This news release came out after market closed... Another sign of dorminance, this one through the private label channel.
Ameritech to co-brand PictureTel's new compact videoconferencing system
ANDOVER, Mass., and CHICAGO, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- PictureTel Corporation(Nasdaq: PCTL), the world leader in videoconferencing technologies, and Ameritech Corporation (NYSE: AIT), a full-service global communications company, today announced a co-branding agreement in which Ameritech has agreed to resell, under private label, PictureTel's SwiftSite(TM) compact videoconferencing system.
This agreement further strengthens the two companies' ongoing alliance to provide videoconferencing products and services to Ameritech's usiness customers. The world's first compact videoconferencing system, swiftSite combines PictureTel's industry-leading, standards-based video and audio performance in a small, self-contained unit that sits on top of the TV monitor to which it is connected. SwiftSite's camera, microphone and video and audio compression components are in a fully integrated, one-piece design that is easy to install, operate and transport. The system, which has a U.S. list price of $8,995, runs on a single ISDN line.
The agreement represents a solid gain for both companies. It enables
Ameritech to better address the ever-expanding needs of its customers by offering applications specific to its growing base of ISDN customers while enabling PictureTel to team with one of the fastest growing communications companies, further expanding the market for SwiftSite.
"Ameritech is committed to making quality videoconferencing available to our customers, especially small office and branch office users for whom group videoconferencing was often too expensive and impractical," said Julia Skladman, Ameritech director of video business services. "By making this service available, we are fulfilling, in a very affordable way, a customer need that hasn't been met before."
As part of Ameritech's commitment to making sure the technology was as easy to use as it is affordable, it was tested by the company's Human Factors group, a group of recognized experts in the field of usability and user acceptance of technology. "We believe our customers are going to find this very easy to use," Skladman said.
Steve Chambers, vice president of product marketing for PictureTel's group Systems Division, said, "We're pleased to continue our ongoing collaboration with Ameritech and even more excited about their decision to co-brand our SwiftSite product. This decision reflects the market's excitement about a fully integrated, portable, standards-based, compact videoconferencing product and underscores Ameritech's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction." |
