Industry Innovators Market Web Collaboration Services to Sony Customers

London and Santa Clara, Calif., May 30, 2006 –WebEx (Nasdaq: WEBX), the leading provider of on-demand collaborative business applications, has teamed with Sony to market web collaboration services to all Sony VAIO Pro users. The first phase of the agreement includes special pricing and packages for WebEx services with a free-trial offer bundled on new VAIO PCs across Europe. This partnership is based on a worldwide agreement that was recently signed between Sony Japan and WebEx.

“The PC has evolved beyond mere data processing and has become an essential means of communication and collaboration,” said Jun Koyama, marketing director for Sony VAIO of Europe. “This agreement creates a rich offering for our customers by giving them immediate access to market-leading collaborative services.”

The agreement will bring a range of collaborative business applications to the VAIO, Sony’s ultra-mobile range of laptop computers. A desktop icon, which links to the WebEx trial at www.webex.com/go/sonyvaiouk, will be pre-installed on all new TX and BX series models, and some SZ models. Users can launch a one-click web meeting to share documents, applications, video, whiteboards and even desktops in real-time.

“Users of VAIO – which stands for Video Audio Integrated Operation – are typically self-employed or work in SMBs without a centralized IT or support department. They are also unlikely to have expensive video conferencing systems or even meeting room facilities, making online meetings an attractive proposition for collaboration with colleagues, partners, or customers,” added Koyama.

Sony’s new VAIO also feature built-in web cameras and microphones, making it the ideal platform for web conferencing and collaboration. Koyama continues: “The VAIO brand is designed to offer converged communications – performance beyond mobility – and solutions rather than just hardware. WebEx was chosen for its strong market leadership, worldwide coverage, and the range of functions it offers.”

WebEx provides on-demand solutions that enable organizations to leverage the web as a channel for collaborative data, voice and video interaction. WebEx delivers its solutions over the WebEx MediaTone Network, a global network specifically designed for on-demand applications.

According to Bert van der Zwan, vice president, WebEx Europe, “The WebEx MediaTone Network is the backbone of the interactive web and the platform for the on-demand economy. This important agreement with Sony highlights the WebEx strategy to extent the market for web collaboration services.”

Hundreds of thousands of VAIO units will be shipped. The first SZ and TX models with the WebEx promotion are already on sale in UK, France, Germany and Italy. The new BX will go on sale in the 2nd half of May. Existing users will also be offered the trial through Sony’s own newsletters and the VAIO community website. SONY and WebEx collaborate on marketing plans for specific target groups.

About WebEx

WebEx Communications, Inc. is the global leader of on-demand applications for collaborative business on the web. WebEx applications are used across the enterprise in sales, support, training, marketing, engineering and product design. WebEx delivers its range of applications over the WebEx MediaTone Network, a global network specifically designed for secure delivery of on-demand applications. WebEx Communications is based in Santa Clara, California and has regional headquarters in Europe, Asia and Australia. Please call toll free 877-509-3239 or visit www.webex.com for more information.

About Sony

Sony manufactures audio, video, communications and information technology products for the global consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, game and online businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be one of the World´s Leading Consumer Brands. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of EUR 54.96 billion (yen 7,475 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006 and it employs approximately 158,500 people worldwide.
In Europe, Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of EUR 12.61 billion (yen 1,715 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, based on an average market exchange rate for the same period of yen 136 to the EUR. Sony Europe, headquartered at the Sony Center am Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, is responsible for the company’s European electronics business and registered consolidated sales of EUR 8.22 billion (yen 1,118 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006.
For more information on Sony Europe, please visit http://web.archive.org/web/20061109071253/http://www.sony-europe.com/ and http://web.archive.org/web/20061109071253/http://www.sony-europe.com/presscenter