Ordinarily I'd write off a news release like this as simple marketing spin. Rebranding just isn't typically something I find newsworthy. But I've been very impressed with Vapps conferencing services regardless of what branding they use, so this seemed a point to mention this really stellar conferencing solutions again. Vapps is rebranding its audioconferencing service to "High-Definition Conferencing" to reflect its superior sound quality -- a clearly audible difference that can improve the comfort and productivity levels of conference participants. Please see details in the press release below.

VAPPS ADOPTS NEW BRAND: 'HIGH-DEFINITION CONFERENCING

Drops 'High-Speed Conferencing' to Better Reflect High-Quality Audioconferences

HOBOKEN, N.J.-May 14, 2008--Vapps, Inc., provider of affordable, flat-rate audioconferencing services with lifelike, in-the-room sound quality, today announced it has adopted High-Definition Conferencing (HD-C) as its new brand to better reflect the crisp, crystal-clear audio fidelity of its audioconferences via Skype™ Internet communications. High-Definition Conferencing replaces Vapps' previous brand, High-Speed Conferencing, effective immediately.

"We want to let everyone know Vapps is raising the bar on sound quality in audioconferencing because we're the only conferencing company able to give users a 'high definition' audio experience through Skype, while still admitting participants on any kind of phone," said Vapps CEO Ben Lilienthal.

"When we speak, our voices produce sound in the 20 Kilohertz (KHz) range and our ears hear 20 KHz, but the copper wiring of traditional telephone networks supports only 3.5 KHz. Our High-Definition Conferencing operates in the 16 KHz range for Skype audioconferencing, a quality difference you can easily hear. At the same time, we conference in traditional telecom users, so that no one is excluded.

"We believe it's definitely a tool for improved productivity because High-Definition Conferencing participants tell us the clarity they're experiencing lets them better understand everyone speaking, especially those with foreign accents," he said. "It stands to reason that people who can hear each other more clearly will work together more efficiently. This is especially important for very large group meetings with more than 100 participants."

Lilienthal said Vapps has a newly redesigned Website for users to learn about and sign up for High-Definition Conferencing: www.hidefconferencing.com.

Vapps recently updated its Skype Extra, a plug-in that launches the full feature set of its Web-enabled service from within Skype. Those on Skype may click on the "Do More" menu option to open the HD-C plug-in, which will now appear and operate in Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and Polish, in addition to English.

From that interface, they can start meetings on the spot, inviting fellow Skype users by sending automated chat messages. (Should Skype contacts be caught with their headphones unplugged, the chat invite offers a telephone phone number for joining the conference as well.) They can also click on the interface's "schedule" button, auto-logging into the HD-C site, to schedule meetings of as many as 500 attendees and send e-mail invitations to others, as well as their Skype contacts.

About Vapps, Inc.
Vapps, Inc., based in Hoboken, N.J., provides managed audioconferencing solutions to the SMB, enterprise and service provider markets using its patent-pending, wide-band audioconferencing technology. Founded in 2003 by Ben Lilienthal and Jerry Norton, Vapps' flagship service is its High-Definition Conferencing (HD-C), the first and only high-definition, flat-rate audioconference offering that can conference together a mixed-participant group of PSTN phone and Skype users.
For Skype-using participants, HD-C transmits a much richer, more "in-the-room" voice quality than can be achieved with traditional phones, dramatically improving the productivity of team collaboration. Vapps' fees for an unlimited number of conferences and conference minutes start at a fixed $25 per month for 10 attendees and scale with the number of participants. For more information, please visit Vapps at http://www.vapps.com.
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