The history of telemedicine->VideoLan Announces Xchange Family of Visual Communication Solutions
LOUISVILLE, Ky, Oct. 20, 1997--VideoLan Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:VLNTD) today announced its innovative next generation of video enterprise exchange products. The newly introduced family of products, the Visual Xchange System (VXS(tm)), allows users to visually communicate, share data, and have universal access to video resources. The VXS product family is unique in its ability to integrate any video or visual information source into a conference, and be fully controllable by the users during conferences. In addition, the new products offer exceptionally high standards in visual communication, transmitting NTSC quality video, stereo audio, switch signaling and point-to-point data. This system is the first total network solution for visual communications, allowing access to features from video PBX and stand-alone remote systems, as well as providing backward compatibility with H.320 systems. The VXS series of packaged visual communication solutions is geared to the specific needs of businesses and universities. These cutting-edge solutions are ideally suited for desktop video conferencing, transmission of medical images, distance learning, archival access, distribution of business television, and communication with remote corporate users, among other applications.
"The VXS family of products provides an entirely new dimension of visual information interchange in addition to traditional video conferencing," said Jack Shirman, CEO of VideoLan Technologies. "The advanced capabilities of the VXS product family make it possible for VideoLan to move past the limitations of the 'videoconferencing' label and pioneer a broader 'visual communications' market."
With the introduction of the VXS product line, VideoLan provides advanced video networking products that operate with a broad range of public network architectures and bandwidths with one of the widest ranges of network interfaces on the market today. These include ISDN at 1BRI, 3BRI, and PRI bandwidths, as well as T1/El capabilities in a range of interface formats that all incorporate the H.320 video compression standards. Other wide-area-network (WAN) interfaces include dark fiber, satellite, and microwave network, which extend uncompressed video transmission throughout metropolitan areas and worldwide networks.
The system also offers full interoperability with video conferencing systems from other manufacturers, as well as other H.320 based board room, roll-about or desktop systems by direct dialing a single party or multi-party call. Incoming calls from these systems are handled through an operator in the same manner as a rotary telephone connecting to a corporate network via an automated attendant service. All of the VXS products are overlay arrangements that do not impact or utilize resources on the customer's internal data network.
The VXS(tm) Product Family
Visual Communications Xchange (VCX(tm)) - VideoLan's flagship product, the VCX, is the most completely integrated video and visual information distribution network available on the market today. VCX is designed to serve all levels in a corporation from large corporate offices to remote field offices and even work-at-home employees. It operates over public and private network facilities and is as easy to use as a telephone.
Additionally, the system has most of the customary features expected in a PBX. VCX can distribute various forms of video and visual material from active calls, servers, cameras, live feeds, tape decks, etc., and then share those resources with anyone on the network. These capabilities bring significantly higher business and market value of video information to the end-user. Call restrictions can be placed on users as required.
The VCX can be configured so users can access and control nearly any kind of video or visual information source that can be attached to the network including: remote controllable cameras, live television feeds, and VCRs mounting corporate training tapes. The VCX network can be set up to allow users to access video archives, and with desktop interactive control, navigate the indexes, locate visual material, preview and select the content desired, then view or download the selected visual information.
Remote Communications Xchange (RCX(tm)) - RCX(tm) is offered as part of an H.320 kit that can be installed in any stand-alone PC. This package supports all the typical desktop video conferencing functions, as well as access to and direct connection through a VCX directory to any user or video system on the local network. The RCX package can be optioned for bandwidths from 128 kbps through T-1/E-1 or broadband, and on any of the wide-area circuit architectures supported by VCX.
Like the VCX, an RCX can connect and interoperate with an existing worldwide base of installed H.320 standard video conferencing systems. RCX would typically be used in remote locations for work-at-home employees or company satellite offices.
Multimedia Visual Xchange (MVX(tm)) and Campus Video Xchange (CVX(tm)) systems - Both of these new products take advantage of the VCX architecture, provide a PBX-like switch and support high bandwidth video and multimedia traffic of television quality and frame rates within the local area. The CVX is a low cost start-up package to provide solely traditional video conferencing and video broadcast/cross-connect access within a campus environment. The MVX offers these same capabilities along with multi-party video conferencing functions, including continuous presence multi-party video, data conferencing, point-to-point broadcasting, and device controls.
Features And Benefits
All of the VideoLan products are sold as a fully integrated enterprise network, in which all network elements are configured to customer requirements. The Visual Xchange Systems product family is based on VideoLan's initial market entry the VL2000. Other distinguishing features and benefits of the VXS include:
NTSC quality video, stereo audio, switch signaling and point-to-point data
Transmission over the unused twisted pairs in a corporate data network without interference to the local area network (LAN)
Ability to install on LAN-independent, and PBX-independent Unshielded Twisted Pair environments
True switching fabric allows for modular growth, making it easy for businesses to expand their system as their internal needs grow
Supports video "trunks" between itself and remote switches, and provides the traditional calling features such as call hold, call transfer, direct-inward dial, automated attendant, three and four-way calling, electronic messaging, and caller identification
Provides support for traditional videoconferencing capabilities such as data collaboration, and point-to-point data transfer and supports dedicated and dial-tip video connections directly to remote standalone RCX units and other remote third party video conferencing systems.
Can be equipped with gateways that interconnect VideoLan switches over fiber or copper facilities within a private enterprise environment and via H.320 codes that communicate to other VideoLan switches, stand-alone users, and group/roll-about systems in remote locations
Pricing And Availability
The VXS product line is shipping currently and certain individual network elements, like the RCX, are also available independent of a complete network. Pricing for a basic system VCX starts at $3,000 per port, for an eight-user, 16-port system. Pricing for the RCX starts at under $2,000 per desktop. Pricing will vary and substantial volume discounts are available to resellers.
About VideoLan
VideoLan Technologies Inc., a development-stage company, is a premier developer of visual communications and information distribution solutions based upon its Metallic Fiber(tm) transmission and broadband switching technology. VideoLan's technology enables broadcast-quality transport of high-speed, bi-directional, real-time voice, data and video over existing twisted pair copper wire infrastructures.
Contact:
VideoLan Technologies Inc.
Lee Pierhal,
502-266-0099 ext. 19
lpierhal@aol.com
or
Rourke-MS&myonL
Amy Conefrey,
617-267-1909 ext. 303
aconefrey@rourke.com |
