Here is the news:
Tuesday February 10, 10:46 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: VTEL Corporation
VTEL Corporation Leads Industry Task Force
The Goal is Global Multi-vendor Connectivity
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- VTEL(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: VTEL - news) is leading a multi-vendor task
force to provide technical guidance to the International Multimedia Teleconferencing Consortium (IMTC) on global
end-to-end connectivity. The initial task force meeting was held February 5-6 at VTEL's San Jose, California offices.
VTEL and IMTC had previously announced a program to move the multimedia conferencing industry towards more
seamless worldwide compatibility standards for end users. In his keynote address at the International Multimedia
Teleconferencing Consortium (IMTC) semi-annual members' forum held in November 1997, VTEL's chairman and
CEO Dick Moeller committed resources to the task and challenged others within the industry to take up the cause.
The launch of the multi-vendor task force will provide technical guidance to the IMTC. Currently, the task force is
comprised of representatives from VideoServer, Inc., Network MCI Videoconferencing, SBC Technology Resources,
Inc., Nortel (Northern Telecom), Ascend Communications, Inc., VideoServer Connections, Frontier Videoconferencing,
and VTEL.
''At the meeting we examined end-to-end connectivity from a global, inclusive viewpoint,'' said Dick Moeller, VTEL
chairman and CEO. ''We initially focused on call set-up and call in-progress stages, and divided the problems faced
there into network and user interface problems. A large portion of these problems can be attributed to 'islands of
technology' (endpoint, network interface, networks) making incorrect assumptions about each other and not passing
the right information. We are extremely pleased by the enthusiastic response from the industry and look forward to
working with other industry experts in this effort.''
''End-to-end connectivity encompasses many different technologies,'' said Kevin Reynolds, member of technical staff,
SBC Technology Resources, Inc. ''We believe that with the right focus on connectivity, visual communications will
become as ubiquitous as the phone.''
''Global end-to-end connectivity will let our users simply have a multimedia conference without worrying about
anything else,'' said Brian Pellerin, senior manager, multimedia desktop applications, Nortel (Northern Telecom).
The task force is chaired by Dr. Smita Gupta from VTEL's technology and research group San Jose, California. The
task force plan of action includes defining end-to-end connectivity from user perspective, identifying and eliminating the
failure modes, developing requirements and establishing test procedures.
''The meeting was very productive. Clearly global connectivity is a very real problem for all users,'' said Dr. Gupta.
''Global connectivity is a problem that can be solved only by multi-vendor effort due to the blending of technologies.
With the combined effort of VTEL and partners, we are taking on this large unmanageable problem and breaking it into
manageable solvable smaller problems. This needs to be done in order to move the multimedia industry to the next
level.''
''VTEL strongly believes the focus on the visual communications industry must be on an array of products and
services that are customer centered, easy to use, and based on a microcomputer architecture. In addition, products
must be scaleable, cost-efficient, upgradeable, and be managed like any other node on the corporate LAN/WAN,''
adds Ly-Huong Pham, vice president engineering and chief technology officer. ''When these factors become the
industry focus, the acceptance of all products in the industry will increase dramatically.''
Participating companies and task force members attending the two day meeting in San Jose included: Arnold Lim,
product manager, Ascend Communications, Inc.; Bob Rettig, senior manager of advanced conferencing, Network MCI
Videoconferencing; Brian Pellerin, senior manager, multimedia desktop applications, Nortel; Kevin Reynolds, member
of technical staff, SBC Technology Resources, Inc. and; Dan Zeck, director, engineering, VideoServer, Inc.
VideoServer Connections and Frontier Videoconferencing were also represented at the meeting.
The multi-vendor global connectivity task force has tentatively scheduled its next meeting for March 26-27.
VTEL Corporation is the world's largest developer and manufacturer of Digital Visual Communications(TM) systems.
VTEL's innovative family of products provide superior video, data and voice quality, are simple-to-use, IP addressable,
and because they are microcomputer-based, highly scaleable and easily upgradeable. Headquartered in Austin,
Texas, the company distributes products through value-added resellers and partners in 54 countries. VTEL is
committed to expanding its leadership position by providing the world's most innovative video networking solutions.
VTEL's digital visual communication systems are deployed in the most advanced corporations, healthcare facilities,
educational institutions, and government operations around the globe.
VTEL is a registered trademark of VTEL Corporation. Digital Visual Communications is a trademark of VTEL
Corporation.
VTEL Corporation, 108 Wild Basin Road, Austin, Texas, 78746.
512-437-2700, Fax: 512-437-2792
VTEL Website: vtel.com |
