PictureTel Introduces First Business-Quality Multi-Location Conferencing Server Software
PR Newswire - April 02, 1998 10:58
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PictureTel 330 Enables Users To Meet In Virtual Conference Rooms And Perform
Audio, Video And Data Sharing Over Any IP Network
ANDOVER, Mass., April 2 /PRNewswire/ -- PictureTel Corporation
(Nasdaq: PCTL), the world leader in videoconferencing solutions, today
introduced the next generation of multi-location conferencing technology with
PictureTel 330(TM) NetConference multipoint server software. For the first
time, multiple users are able to meet in virtual conference rooms and perform
business-quality audio, video and data sharing over their existing corporate
Internet Protocol (IP) infrastructure or any IP network.
PictureTel 330, which is based on the H.323 international standard for IP-
based videoconferencing, enables up to 24 clients, consisting of individuals
or teams, to meet in virtual conference rooms where they can perform
videoconferencing as well as audio-only conferencing and data collaboration
using T.120, the international standard for data conferencing. The software
can be deployed over any IP-based network including LANs, intranets,
extranets, Virtual Private Data Networks and the Internet. It also features
the NetConference Web-center, a 100 percent pure Java(TM)-enabled Web page
used to manage the conference rooms.
"Our ongoing market research showed us that there was a large business
collaboration void that needed to be filled," said Peter Mahoney, director of
product marketing for PictureTel. "Customers wanted a system that could be
deployed easily over their existing networks to provide business-quality
conferencing and collaboration to the organization as a whole. We've met that
need with PictureTel 330."
PictureTel has a long history of leadership in H.323-based conferencing,
including co-authoring the H.323 international standard. PictureTel 330 is a
key component of PictureTel's full suite of H.323 conferencing products, which
includes LiveLAN(TM), a complete H.323 TCP/IP-based videoconferencing
solution; LiveManager(TM), an H.323-compliant gatekeeper conference management
software application; and LiveGateway(TM), an H.320 to H.323 videoconferencing
gateway. Together these products comprise a comprehensive, practical, high-
quality and affordable multimedia videoconferencing solution for the
enterprise.
Features
PictureTel 330 is H.323-based and is the first software-only server to
offer business-quality features including voice-activated video switching and
audio mixing to create a realistic and natural conference ambiance by
automatically displaying the current speaker and automatically mixing audio if
two meeting participants speak at the same time. Other key features for
business users include integrated T.120 data sharing; video source
suppression; public and private password-protected rooms; conference room
naming; directory services through the Microsoft Internet Locator Service; and
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) management.
Interoperable clients include PictureTel's high-quality, hardware-
accelerated LiveLAN, and the popular H.323/T.120-based Microsoft NetMeeting
client. H.320-based videoconferencing clients, including group, compact and
desktop systems, also can participate in a PictureTel 330 virtual conference
by using an H.320 to H.323 gateway, such as PictureTel's LiveGateway.
Customer benefits
PictureTel 330 offers customers advanced business features such as high-
quality audio and video and 100 percent pure Java-enabled Web-based
scheduling, conference management and attendance tools. With these tools
users can set up and name virtual conference rooms -- just like a traditional
conference room, in which to perform audio- and videoconferencing and
integrated T.120 data sharing. The need for a centralized conference
management resource is eliminated. These tools and features are used within a
high-quality IP conference deployed seamlessly over the corporate
infrastructure, which enables increased productivity in less time.
PictureTel 330 runs on any industry-standard PC server hardware platform
leveraging Microsoft Windows NT. It will run on an existing corporate
infrastructure and can interact with other networks through a gateway.
Working with industry leaders
PictureTel has worked closely with Microsoft Corp. and several other
industry leaders to bring multimedia collaboration to mutual customers.
"We're pleased to see PictureTel taking a standards-based approach in
offering a server that enables multi-location group conferences over a
company's intranet for real-time communication and collaboration," said Brent
Ethington, lead product manager, platform and applications group for
Microsoft. "PictureTel 330 will enhance the functionality available to users
of NetMeeting, enabling them to participate in multipoint group conferences
using audio and video in conjunction with the data conferencing capabilities
they're using today."
According to David Hurwit, chief technical director, multimedia
initiative, for 3Com, a major networking infrastructure provider, the company
has used the PictureTel 330 not only to meet its own corporate collaboration
needs but also to evaluate the market opportunities of multimedia
collaboration. "Now major account customers using 3Com networking solutions
will be able to take full advantage of the benefits of multimedia
collaboration in virtual conference rooms on an enterprise-wide basis," he
said.
Pricing and availability
PictureTel 330 NetConference multipoint server software is available as a
package that includes PictureTel's multi-location control server and
scheduling application and works with a user's existing industry-
standard PC hardware. The U.S. list price starts at $12,995 for eight-seat
configurations and $23,995 for 24-seats and is available worldwide, except in
Japan.
PictureTel currently is offering a try-and-buy program featuring a 60-day
trial software package. For more information contact the nearest PictureTel
sales office or reseller.
About PictureTel
PictureTel Corporation is the world leader in developing, manufacturing
and marketing a full range of videoconferencing solutions. The company's
systems meet customers' videoconferencing needs from the desktop to the
boardroom. PictureTel also markets network conferencing servers and a
comprehensive portfolio of enterprise-wide services. The company provides
complete videoconferencing solutions to customers in distance learning, health
care and financial services. Additional PictureTel information is available
on the Internet at www.picturetel.com. PictureTel videoconferencing
eliminates the barrier of distance, enabling people to be Anywhere Now(TM)
PictureTel is a registered trademark and PictureTel 330, LiveLAN,
LiveManager, LiveGateway, and Anywhere Now are trademarks of PictureTel
Corporation.
Other brands or products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective owners.
SOURCE PictureTel Corporation
/CONTACT: Kevin Flanagan of PictureTel Corporation, 978-292-5277,
flanagank@pictel.com/
/Web site: picturetel.com
(PCTL) |
