Aethra Telecommunications Partners With First Virtual Communications

Aethra to expand its Videoconferencing Portfolio by integrating its Endpoints into First Virtual's Click to Meet Web Conferencing and Collaboration

Santa Clara, California and Ancona, Italy - July 9, 2002 - First Virtual Communications (NASDAQ: FVCX), a premier provider of rich media web conferencing and collaboration solutions, and Aethra Telecommunications, a leading international video communications provider, today announced a new partnership providing Aethra with distribution rights for First Virtuals award winning Click to Meet rich media web conferencing solutions, offering the opportunity to integrate First Virtuals technology into Aethra videoconferencing systems.

This agreement with Aethra testifies to the flexibility and reliability of our web conferencing solutions and multipoint capabilities, while illustrating our interoperability with leading videoconferencing providers," states Bob Romano, executive vice president of Sales and Marketing at First Virtual Communications. Aethras large customer base, which includes over 40 Telecom Companies worldwide, combined with their skills and know-how in the conferencing space, make this partnership a major opportunity for First Virtual. We believe that the integration of their powerful and cutting-edge videoconferencing systems with our new and innovative web conferencing solutions will make all of us successful in this emerging marketplace."

Our objective is to continue offering innovative, high quality and reliable communication solutions to the market, the fundamentals that have always distinguished our products," explains Giulio Viezzoli, president of Aethra Telecommunications. That is the reason why we have chosen First Virtuals solutions. Our objective is to provide solutions that allow hundreds of users to connect to the same video and web conferencing session, either by using a video communication system, or simply via a web page. We promote the use of video communication as an additional communication tool within and outside a corporate environment. This agreement offers several possibilities for future developments and enables us to target new markets while offering integrated IP-based solutions to our customer base."

Aethra will include First Virtuals Conference Server, the companys leading IP-based multipoint control unit (MCU), as well as the Click to Meettm web conferencing and collaboration solutions, to its comprehensive videoconferencing product portfolio. Integrated into bundles created specifically by Aethra to meet the specific needs of several key markets where Aethra is active, First Virtuals software-based solutions address the needs of business people who need to work together remotely to collaborate, train, demonstrate or sell.
The new Click to Meet family combines high quality multipoint audio and video capabilities with web-based collaborative tools, all delivered through a single and easy-to-use application available on any desktop. These innovative and unique solutions enable anyone equipped with a PC to join online multimedia conferences and collaborate with any dispersed user or groups spread all over the world, whether they are also online or using traditional small group and room conferencing videoconferencing endpoints.

Aethra intends to target the business-to-business and the business-to-consumer markets with these new solutions. Click to Meet brings existing enterprise conferencing investments into web conferences, thus extending their usability, applicability and life cycle. Large companies will be able to integrate Aethra videoconferencing equipment with common networked PC tools like instant messaging, e-mail and groupware, while enriching them with new collaborative capabilities and deploying video and web conference on any desktop. For service providers, another key target for Aethra, the new solutions create new revenue opportunities, enabling them to offer value-added web-based video services to their customers.

About Aethra

Aethra holds a leading position in the telecommunications market around the world. It has installed over 110,000 videoconferencing systems and sells its products through more than 40 telephone companies worldwide. The Company develops, manufactures and markets a wide product range in the telecommunications sector including, ISDN and xDSL products, video communication systems, audio conferencing solutions and solutions that manage audio, video and data services. This wide range of solutions has always distinguished Aethra in the telecommunications industry around the world, reflecting its capacity to develop and integrate cutting-edge technologies. Aethra's 30 years of experience and its success in this market have resulted in an international presence in over 60 countries, with its own branch offices in: Madrid (Spain); Paris (France); Miami and Pittsburgh (USA); Santiago (Chile); San Paolo (Brazil); Hong Kong, Beijing and Shenzen (China). For more information, visit www.aethra.com.
About First Virtual Communications
Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, First Virtual Communications is a premier provider of next generation web conferencing and collaboration solutions. It delivers award winning integrated communications solutions that address the needs of business people who need to work together remotely to collaborate, train, demonstrate or sell. The Company has helped to define IP-based communications by pushing the boundaries of conferencing for a better user experience, easier enterprise deployment and potential return on investment. The Companys products provide business quality communication by supporting a wide range of industry standards. The Companys solutions integrate seamlessly with existing tools and methodologies, extending the advantages of instant messaging and collaboration environments such as Microsoft Exchange, Outlook and MSN Messenger. The Companys innovative solutions are deployed in over 1200 customer sites worldwide, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and service providers. Additional information about First Virtual Communications can be found on the Web at http://www.fvc.com.

Cautionary Statement

Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words, believes,'' anticipates,'' expects'' and words of similar import. Such forward-looking statements have known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of First Virtual Communications, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: the continued increase in sales of the Companys Click to Meet and MCU products, First Virtual Communications limited operating history as a combined company with CUseeMe Networks, its variability of operating results, First Virtual Communications' broadband video services offering, market acceptance of video technology, potential inability to maintain business relationships with telecommunications carriers, distributors and suppliers, rapid technological changes, competition and consolidation in the video networking industry, the importance of attracting and retaining personnel, and other risk factors referenced in First Virtual Communications' public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2001.

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Contacts:
Jenny Flack
Aethra Telecommunications
+39 071 2189 745
j.flack@aethra.it

Frédérique Chauvel
First Virtual EMEA
+33 493 59 43 43
fchauvel@eu.fvc.com

Francesca Galeazzi         
Aethra Telecommunications
+39 071 2189.742
francesca.galeazzi@aethra.it

Tracy Wemett
BroadPR                    
+1 603 674 5267
tracy@broadpr.com