PictureTel Announces Business Computer Technology Institute has Selected the PictureTel 600 Series; iPower Solution Delivers Integrated Collaboration for Distance Learning

Business Wire, June 22, 2001

Business Editors

ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 22, 2001

PictureTel(R) Corporation (NASDAQ:PCTL), the world leader in integrated collaboration, announced today that Business Computer Technology Institute (BCTI) has purchased the PictureTel 600 Series(TM) integrated collaboration platform - the first comprehensive collaboration solution in a compact, set top package - to enhance its technology course offerings to remotely located students.

The PictureTel 600 Series became generally available for shipment to customers, Monday, April 30, 2001.

The PictureTel 600 Series, jointly designed and manufactured with Sharp, draws on PictureTel's revolutionary iPower(TM) architecture and Sharp's world-class expertise in the development and manufacturing of electronic and PC-based products.

The PictureTel 600 Series is a next-generation collaboration tool - combining the most important business communication resources: The PC, the Internet, and videoconferencing, to deliver critical information and decision-making power - when and where they are needed.

The Business Computer Training Institute is a private vocational school offering a 7 1/2-month basic computer and business training certificate program designed to qualify graduates for entry-level employment. The Institute offers a variety of technology courses at eight Washington and Oregon locations.

"Today's knowledge-driven economy demands that employees at all levels have at least a basic understanding of office and information technology," Thomas D. Jonez, BCTI's co-CEO. "At the same time, many organizations and schools are challenged to provide the education necessary to produce skilled workers. The PictureTel 600 Series will enable us to offer courses to students who do not necessarily fit the classic mold. By using the PictureTel technology, we can expand our campuses without having to add significant management overhead since our corporate office will be able to communicate with branch personnel face-to-face. Eventually, we may even offer some of our classroom training using the PictureTel 600 Series. The integrated collaboration technology will potentially allow students to attend class in a more convenient location - often saving time and expense and opening up new educational opportunities for these students."

"The PictureTel 600 Series, the second product offering in our iPower family, is ideal in an educational environment, especially for the technology education offered by BCTI," says Norman Gaut, chairman and chief executive officer, PictureTel. "The PC-based PictureTel 600 Series easily incorporates many of the PC applications BCTI students must master. Whether it is Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, remotely-located students will soon be able to simply access the application during a videoconference call, work hand-in-hand with an instructor, and receive instant, real-time feedback on lessons learned."

About PictureTel

PictureTel Corporation (NASDAQ:PCTL) is the world leader in developing, manufacturing, and marketing a full range of visual- and audio- collaboration platforms. PictureTel markets network conferencing servers in addition to the complete range of end-point products and delivers a global capability to service, support, and provide complete solutions for customers needing rich media communications.

PictureTel is fundamentally in the business of eliminating the barrier of distance, enabling people to be Anywhere Now(TM).

This release includes projections and other forward-looking statements about the company's revenues, earnings, and other measures of economic performance. Actual results could differ materially from forecasts due to many factors such as, for example, competitive pressures, changes in technology, and the difficulty in forecasting in overseas markets and indirect channels.

Additional information concerning risks that could cause actual results to differ is contained in the company's annual report on Form 10-K and its Form 10-Q as filed with the SEC. The company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

PictureTel is a registered trademark of PictureTel Corporation. PictureTel 900 Series, iPower, and Anywhere Now are trademarks of PictureTel Corporation.

All other terms and products names may be trademark or registered trademarks of their respective owners.