PARIS, December 7 /PRNewswire/ -- At the prize-giving ceremony for the UJJEF 21st "Communication and Enterprise" Annual Contest, on Thursday 29th November at Cirque d'Hiver-Bouglione in Paris, prizes were awarded for companies' most innovative communication strategies. SPIE was nominated in the e-communication category for its virtual library.

Constituting a vector for the Group image and a user-friendly tool benefiting from media convergence, the SPIE virtual library offers a new way of consulting and optimising the content of publications (brochures, activity reports, magazines, etc.) for uses both on-line (Internet, Intranet, Extranet) and off-line (interactive terminals, digital printing, etc.).

When paper becomes interactive

To accompany the deployment of its new identity, SPIE rolled out an original electronic editorial system christened the "virtual library". This is based on an electronic format developed by the Bee Buzziness company in specific response to SPIE's communication objectives. It represents a major technological leap in the field of virtual documentation.

The system set up by SPIE enables the Group to integrate all its internal and external publications comprehensively and seamlessly with the Group's internet and multimedia communication tools.

By offering new features and increased contents for its printed documents, SPIE's virtual library increases the impact and the accessibility of Group publications and opens up new horizons for virtual documents.

Taking advantage of media convergence

Reading comfort and pleasure are heightened by the user-friendly document interface and the unmatched simulation of page kinematics and types of paper. What is more, internet users can now access documents published by SPIE in all their original formats.

The addition of numerous features gives documents in the virtual library a genuine utility value. Dynamic multilingualism allows readers to switch the language of the documents they are reading at will. The new rich media system, integrating sound, voice synthesis and video, and the inclusion of many interactive links in documents make it a real pleasure to read the Group's publications and explore the SPIE website.

All the documents in the SPIE virtual library can be accessed on the Group website: http://www.spie.com/. A new version of this website will come on line by the end of 2007.

About SPIE:

As a specialist in electrical, mechanical and HVAC engineering, energy, communications and infrastructure, SPIE supports and brings innovative solutions to local authorities and businesses to design, build, operate and maintain their facilities.

SPIE's 26,500 employees work from nearly 400 locations in 28 countries providing advanced technical services and solutions to meet the current and future challenges of both local and international customers.

About Bee-Buzziness:

Bee-Buzziness innovates, creates and develops Web 2.0 and Print technologies for companies' sales, communication and marketing strategies.

In creating its BeeSuite 2.0 software suite, which is completely accessible and managed via a simple web browser, Bee-Buzziness is focused on the utility value of technologies for the fields of communication and marketing. After seven years of R&D always conducted in real, operational contexts, Bee-Buzziness will present all the innovations provided by its technologies and their application in 2008.

(1) UJJEF - Communication and Enterprise: Union des journaux et journalistes d'entreprises de France (French union of corporate newspapers and journalists)

CONTACT: SPIE SA, Pascal Omnes, Directeur de la communication, Tel.
+33(0)1-34-22-58-21, pascal.omnes@spie.com, http://www.spie.com/