WASHINGTON, D.C. & LONDON, U.K., August 13, 2001 – Data Connection Limited (DCL), a major UK software company specializing in development of core systems technology, today announced a partnership with Bantu, Inc., the leader in business-grade Instant Messaging (IM) and Presence solutions.  DCL’s DC-MeetingServer solution, which fully integrates audio, video and data conferencing, will now include secure IM and Presence for live one-on-one and group collaboration. These enhanced capabilities will be available with DC-MeetingServer v1.3, due for release next month.

 “Desktop conferencing is now a critical business resource, and with the addition of secure IM, we have a powerful new capability to meet our customers’ requirements for real-time collaboration,” said Graeme MacArthur, VP of DCL’s Internet Applications Group.  “Enhancing DC-MeetingServer with real-time IM and Presence improves the integration of our existing unified messaging and conferencing solutions, offering users a more seamless set of real-time and any-time communication and collaboration services.” 

Through Bantu’s IM and Presence tools, DC-MeetingServer users will be able to see immediately if their associates are online and available to instantly enter into conferencing and collaboration sessions with them.  This will make it faster and easier to launch and join meetings, and it will improve communications for geographically dispersed work groups, real-time document sharing, client meetings, distance training, and more. A packaged server product, DC-MeetingServer is used by hardware and software vendors, Internet and telecommunications service providers, and large end-user organizations deploying conference technology.

“We’re excited about the value Bantu’s platform adds to DCL’s solution,” said Larry Schlang, President and CEO of Bantu.  “The flexibility of our secure, platform-independent messenger is a great complement to DCL’s goal of universal, business-quality messaging and conferencing.”

About Data Connection Limited: Data Connection Limited (DCL) is the leading independent developer and supplier of MPLS, LMP, SIP, MGCP/Megaco, SCTP, ATM, Conferencing, Unified Messaging, Directory and SNA portable products.  Customers include Calient, CIENA, Cisco, COLT Telecom, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi, IBM Corp., Lucent, Microsoft, Nortel Networks, Sycamore, NCR, SBC, SGI, Sun, and Verizon.  Data Connection is headquartered in London UK, with US offices in Reston, VA and Alameda, CA.  It was founded in 1981 and is privately held.  During each of the past 19 years its profits have exceeded 20 percent of revenue.  Last year sales exceeded $35M, of which 95 percent were outside the UK, mostly in the US, leading to the company's second Queen's Award for outstanding export performance. (www.dataconnection.com).

About Bantu, Inc.: \ban’ too\ 1 : Ancient root language of the African people; 2 : Leading provider of secure, business-grade Instant Messaging and Presence solutions to enterprises, application providers and communications companies. Adaptable to a broad spectrum of business needs, Bantu integrates device-independent, real-time communication capabilities into any application or service. Bantu is based in Washington, D.C. Its customers and partners include AverCom, Citrix, the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA), Corechange, Johns Hopkins University, SAIC, Sprint, SRA/Assentor, VeriSign, and the U.S. Army. (www.bantu.com)