Sergio,
news....
Wednesday November 4, 10:38 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Celerity Systems, Inc.
New Digital Set Top Box Ready for Market from
Celerity Systems
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Celerity Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLRT - news) announced the availability of
its revolutionary T 6000(TM) digital set top box. The T 6000 is aimed at the upper tier of the interactive services market and
features full support for interactive TV and interactive digital services, internet, analog and digital television, home energy
management, and other applications.
''We believe that this is the box the interactive digital industry has been waiting for,'' said Ken Van Meter, Celerity's President
and CEO. ''In order to maximize the revenue potential of a wire into a home, a hospital room, a hotel room or a dorm room,
we believe network operators will need to offer linear television channels, internet, and a wide range of services such as home
energy management, shopping, banking, education, security and healthcare monitoring, advertising, and community services.
The incremental cost of a full service digital set top, such as the T 6000 is small compared to its incremental revenue potential.
This is especially true when you take into account the potential for incremental market share and protection from competition
and turnover. We think full service digital set tops are the key to the proliferation of the products and services we have all
wanted for years, and Celerity is excited to be leading the way in this new technology.''
Potential markets for the T 6000 including telephone companies, cable companies, electric companies, hospitals and assisted
care facilities, universities, multiple dwelling units, and the hospitality industry. Numerous corporate applications also fit the T
6000 design, including training, corporate communications, and retailing.
The T 6000 is designed to operate on a variety of network platforms, and includes ATM 25.6, Ethernet(TM) 10BaseT, and
DAVIC Utopia A0 interfaces. The unit supports a wide array of input and output ports, including front and rear Universal Serial
Bus ports, modulated analog video, composite video, S-video and VGA, audio and video line in and out, a serial
communications port, MPEG-2 stereo audio out, and dual independent microphone jacks.
The T 6000 is an attractive unit weighing only six pounds. Its design allows flat placement on PCs or TVs or vertical stacking
beside the display to conserve space. For applications such as retailing, where a hard wired remote is optimum, the T 6000 can
be placed out of sight.
The T 6000 comes with a universal remote control, which includes Web navigation functions, and an optional wireless keyboard
with integrated mouse which enables easy Web browsing capability. The unit also supports wired keyboards for applications
where infrared is not possible. For international applications, a universal power supply is standard in the T 6000, and the internal
integrated NTSC tuner-modulator can be replaced with an equivalent PAL unit.
A unique feature of the T 6000 is its fully integrated CE Bus hardware package, which supports applications such as home
energy management, security monitoring and home healthcare monitoring, using the existing power lines in the home. Since the T
6000 can send simultaneous feeds to TVs and PC monitors, these functions can be managed on either device using simple and
user-friendly on-screen displays.
Other options for the T 6000 include IrDA and a SmartCard(R) reader. The dual independent 1/4 inch jacks in the front of the
T 6000 support applications such as karaoke and will also allow management of audio effects (e.g., volume, reverb, treble,
bass) on a TV or PC screen. The SmartCard(R) reader supports conditional access, electronic commerce, banking, or other
applications, depending upon the software installed.
The T 6000 is powered by a Pentium(R) or Winchip(R) processor, operating at 166 to 300 MHz. The architecture of the T
6000 offloads routine machine tasks to three other processors in the box so the main processor, already very fast, is free to
maximize applications, resulting in extremely low latency. Decoding is performed on an Oak Technologies(R) hardware decoder
and graphics are provided via an IGS graphics package which includes 2D and 3D graphics support. Two other small
processors perform system maintenance and watchdog functions and command level interpretation and execution from input
devices. Since all command inputs are mapped in software, alternative devices such as keyboards, remote controls and game
controllers. can be added by merely updating the software. These updates can be performed remotely over the network or at
the box itself.
The T 6000 comes standard with 2 MB of video RAM, 8 MB of FLASH memory, and 32 MB of socketed DRAM memory,
which can be readily upgraded to as much as 128 MB of DRAM. This amount of memory helps reduce latency and enriches
the quality of graphics and the functionality of other applications.
Because many network architectures will be deployed for interactive digital services in the years ahead, the T 6000 offers a
wide range of network connections. For high density networks, such as a hotel or hospital, implementations can be done in
which the signals travel from the server or other digital source on normal twisted copper pairs using ATM 25.6 technology.
Such networks would connect directly into the ATM 25 port on the T 6000. The same would apply to Local Area Network
(LAN) deployments using Ethernet as the network. The T 6000 also features Ethernet bridging, so the signals can move in and
out of the network, as well as feed an appliance, such as a PC, via an Ethernet card or adapter. Such connections might be
especially useful in university or corporate applications. Quite often external network devices, such as cable modems and
network interface modules (NIMs), have either ATM 25 or Ethernet as their termination, in which case those devices could also
plug directly into the appropriate T 6000 interface port.
If the network supplier wants to fully integrate their system with the T 6000, there is a fully compliant DAVIC A0 interface and
mezzanine space inside the T 6000. Tests with VDSL NIMs, for example, indicate that these devices readily integrate with the
T 6000 due to its standards compliant design. Celerity intends to support ADSL, XDSL, T1.413 Issue 2, VDSL, hybrid fiber
coax (HFC) and other networks, based on the interest and support of those network equipment vendors.
The T 6000 includes QNX(R) as the installed operating system, and a Spyglass(R) HTML browser. This allows simple and
highly functional Web browsing and easy interactive applications development. (Other operating systems are planned for future
support based on customer requirements.) The T 6000 supports network downloadable software upgrades, so alternative
operating systems can be dropped in as temporary kernels to run specific applications, or can be permanently added. A wide
array of authoring tools from Front Page(R) to Flame(R), Flint(R) and Macromedia Director(R) can be used to create
applications from simple lists or basic icons to impressive audio, video, and graphic presentations.
The T 6000 is available in production quantities from the Taylor-White Five Rivers plant in Greeneville, Tennessee, on 90-day
intervals after receipt of order. Shorter intervals may be possible for units in stock.
Future enhancements planned for the T 6000 include Dolby AC3 5.1 SurroundSound(R), Macrovision(R) copy protection,
Java support, PAL versions, and additional operating systems support.
Pricing for the T 6000 ranges from $300 to $1000, FOB Greeneville, Tennessee, based upon quantity purchased. A discount is
offered for customers who also buy Celerity digital video servers at the same time. Celerity is open to long term, high volume
programs for strategic partners. The company will also consider licensing opportunities for the T 6000.
Celerity does not intend to go it alone in promoting its new technology. ''We have some great strategic partners, including
Nortel, Fore Systems, and Minerva,'' said Van Meter, ''and we are seeking other key players to either buy or distribute T
6000s in quantity, or potentially to invest in the company and the future development of the T 6000 and our server technologies.
A recognized strategic investor would provide huge benefits in terms of validating the technology and accelerating the sales
process. Celerity is not a household word yet, and we want the push that such a partner or partners can provide.''
Celerity Systems, Inc. is a leading international provider of interactive video hardware, software and systems, and has fifteen
systems deployed in five countries.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Such statements involve various risks that may cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed in such forward looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not
limited to: market demand for the Company's products, successful implementation of the Company's products, competitive
factors, the ability to manage the Company's growth and the ability to recruit additional personnel and other risks detailed from
time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to, those described
under the caption ''Description of Business -- Risk Factors'' in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1997.
For more information, contact: Celerity Systems, Inc., 1400 Centerpoint Blvd. Knoxville, TN 37932. Phone: 423-539-5300,
Fax: 423-539-5390, Web: www.celerity.com
SOURCE: Celerity Systems, Inc |
