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Lucent and Compaq Join With Agora Interactive to Reengerize the $22
Billion Pay-Per-Use Entertainment Market
January 20, 1999 8:29 AM
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 20, 1999--Lucent Technologies, Compaq Computer
Corporation, and Agora Interactive have joined together to produce the delivery system for the next
wave of high-speed internet network services bringing E-Commerce and interactive entertainment to
the public venue. Agora Interactive is planning on being the first to tackle head-on the coin-operated
amusement industry traditionally devoted to non-PC based platforms.
Agora Interactive, using technology from Lucent and Compaq, has produced the first full-service,
full-feature PC-platform for delivering arcade quality video games, video conferencing, Internet
access, full motion video advertising, telemarketing, coupon vending/tracking, and the on-line sale of
merchandise. This system promises to bring full E-commerce to the public regardless of location,
faster and more reliably than home systems are capable of providing. While home PCs average $700
and operate on a $20 internet connection, the new system will operate on a state-of-the-art Compaq
PC and be linked at roughly 50 times more power than the standard 28.8Kbit home connection.
Lucent Technologies plans to integrate its industry-leading LCV(TM) ("Lucent Collaborative Video")
platform to provide unprecedented low bandwidth, low cost, high broadcast quality IP desktop
platform providing up to 16 independent video windows without the need for a prohibitively expensive
multi-control unit. Combined with Compaq systems, the synergy of these companies have produced
the first true example of the next generation in public-access internet platforms.
For two years Compaq, Intel, and Microsoft have spearheaded development of PC-based strategies
to consume the pay-per-use amusement industry, a $22 billion business. Rising to the occasion,
Lucent, Bell Labs, and Agora Interactive have devoted significant resources to produce a machine to
do this. Jim Newton, head of Compaq's Enterprise Project Management, has been very clear about
the fact Agora is leading the way above all others in this field. Using a proprietary mix of Compaq
technology, Lucent LCV(TM), and Agora's own technological alchemy, the new system promises to
be the first in a new age of public access to E-Commerce and on-line services.
An exclusive demonstration of this technology may be arranged this week. For more information,
contact Howard Rubin or Andrew J. Prell of Agora Interactive, Inc., at 502/585-5466 or 847/778-9341
or Robert Connaghan of Bell Labs at 732/949-1048. Private media demonstrations are planned for
Tuesday through Friday, January 19th through 22nd, at Bell Labs' Multimedia Communication
Research Department in Holmdel, New Jersey.
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