SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ClearOne (Nasdaq: CLRO), the leading provider of high performance audio conferencing solutions, announced today that it has begun shipping their MAX IP Response Point, the industry's first -- and only -- conference phone for the Microsoft Response Point phone system. MAX IP Response Point is a tabletop conferencing system that brings high performance audio quality capabilities to users of Microsoft's popular small business phone system.

Response Point is a small business Internet Protocol (IP) phone system from Microsoft that supports both voice over IP (VoIP) and traditional analog phone lines and includes a voice-activated user interface. The Response Point software system runs on hardware available from Aastra, D-Link, and Quanta and ClearOne's MAX IP Response Point phone is compatible with all three hardware systems.

"Response Point customers demand products that are both powerful and easy-to-use," said Richard Sprague, Senior Director, Microsoft Response Point. "ClearOne has met the bar with a conferencing phone that brings stunning voice quality to the Response Point magic blue button experience, and is a great option for small business users."

MAX IP Response Point contains ClearOne's sophisticated HDConference^™ advanced audio processing technologies. Originally developed for professional conferencing systems, HDConference produces crystal-clear audio through technologies such as Distributed Echo Cancellation^™, noise cancellation, full-duplex audio, first microphone priority, adaptive modeling, and ClearEffect^™. By simply pressing the blue Response Point button on the phone's keypad, users are instantly connected to the voice-activated phone system.

MAX IP Response Point provides expansion capabilities that are unmatched in the industry. Users can daisy-chain up to four complete phones together in order to provide better audio coverage for larger rooms and U-shaped tables. By linking multiple phones, business users benefit not only from multiple microphones at each phone, but also additional loudspeakers and keypads, providing outstanding full-room coverage and control. With all phones connected, the entire system can be operated using the dial pad of any single phone.

"We have had key customers and channel partners using pre-production units for several weeks now," said Mark Fletcher, Vice President of Worldwide Sales, at ClearOne. "And without exception, their reaction to the units has been extremely positive. Microsoft's Response Point system delivers tremendous value to small businesses and the MAX IP Response Point conference phone is the perfect add-on collaboration tool for those users. We're very excited that these systems are now available through our distribution channel partners."

About ClearOne

ClearOne Communications Inc. is a communications solutions company that develops and sells audio conferencing systems and related products for audio, video and web conferencing applications. The reliability, flexibility and performance of ClearOne's comprehensive solutions create a natural communications environment that saves organizations time and money by enabling more effective and efficient communication. For additional information, access http://www.clearone.com.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

     ClearOne Contact:
     Mark Child
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     mark.child@clearone.com

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SOURCE ClearOne Communications Inc.