PC Panasonic Corp.

Businesses looking to improve productivity while lowering operating costs and becoming more environmentally responsible might want to take a close look at Panasonic's new HD Visual Communications System, introduced today at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Panasonic System Networks Company of America is showcasing the new Full HD system as a way to dramatically enhance the distance collaboration capabilities afforded by conventional video conferencing systems, providing businesses and institutions with a genuinely viable alternative to business travel.

Positioning the new system under the banner of "Business Without Boundaries," Panasonic points to its Full HD video and 360 degrees spatially accurate audio as just one part of the story. "The video and sound quality is truly impressive," says Bill Taylor, President of Panasonic System Networks Company. "You get a fabulous picture along with a smooth, natural conversation that is never clipped or hollow. This is not just a conference phone with video. It's a whole new collaborative experience that will make you feel like you're truly in the same room with your remote colleagues."

In addition to transmitting high definition video and audio, the system employs H.264 video compression technology and requires roughly half the bandwidth of competitive systems. Yet, according to Mr. Taylor, what truly separates it from competitive systems is its flexibility and scalability. It allows for Full HD images to be displayed on a wide range of HD monitors, from small-scale desktop LCDs all the way up to a 150" HD Plasma, or even projected with an HD projector on a large screen at a conference presentation or an educational institution. It also allows for multiple HD cameras to be utilized, so a second camera can be used to zoom in and share incredibly detailed images of things like the solder joints or chips on printed circuit boards, manufacturing lines, or even close-up details during medical procedures. A third option allows full-motion, high-resolution video to be transmitted over the system from laptops connected to the system.

Mr. Taylor explains: "The extraordinary resolution of this system allows you to share details that can't be easily seen with the naked eye, even by people who are present in the same room. Imagine a medical professional being able to collaborate with a remote expert on a difficult patient diagnosis that would otherwise require an in-person evaluation. Or an engineering team being able to share the finest details of a design or schematic with a remote production team. We really feel the mobility provided by our secondary portable HD cameras and the scalability of this system are potential game-changers for a variety of applications, opening up a broad spectrum of new collaborative possibilities in healthcare, education and manufacturing, to name just a few."

A complete HD Visual Communications system is comprised of a Panasonic 50-inch Full HD VIERA® Plasma TV, the codec, or main system unit, two HD Video Cameras, 360 degrees HD Audio microphone, VPN Router and an intuitive Remote Control, along with standard cables and accessories. It includes on-screen guidance and one-touch memory keys for frequent meetings, and also includes both on-site and remote technical support from Panasonic.

In addition to demonstrating the new system January 7 - 10 at the Consumer Electronics Show, Panasonic System Networks Company of America is currently setting up demonstration centers around the country to schedule presentations for interested clients. CES attendees are encouraged to visit Panasonic Booth #9405 in the Main Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center for a live demo. Interested parties can also schedule a regional presentation or acquire additional information on the system at www.panasonic.com/hdvc.

The Panasonic KX-VC500 HD Visual Communications Solution will be available in the spring of 2010.

About Panasonic System Networks Company of America

Based in Secaucus, NJ, Panasonic System Networks Company of America is a unit of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. For more information about Panasonic System Networks Company of America and its business solutions please visit: www.panasonic.com/psna. Additional company information for journalists is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

Editorial Contacts: Martha Whiteley (Panasonic) 201-348-7781 whiteleym@us.panasonic.com Bob Ankosko (GLA) 732-651-2385 bob@glapr.com MeeJin Annan-Brady (Panasonic) 201-392-6124 annan-bradym@us.panasonic.com