In today's complicated business environment, companies need to communicate effectively with all of its stakeholders. Organizations are looking for new ways to reach, engage and interact with their employees, customers and partners, without problems of different time zones and locations.

Looking to communicate more effectively and easily with its audience, IBM (News - Alert) has selected ON24 Inc., a provider of webcasting and virtual event solutions for its upcoming IBM Impact Social Happy Hour, scheduled for May 1, 2012, from 4:00-5:00 p.m. at the IBM Impact Social Playground at Impact 2012 in Las Vegas.

IBM Software's Impact 2012 is an important conference for leaders in various domains. The conference assembles more than 9,000 technology and business professionals at a single event. Business leaders discuss and learn how modern technologies can influence the way companies operate, the company stated in a press release.

Apart from ON24's involvement in the Impact Social Happy Hour, there will also be an interview of company representative Andrew Fritts via live stream at 2:45 p.m. on May 1. The interview is expected to focus on the social enterprise and virtual communications, and streamed live on Impact TV – the official online video channel of the event.

“We are pleased to be involved with Impact 2012, as both IBM and ON24 understand that social business strategies can drive tremendous competitive advantage," said Denise Persson, CMO of ON24. "We're looking forward to demonstrating how social media and virtual communications platforms can work together to make business more dynamic, collaborative and efficient.”

ON24 recently teamed up with MedData Group to announce that 84.1 percent of surveyed doctors want to attend continuing medical education (CME) training online. This was followed by: Pharmaceutical Education – 31.6 percent, Dinner Meetings – 29.4 percent and Medical Device Training – 27.1 percent.

However, only 6.4 percent said they actually participate in virtual training or any type of virtual event very often. But that's set to change.