Bermuda-based Global Crossing Ltd. yesterday announced that it has made an equity investment in WebEx, the company that powers interactive communications on the Web.

Meanwhile Global Crossing's Conferencing Division has formed a strategic alliance that will expand both companies' product and service offerings as they integrate select services from each other.

"Clearly, business-to-business Web collaboration is a critical component to the future of conferencing,'' noted Don Poulter, Global Crossing Conferencing's President.

"The combination of our industry-leading conferencing products with WebEx's services, creates significant value for both companies' customers.

"This partnership reinforces our position as a conferencing leader in the industry by offering innovative Web applications.'' WebEx Chief Executive Officer Subrah Iyar added: "By integrating WebEx's interactive communications service with Global Crossing's conferencing solution, both companies enhance Web-based communications services for customers.

"We are thrilled to have Global Crossing as a strategic ally and investor.

They are driving dynamic changes in the communications industry, and this alliance fortifies WebEx's mission to provide customers with a seamless single source of data, voice and video communications via the Web.''