MADISON, Wis., May 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Sonic Foundry(R) Inc. (NASDAQ:SOFO) , a leader in automated rich media communications technology, today announced that the company used its patented Mediasite(R) technology to webcast the Campbell University graduation ceremonies so that a father, a soldier stationed overseas in Iraq, could view his daughter graduate.
Since February 11, 2007, Lieutenant Colonel Charley Magruder has been stationed in Iraq with the 358th Civil Affairs Command. Initially, he had hoped to obtain a leave of absence in order to attend the graduation and hooding ceremony of his daughter. Sarah Magruder is a member of the University’s 3/2 program and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the Lundy- Fettermanh School of Business.
However, due to regulations for deployed military personnel, he learned he would not be able to come home for the event. After exhausting all possibilities, his wife, Linda Magruder, turned to Campbell University to determine if there was any way the event could be captured and viewed by her husband in real-time so he could simultaneously watch the ceremony a world away.
“My husband as well as his parents, friends and fellow soldiers are so grateful for the Mediasite technology,” said Linda Magruder, wife of Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Magruder. “To be able to have him witness the moment that our daughter is rewarded for five years of study — half way around the world in a combat zone — is truly remarkable.”
Since its introduction in 2003, Sonic Foundry’s Mediasite has set the standard as a transformational communication medium for delivering critical information and sharing knowledge. Trusted by corporations, government, health and education institutions, the patented Mediasite webcasting and content management system quickly and cost-effectively automates the capture, management, delivery and search of rich media presentations that combine audio, video and accompanying graphics for live or on-demand viewing.
When Linda Magruder made university officials aware of her family’s situation, they immediately turned to Mediasite to bring this event directly to the desktop of a solider.
“Campbell University was thrilled with Sonic Foundry’s decision to provide a webcast of the graduation exercises to Miss Magruder’s father and all others desiring to view the ceremony via their Mediasite technology,” said John Roberson, vice president for marketing and planning for Campbell University. “The University is grateful for the company’s interest in and willingness to accommodate this very important broadcast.”
To watch the graduation, Lieutenant Colonel Magruder simply logged onto the Campbell University homepage and clicked on a web link which then launched the live Mediasite webcast. Lieutenant Colonel Magruder also has the ability to watch the ceremony again later on-demand simply by clicking the same web link.
“We are honored to partner with Campbell University to help the Magruder family celebrate their daughter’s achievement,” said Darrin Coulson, chief operating officer of Sonic Foundry. “Colleges and universities around the world are recognizing the enormous potential of Mediasite to deliver campus events to a global audience, and Campbell University is to be commended for their vision and commitment to using technology to enhance the academic experience of their students.”
To view the graduation ceremony please visit: www.campbell.eduAbout Sonic Foundry(R), Inc.
Founded in 1991, Sonic Foundry (NASDAQ:SOFO) is a technology leader in the emerging rich media communications marketplace, providing enterprise solutions and services that link an information-driven world. Sonic Foundry is changing the way organizations communicate via the web and how people around the globe receive vital information needed for work, professional advancement, safety and education. The company’s integrated webcasting and web presentation solutions are trusted by Fortune 500 companies, education institutions and government agencies for a variety of critical communication needs. Sonic Foundry is based in Madison, Wis. For more information about Sonic Foundry, visit www.sonicfoundry.com.
Press Contact:
Terri Douglas
Catapult PR-IR
Office: 303-581-7760, ext. 18
Cell: 303-808-6820
tdouglas@catapultpr-ir.com
Certain statements contained in this news release regarding matters that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Because such forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, uncertainties pertaining to continued market acceptance for Sonic Foundry’s products, its ability to succeed in capturing significant revenues from media services and/or systems, the effect of new competitors in its market and other risk factors identified from time to time in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Source: Sonic Foundry Inc.
