Audio Conferencing and Web Conferencing

Customized Technology Works with Web Conferencing to Secure Data

PORTLAND, OR (March 2, 2004) – Encounter Collaborative, an innovator in web and audio conferencing solutions, today announced that it has adopted an encryption technology for its web conferencing product. The company’s technology, which avoids the delays inherent in existing encryption techniques, provides a secure environment for data for both presenters and viewers participating in a web conference. ShareItNow™, scheduled for general availability at the end of March, will include this capability as a standard feature.

In much the same way as computer applications were once considered secure but had to evolve quickly to higher levels of security, today’s web conferencing technology is also currently evolving. It has now reached a point where security and encryption are being carefully screened and evaluated. To that end, Encounter has developed a customized encryption technology to ensure that all data in all files being transmitted is encrypted within the presenter’s application -- and that it remains encrypted until it arrives at the viewer’s web browser, providing end-to-end encryption.

“One of the issues regarding SSL is that many users believe that it provides complete security from the host all the way through to the presenter. Unfortunately, this is not the case,” commented Ian Widger, CEO of Encounter. “With SSL, encrypted material is still not secure in the middle. This is because most web conferencing today requires a server that is hosted by the service provider.

SSL is a link level encryption system, which means that the presentation material is unencrypted when stored on the server. The server then re-encrypts it to pass it to the viewers’ web browser. During the period in which the data is stored on the server, which varies from technology to technology, the information is no longer encrypted. “Individuals with that knowledge of how these servers are designed would find it relatively easy to extract that information, should they be of a mind to do so. Our encryption technology provides security from end-to-end by encrypting the presentation material from within the presenter’s ShareItNow application-- and that data is only unencrypted once it reaches the viewers’ browser,” Widger explained. As a result of Encounter’s technology, as the data passes through the server it remains encrypted. Moreover, if required, customers can continue to use SSL in addition to Encounter’s encryption capability providing what is likely to be one of the most secure web conferencing solutions available today.

Another of the challenges with the standard type of encryption is that participants arriving late to a conference are often unable to efficiently enter the presentation, as the encryption key may have changed many times. Encounter’s encryption overcomes this problem ensuring that participants that arrive late are able to gain access securely and without delay.

In conjunction with Encounter’s audio conferencing services, ShareItNow™ allows business, government and education professionals to show any application on their desktops easily and intuitively to customers, partners, suppliers and colleagues -- enabling them to derive the benefits of web conferencing faster and without the delays associated with conventional web conference calling.

Unlike other web conferencing products, ShareItNow™ is a product designed with ease of operation and ease of use in mind. Designed, also, for people who want to share information in an ad hoc manner, ShareItNow™ lets colleagues show documents ranging from PDFs, spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations to all forms of proprietary applications with one another.

For enterprises and government agencies seeking a secure system for sharing information across locations, Encounter’s ShareItNow™ offers this unique encryption technology. With the technology as a standard part of its web conferencing product, Encounter provides a level of security that is well-balanced and optimized when compared with today’s commercially-available conferencing products.

About Encounter Collaborative
Encounter Collaborative provides fully integrated audio and web conferencing solutions that enable predictable, reliable and secure virtual meetings. The company’s seamless global conferencing services enable users to collaborate spontaneously and in real time. Headquartered in Portland, OR, Encounter develops and markets its Audio Control Panel, the first integrated web page for both audio and web conferencing which offers the functionality of operator-assisted calls without the expense. Encounter’s innovative Web Window and ShareItNow™ technology are part of its APEX platform that provides levels of integration and flexibility not found in third party technologies. The platform supports a robust, scaleable and customizable product that works the way customers need conferencing technology to work. For more information, please visit www.encounter.net or call 1.800.290.5900.

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Encounter is a registered trademark of Encounter Collaborative in the United States and/or other countries. ShareItNow is a registered trademark of Encounter Collaborative. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.