For the first time since introducing ReadyConference Plus last month, Ptek Holdings Inc.’s Premiere Conferencing division (Booth 218) is demonstrating the new proprietary data collaboration and audio service at the Channel Partners trade show. Ptek Holdings provides business communications services and constantly seeks master agents and resellers. Both groups sell the company’s services, which include audio, Web and operator-assisted conferencing.

With ReadyConference Plus, users share and control enhanced slide presentations and audio over the Internet. Premiere Conferencing execs say ReadyConference Plus targets the millions of audio-only conferencing users who will benefit from sharing presentations in real time.

Premiere Conferencing designed ReadyConference Plus to address growing demand for an easy-to-use and inexpensive alternative to existing solutions that were created with sophisticated application sharing capabilities often difficult and expensive to operate, the company says. With ReadyConference Plus, Web-based data and audio controls are combined in a simple user interface that enable hosts to manage all aspects of a call directly from the desktop, including individual participant volume and mute controls, and dial-out capabilities.

"ReadyConference Plus is the type of straightforward, intuitive Web-based collaboration service that should be attractive to the millions of audio-only conference users who have yet to incorporate data collaboration into every day meetings," says Marc Beattie, a senior partner for Wainhouse Research. "We live in an on-demand, self-service society and as such we believe conferencing users want an easy-to-use product that allows them to initiate and control their meetings from a single device or location."

Ptek recently made the ReadyConference Plus solution available to its entire North American direct sales force to target its existing base of ReadyConference users. To date, more than 500 corporate accounts have signed-up for the new service. Ptek intends to introduce ReadyConference Plus in the European and Asia/Pacific regions later this year.

"The value proposition for ReadyConference Plus is compelling. It costs dramatically less than competing services and, more importantly, doesn’t take hours of training to learn," says Ted Schrafft, president of Premiere Conferencing. "We are excited to bring this simple yet powerful solution to our global customers."

"ReadyConference Plus is another example of Ptek’s ability to respond to market demands through innovation," says Boland T. Jones, founder, chairman and CEO of Ptek. "We look for this solution and other new services to continue to enhance our leadership position."