Closing a third round of financing - led by Menlo Ventures and including all existing investors - the 'personal telepresence' biggie Vidyo Inc has raised $15 million. With the latest investment, a total of $38 million funding has been raised by Vidyo ever since the company came into being in 2005.

The new funding round also marks some significant top-notch executive appointments for Vidyo - while Menlo Ventures Managing Director, Doug Carlisle joins as a new member of the Vidyo Board; Finjan Inc's Ezra Sofer joins as Vidyo's first Chief Financial Officer.

Over the last couple of years, Vidyo's pioneering technology and products - its trademark next-gen video conferencing termed personal telepresence - have been overwhelmingly received around the globe. The technology has won industry honors and awards like DemoGod award, Best of Interop, and the recent Frost & Sullivan's 2009 Conferencing and Collaboration Product of the Year.

Personal telepresence has facilitated multi-party web communiqué, with natural HD video quality and general-purpose IP networks. With new funds coming in, Vidyo would explore expansion prospects, along with improving support to its rising customer base and partners.

About the funding, Vidyo CEO Ofer Shapiro said that raising "a substantial amount of funding from such top tier investors during this global economic downturn, speaks volumes about the strength of our technology and products in the video conferencing market."