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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Jennifer Middlin
TechSmith Corporation
Voice: +1 (517) 381-2697
E-mail: j.middlin@techsmith.com

Chad Wandler
Split Rock Communications for TechSmith
Voice: +1 (703) 548-3630
E-mail: chad@splitrockpr.com

TechSmith Debuts UserVue for Remote, Web-based User Experience Research

Customers Can Be Observed Any Time, Any Place, Providing Researchers with Dramatic Cost Savings and Productivity Increases

Okemos, MI – September 25, 2006 - TechSmith Corp., the world’s leading provider of screen capture and recording solutions, today announced the immediate availability of UserVue (formerly the Astoria Project), a Web-based service that enables organizations to connect remotely with customers in their natural environment, using their own computers, to conduct research on the desktop applications and websites they use.

UserVue’s intuitive Web-based service makes it easy to set up and schedule remote sessions, and invite participants and observers who can watch the customer’s live interaction and listen to what they say in real time. With UserVue, organizations can conduct user experience research, testing, and design validation sessions to gather qualitative feedback and gain accurate insights and data. A synchronized digital recording of the remote session can also be shared with others after the session ends.

"Since Quicken Loans originates loans in all 50 states, we require national representation for user experience research – that’s why UserVue’s remote capabilities are so important to us," said Jarrett Knyal, Web User Experience Manager, Quicken Loans. "A lot of times even though I’m performing tests with UserVue, I’m not necessarily a stakeholder. With the observers watching in real-time, they can use the chat feature to tell me what questions they want answers to. This way, I can get the project teams directly involved in the sessions, and to experience the customer’s reaction first hand."

Unlike other user experience and Web-conferencing tools, UserVue is specifically designed to put the focus on the customer’s experience so observers can collaborate in real time during the session without disturbing the customer. Additionally, UserVue recordings and data seamlessly integrate with TechSmith’s Morae user experience testing software to conduct more in-depth analysis if desired.

"UserVue is a fast, affordable and easy-to-use research solution so organizations can understand first hand how, and especially why, customers choose to interact with applications and Web sites," said Shane Lovellette, User Experience Product Manager at TechSmith. "It takes the guesswork out of product development and replaces it with empirical data about what customers actually want. This helps organizations rapidly deliver better products and services."

Lovellette added, "When we released Morae in 2004, it revolutionized user experience testing and it has been adopted by thousands of users. We expect UserVue to revolutionize the way remote user experience research is conducted so even more organizations can start their own programs."

With UserVue’s intuitive Web-based service, it’s easy to set up and schedule sessions and invite participants and observers.

• The Facilitator can set up and conduct test sessions, view and record sessions, and communicate with the participant using an easy, integrated teleconferencing and chat service, collaborate with multiple remote observers, and log important points with custom markers.
• The Participant receives an email invitation and downloads the Participant component for a secure connection. Once connected to UserVue, the facilitator and observer(s) can observe the participant’s screen as they use a website or application. With firewall-friendly connections, a simple user interface, and automated teleconference calling, UserVue makes it easy for users to participate. The participant can stop the session at any time and the component is automatically removed from the participant’s computer when the session ends.
• The Observer(s) can view the participant’s chat and desktop activity, collaborate over chat with other observers and the facilitator, hear session audio, log important points with markers, and add notes. Up to 10 observers can be connected at once and observers don’t need to call into a conference line because UserVue streams the session audio through their speakers.

Pricing and Availability
UserVue supports Microsoft Windows XP and Windows 2000. The UserVue service is currently only available in the United States and Canada. Monthly subscriptions are available for $149 and annual subscriptions for $1,495. A seven-day access pass can be requested from: https://uservue.techsmith.com/trial/newtrial.aspx or visit www.uservue.com for more information.

About TechSmith Corporation
TechSmith Corporation was founded in 1987 and is located in Okemos, Michigan. TechSmith provides practical business software tools to capture and manipulate images, voice and video from Windows desktops. The company's flagship software packages, SnagIt and Camtasia Studio, enable customers to create visually enhanced content for teaching, training, Web sites, documentation, and business presentations. Morae is the first and only all-digital solution for recording and analyzing human-computer interaction. TechSmith products are used by 98 percent of the Fortune 500. For additional information, visit http://www.techsmith.com.

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TechSmith, Camtasia, SnagIt, Rich Recording Technology (RRT), Morae, EnSharpen, Dubit, Camtasia Studio, and UserVue are trademarks of TechSmith Corporation. All other trademarks and registered trademarks used in this document are the property of their respective companies.

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