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Virtual Universe Launches New Website with Three New Internet Audio Conferencing Products
Toronto, January 28, 2002-- Virtual Universe Corporation (VRX: CDNX) has redesigned its Website, www.vu.com, and introduced three new Internet audio conferencing products. The new products are designed to make its flagship technology, Virtual Talker, commercially viable. Until now, Virtual Talker has operated on a demonstration basis, attracting thousands of registered users from around the world, who have used some 2.7 million minutes of connect time over the last several months, free of charge. The new products, which can be purchased through the Website, include Virtual Talker Enterprise, Prepaid and Home.
“This is a significant step for Virtual Universe and for Internet audio conferencing,” said Lorn Becker, President of Virtual Universe. “It’s always been our goal to refine Virtual Talker products and become the leader in affordable Internet audio conferencing.”
Virtual Talker Enterprise is designed for any organization that conducts conference calls and meetings. It enables organizations to meet or host their own conferences through the Internet or internally through an Intranet. Virtual Talker Enterprise is tailored to the needs of each customer, with Virtual Universe technicians providing design, installation and training assistance, as required.
Virtual Talker Prepaid is a full-featured teleconferencing product suitable for business, education or government users, that costs as little as five cents per minute. “Customers only purchase the time they need and can access their Virtual Talker Prepaid account anytime,” stated Mr. Becker. As part of the Prepaid service, groups that meet regularly can rent Virtual Talker Rooms, on a monthly basis. “This provides customers with a ‘reserved room’ where participants can meet or attend class. It eliminates the steps of creating a room, naming it and contacting participants with password information every time a room is required,” Becker added.
Virtual Talker Home enables families and friends to get together in small groups of up to seven people and talk to each other, via the Internet, using headsets and microphones. “Concurrent speech combined with full-duplex sound means you can have a natural conversation, like a telephone call, only better.” said Mr. Becker. Virtual Talker Home, which can be licensed and downloaded for less than $50 (US), enables users to host their own voice chat or meeting room, providing unlimited audio conferencing without long distance charges.
While these three new products represent a milestone for Virtual Universe, we regard them as only the beginning in our product development cycle. There’s more to come,” Mr. Becker concluded.
In related news Virtual Universe Corporation announced today that the Company will issue incentive stock options to acquire up to180,000 Common Shares at an exercise price of $0.20 per Common Share to its directors and employees in accordance with the Corporation's stock option plan. In addition, 371,341 incentive options previously issued to the Company's directors and employees will be re-priced at $0.20 from $0.40. The Company believes that such re-pricing is appropriate to properly incentivize its current board of directors and employees. Such re-pricing is subject to CDNX approval and disinterested shareholder approval to be sought at the Company's next annual general meeting.
Statements contained herein that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about the Company’s products, corporate identity and focus, may be forward-looking statements that are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by the Company’s sales, marketing and support efforts.
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For more information:
Sam Goldberg,
Vice President, Marketing,
Virtual Universe Corporation
sales@vu.com 780-469-7477 www.vu.com
“The Canadian Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release”
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