio communication and data collaboration across the Internet, intranets, extranets and other networks that use the Internet Protocol. White Pine's videoconferencing software products, CU-SeeMe(R) Pro and MeetingPoint, create a client-server solution that allows users to participate in real-time, multi-point video, audio and data conferences over the Internet and intranets. White Pine's ClassPoint(TM) provides a complete solution for corporate training and distance learning. White Pine Software can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.wpine.com.

All trademarks are recognized.

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