Polycom, Glowpoint Power Georgetown University's 'Global Classroom'

HILLSIDE, N.J., June 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Students on two separate continents, almost 7,000 miles apart, now study together live via high-definition (HD), immersive Polycom (Nasdaq: PLCM) telepresence suites managed by Glowpoint (OTC Bulletin Board: GLOW), a carrier-grade provider of managed services for telepresence and video conferencing.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100420/GLOWPOINTLOGO)

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100420/GLOWPOINTLOGO)

Georgetown University's classrooms feature high-definition video, voice and content-sharing capabilities, which allow students to interact with teachers and collaborate with each other, thereby bridging the geographical divide. As part of the Glowpoint and Polycom service, students at Georgetown's Washington, D.C., and Doha, Qatar, campuses now communicate and interact using the Polycom RealPresence™ Experience (RPX™) HD, a state-of-the-art immersive telepresence solution. Glowpoint is providing technology, network, and managed services through its hosted-cloud infrastructure to deliver a seamless experience across the campuses.

"Having recently taught a class using the 'Global Classroom,' I know the value this technology can bring in connecting students with diverse backgrounds and perspectives," said Mehran Kamrava, interim dean of Georgetown's Qatar campus.  "Faculty members are excited about the technology, and they're developing new ways to use this technology to improve the educational experience for students on both campuses." Kamrava taught Revolutions in Comparative Perspectives, just one of the classes that utilize Georgetown's Global Classroom.

Located in the capital city of Doha, the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar is the only branch campus of the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown. The program provides a four-year undergraduate degree in international politics to students from the Middle East and around the world. The Global Classroom initiative is designed to help provide a consistent learning experience between the campuses.

"Classrooms and cultures around the world are becoming more interactive thanks to immersive telepresence technologies," said Joe Laezza, Glowpoint's president and Co-CEO. "Glowpoint is dedicated to supporting capabilities that transcend the limitations of traditional classrooms. Our managed telepresence services ensure that remote students can learn from invaluable teachers in one educational setting."

Polycom telepresence solutions eliminate the barriers of working across distance through immersive, life-like visual communications, enabling people to collaborate face to face with coworkers, customers and partners in different locations as effectively and productively as if they were in the same rooms.

Joe Sigrist, Polycom's senior vice president and general manager of video communications said, "As Polycom's telepresence solutions are based on open standards, they work seamlessly, allowing organizations such as Georgetown to interconnect their entire educational institution. Our partnership with Glowpoint ensures that our clients, such as Georgetown University, achieve the highest level of quality and service for telepresence."

Georgetown's telepresence systems are currently being used in two classes per semester. The Georgetown students have quickly adapted to the technology and new learning experience, and the University is evaluating ways to expand the use of the system for additional courses, student meetings and faculty training.

Additional Links

• Glowpoint's Managed Services
• Glowpoint on Twitter

About Glowpoint

Glowpoint, Inc. (OTCBB: GLOW) provides carrier-grade, managed telepresence and video communications services that are accessible via its cloud-based, hosted infrastructure, and open architecture applications. Glowpoint's suite of robust telepresence and video conferencing solutions empowers enterprises to communicate with each other over disparate networks and technology platforms. Glowpoint supports thousands of video communications systems, in more than 35 countries, with its 24/7 video management services. Glowpoint also powers major broadcasters, Fortune 500 companies, as well as global carriers and video equipment manufacturers – and their customers – worldwide. To learn more, visit http://www.glowpoint.com.

About Polycom

Polycom, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLCM) is a global leader in telepresence, video, and voice solutions and a visionary in communications that empower people to connect and collaborate everywhere. Visit www.polycom.com for more information and follow us on Twitter @AllAboutPolycom.

About Georgetown University

Georgetown University is the oldest and largest Catholic and Jesuit university in America, founded in 1789 by Archbishop John Carroll. Georgetown today is a major student-centered, international, research university offering respected undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in Washington, DC, Doha, Qatar and around the world. For more information about Georgetown University, visit www.georgetown.edu.

SOURCE Glowpoint, Inc.