Army National Guard Selects Zydacron Videoconferencing Technology and First Virtual Video Network for World's Largest Distance Learning Program

Business Wire, March 17, 1998

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 1998--The Army National Guard has chosen First Virtual Corporation video networking equipment and Zydacron videoconferencing systems for its nationwide Distance Learning Network. The Army is building a Next Generation Internet that, by the year 2000, will link 387,000 citizen soldiers throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam.

Video Enabled Distance Learning

The Guard plans to connect 112 classrooms via an ATM wide area network in 1998, and another 600 classrooms by 2000. The ATM infrastructure allows the Guard to implement real-time interactive video and video-on-demand throughout the network with end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS). Each classroom contains a First Virtual V-Switch to deliver 25Mb/second ATM connections to Zydacron's OnWAN videoconferencing systems, which the Guard has equipped with 32" monitors for group system use. First Virtual V-Casters and V-Caches deliver live and stored video-on-demand to the Zydacron systems. Network infrastructure equipment was supplied by Bay Networks with design and integration by EDS.

First Virtual Video Networking Products

First Virtual Corporation is the leading manufacturer of products that deploy business quality video over the Next Generation Internet (NGI). First Virtual designs, manufactures and supports a full multimedia product family that includes switches, multipoint conferencing units, adapters, gateways, and video storage servers, all of which utilize the company's Multimedia Operating Software (MOS).

Zydacron's OnWAN Videoconferencing System

Zydacron is a leading manufacturer of high quality videoconferencing products, including the acclaimed OnWAN videoconferencing package. Selected by the National Guard, OnWAN is a complete package including a single board H.320 codec, camera with integrated mic, cabling, privacy telephone handset, and application software. This product integrates with the most demanding networking schemes and supports all types including ISDN, ATM, Ethernet, IsoEthernet. There are no other PC-based videoconferencing systems on the market today capable of running up to 1920 kbps. This ability to address high bandwidth, coupled with high quality video and maximum reliability, were the major factors for selection by the Guard. All Zydacron products incorporate "Zydacron Quality", a standard for the most reliable, highest quality video and audio available.

Except for the historical information contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed here. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited go, those discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in First Virtual's Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 24, 1997, as amended.

All Trademarks Recognized

CONTACT: First Virtual Corporation Zydacron, Inc.

Elyse Phillips Tracy Wemett

408/567-7230 603/647-1000 x165

elyse@fvc.com twemett@zydacron.com

www.zydacron.com