HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY: Vapps, Inc., provider of affordable, flat-rate audio conferencing services with lifelike, in-the-room sound quality, has announced adoption of High-Definition Conferencing (HD-C) as its new brand to better reflect the crisp, crystal-clear audio fidelity of its audio conferences via Skype Internet communications. High-Definition Conferencing replaces Vapps' previous brand, High-Speed Conferencing, effective immediately.

"We want to let everyone know Vapps is raising the bar on sound quality in audio conferencing because we're the only conferencing company able to give users a 'high definition' audio experience through Skype, while still admitting participants on any kind of phone," said Vapps CEO Ben Lilienthal.

"When we speak, our voices produce sound in the 20 Kilohertz (KHz) range and our ears hear 20 KHz, but the copper wiring of traditional telephone networks supports only 3.5 KHz. Our High-Definition Conferencing operates in the 16 KHz range for Skype audioconferencing, a quality difference you can easily hear. At the same time, we conference in traditional telecom users, so that no one is excluded.

"We believe it's definitely a tool for improved productivity because High-Definition Conferencing participants tell us the clarity they're experiencing lets them better understand everyone speaking, especially those with foreign accents," he said. "It stands to reason that people who can hear each other more clearly will work together more efficiently. This is especially important for very large group meetings with more than 100 participants."

Lilienthal said Vapps has a newly redesigned Website for users to learn about and sign up for High-Definition Conferencing: www.hidefconferencing.com.

Vapps recently updated its Skype Extra, a plug-in that launches the full feature set of its Web-enabled service from within Skype. Those on Skype may click on the "Do More" menu option to open the HD-C plug-in, which will now appear and operate in Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and Polish, in addition to English.

From that interface, they can start meetings on the spot, inviting fellow Skype users by sending automated chat messages. (Should Skype contacts be caught with their headphones unplugged, the chat invite offers a telephone phone number for joining the conference as well.) They can also click on the interface's "schedule" button, auto-logging into the HD-C site, to schedule meetings of as many as 500 attendees and send e-mail invitations to others, as well as their Skype contacts.