General DataComm Announces MPEG-2 Interface for
Multimedia Communications Over ATM
August 4, 1998
MIDDLEBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE) via
NewsEdge Corporation --
-- GDC APEX Product Family Now Supports Integrated
MPEG-2 Video Services --
General DataComm, Inc. (NYSE:GDC), a global leader in
ATM technology, announced today the availability of
its VIP-4 MPEG-2 Line Interface Module (LIM) for the
GDC APEX(R) multiservice ATM switch family. One of
the first integral ATM MPEG-2 codecs available to work
over an ATM network, the VIP-4 combines video, audio,
and data to provide full motion, premium-quality
interactive video.
MPEG-2 has become the technology of choice for
deploying a wide range of multimedia applications
including telemedicine, distance education, and premium
quality videoconferencing. GDC's VIP-4 is a highly
flexible interface that supports all MPEG-2 coding frames
(I-intra, P-predicted, and B-bidirectional), allowing users
to gain the maximum flexibility from the MPEG-2
standard. Achieving rigorous levels of compression with
minimal processing delay, VIP-4 delivers real-time
interactive video use. This allows users to minimize
bandwidth for cost-sensitive applications, such as
videoconferencing, and to easily reconfigure bandwidth
for high-quality, delay-intolerant applications, such as
collaborative surgery.
GDC's VIP-4 MPEG-2 customers include U.S. and
international companies. In particular, People's
Telephone Cooperative is distributing GDC's MPEG-2
VIP-4 technology to ET-LINC, a distant learning
consortium of independent school districts located in
east Texas. In a coordinated effort with ET-LINC, 10
school districts were responsible for the purchase of the
GDC MPEG-2 VIP-4 units required to complete the
multimedia network. ET-LINC will use this new
technology as a replacement for an older uncompressed
video system providing video distance learning and
Internet access to the rural school distracts. Linda Porter,
president of ET-LINC said, "We will now be able to
provide full-time courses to all of our school districts
despite their size or location. Additionally, our access to
the Internet will provide our students with an excellent
source of information on a global level."
"With the introduction of the VIP-4 interface, GDC offers
our customers a full range of integrated multimedia
interfaces for our GDC APEX(R) product line including
H.320, Motion JPEG, and now MPEG-2," said Charles P.
Johnson, GDC's chairman and chief executive officer.
"Our VIP-4 MPEG-2 product meets the evolving needs of
the marketplace by providing high-quality video,
flexibility, and a comprehensive feature set. In addition,
easy upgrades are available to protect customers'
investments."
The VIP-4 LIM offers extensive management capabilities.
It can be remotely configured and managed by using
either the GDC ProSphere(TM) suite of network
management applications or any SNMP-based network
management system, providing full control over video,
audio, and data parameters.
Complementing the GDC APEX(R) video capabilities is
the Multimedia Multipoint Server (MMS), the first
any-band multipoint server, which acts as a broadband
control hub for multimedia applications across ATM
networks. Video Interactive Products (VIP) modules
configured in any GDC APEX switch, combined with the
MMS, allow service providers to offer multiple
multimedia services over existing ATM infrastructures
and provide an interface to non-ATM networks via
gateways.
The addition of the VIP-4 MPEG-2 module reinforces
GDC's leadership position as a supplier of multiservice
solutions, allowing our customers to integrate video,
audio, and data services on a single platform.
About General DataComm
GDC ( gdc.com) is an acknowledged leader in
the design, development, and manufacture of
multiservice communications systems for service
providers and enterprise businesses. Its innovative
COLOSSAS(TM) architecture includes the flagship
STROBOS(TM) and GDC APEX(R) multiservice
switching platforms, used extensively within the world's
largest public ATM Wide Area Networks, and a broad
range of Advanced Network Access products to provide
integrated E1, T1, IDSL, and HDSL access to public and
private networks, all managed under a distributed, open
network management framework, ProSphere(TM). GDC is
headquartered in Connecticut, USA, and has an
extensive network of subsidiaries and partners located
throughout North America, South America, Europe, the
Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific Rim.
All GDC products mentioned in this document are
trademarks or registered trademarks of General
DataComm, Inc. All other products mentioned in this
document are the property of their respective trademark
holders.
CONTACT: Christine Byrne at General DataComm | (203)
574-1118 | christine.byrne@gdc.com | or | Suzanne
Marcarelli at LNS Communications | (617) 577-9777 |
smarcarelli@lnscom.com
|
