IP Based Audio Conferencing Bridge To Be Integrated with Web Collaboration Software

PHOENIX, Arizona (October 12, 2006) - iLinc Communications, Inc. (AMEX:ILC), developers of Web conferencing software and audio conferencing solutions, today announced that the Company has signed an OEM distribution agreement with ThinkEngine Networks, Inc., a leading provider of TDM and IP capable conferencing bridges and media servers. iLinc’s Web collaboration software will be deeply integrated into their best-of-class audio conferencing bridges, providing a bundled audio and Web collaboration solution that will be sold to ThinkEngine’s Enterprise and Conferencing Service Provider (CSP) customer base.

ThinkEngine’s CSP customers will have access to a more scalable and enterprise-class Web and audio conferencing solution on a platform that is TDM or IP agnostic. The state-of-the-art IP based hardware and software will provide access to more customers, minutes and revenue, but with less cost than traditional long distance based conferencing systems. Additionally, small and mid-tier CSP’s gain access to customers and product lines that were previously accessible by only the largest audio and Web conferencing providers. iLinc and ThinkEngine expect that this access to new markets and product lines should provide new and immediate revenues for the CSP, iLinc and ThinkEngine alike.  

“We see Web collaboration as an important complement to our audio conferencing products and are excited by what our OEM partnership with iLinc brings,” said Mike Mitchell, ThinkEngine’s Chief Executive Officer. “Through our partnership with iLinc, we are now able to offer a fully integrated, scalable and cost-effective solution that we believe is unmatched in the market today. iLinc’s flexible licensing model will allow our customers to offer the complete range of services ranging from hosted to on premise solutions,” concluded Mr. Mitchell.

“We will offer iLinc’s enterprise customers a fully integrated solution that brings IP based Web and audio conferencing solutions together from a single provider,” noted James M. Powers, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of iLinc. “Our partnership with ThinkEngine marks yet another milestone of our announced strategy to dramatically increase the distribution of our software through indirect channels and product integration. We see this partnership as one that also furthers ongoing negotiations with other potential partners in the growing IP based communications marketplace,” concluded Dr. Powers.  

iLinc will launch version 8.5 of the iLinc Suite™ in mid November as a fully integrated voice and Web conferencing system allowing customers to manage all aspects of the audio and Web session in one easy to use interface. iLinc customers will be able to seamlessly choose between use of traditional telephone conferencing or carrier quality voice-over-IP (VOIP) conferencing, both utilizing the proven ThinkEngine audio conferencing platform. In addition to the choice between traditional telephone or VOIP communication, customers may also choose between installing on their own networks a fully integrated and cost effective Web and audio conferencing platform or having iLinc host it for them. By choosing to have iLinc host their conferencing system, customers reap all the benefits of the software-as-a-service model while retaining the return on investment provided by the purchase license model.