VideoServer Announces Key Enhancements to Encounter Family of IP Conferencing Products First to Support T1 Transfer Rates for Superior Video Quality
October 22, 1998
NETWORLD+INTEROP, ATLANTA, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ via NewsEdge Corporation -- VideoServer, Inc. (Nasdaq: VSVR), the global leader in networked conferencing, today announced the availability of version 1.2 of its Encounter(TM) family of IP conferencing products. With this announcement, VideoServer is the first company to support transfer rates in H.323 multipoint conferences as high as 1.5 Mbps. The Encounter products provide business quality multipoint, multi-network conferencing for audio, video and data collaboration.
"We've seen increasing demand for multipoint conferencing and collaboration from a number of our customers piloting these products and looking to enable their own networks to support them," said Marty Falaro, vice president of marketing and business development at VideoServer. "We are helping to pave the way for growth in IP conferencing implementation by bridging the gaps among diverse network infrastructures to enable the highest quality multipoint conferences that leverage the corporate network."
The Encounter Family consists of the Encounter NetServer, an H.323 Multimedia Conference Server (MCS); Encounter NetGate, a gateway connecting ISDN and IP conferencing endpoints; and Encounter Gatekeeper, a policy manager for networked conferencing. Together, these products integrate essential multipoint services, gateway functionality and conferencing management into one seamless conferencing solution.
Version 1.2 offers customers more scalability, higher quality conferencing, and improved productivity. With this upgrade, the Encounter family provides conference administrators with detailed reporting views and increased browser platform support to include Microsoft IE 4.0. Conference administrators can easily access a current and historical event log of both system and session activities using a web browser interface. With this information, adminstrators aid in the diagnosis of problems and analysis for future network expansion.
Encounter NetServer 1.2 Supports More Users at Faster Speeds
The Encounter NetServer 1.2, an H.323 Multimedia Conference Server (MCS), provides high quality conferencing support for an increased number of users.
It offers the following new features:
-- Increased System Capacity -- Delivering a scalable enterprise solution, the Encounter NetServer 1.2 will now support up to 32, H.323 conferencing users in both the Workgroup and Enterprise Chassis.
-- Higher Transfer Rates -- Encounter NetServer 1.2 is the only conference server that supports transfer rates up to 1.5 Mbps (T1) providing high quality conferencing with support for the highest available endpoint speeds.
-- Preferred Broadcaster Mode -- In addition to VideoServer's voice activated feature, the Encounter NetServer 1.2 enables the conference participants to choose a video presentation mode to best suit customer environment and application. The conference can be set to show a preferred broadcaster, which is particularly useful for distance learning or company presentations.
-- Invite Support -- Encounter NetServer 1.2 adds support for calling out to H.323 conference participants. This can be done on a scheduled basis (i.e. Encounter NetServer 1.2 automatically calls participants at the start of the conference) or on an ad hoc basis (i.e. Users call another conference participant during a conference).
Encounter NetGate 1.2 Enhances Conferencing Quality
VideoServer's Encounter NetGate 1.2, a gateway connecting ISDN and IP conferencing points to deliver business quality audio, video, and data conferencing, has added new features that enhance the quality of the conference.
-- Increased System Capacity -- Encounter NetGate's scalability enables workgroup chassis users to conduct 12 concurrent sessions and Enterprise chassis users up to 16 sessions providing a scalable enterprise solution with continued investment protection.
-- Higher Conference Quality -- Encounter NetGate 1.2 ensures synchronization of audio and video for a smoother conferencing experience. Encounter NetGate will also be able to connect conference endpoints into a T.120 multipoint conference to enhance data conferencing abilities.
-- Simplified WAN to LAN Dialing -- H.320 users can now dial the numeric alias of the H.323 endpoint by using DTMF tones. For Direct Inward Dial (DID) users, ISDN endpoints can call IP endpoints by using a unique phone number. By offering several methods to dial remote endpoints, Encounter NetGate makes it easier to bring together H.320 and H.323 endpoints.
Encounter Gatekeeper 1.2 Eases Management
The Encounter Gatekeeper 1.2 is a policy manager for networked conferencing. The following new feature has been added in the latest version:
-- MicroSoft ILS Support -- Encounter Gatekeeper 1.2 supports Microsoft Internet Locator Service, a directory server that is used to find active users in intranet environments. The new feature enables users to easily identify other conferencing enabled users.
Pricing and Availability
Encounter Version 1.2 will be available on November 4, 1998. Encounter NetServer 1.2 starts at $24,990 for an eight-user system; Encounter NetGate starts at $20,165 for a four-session system; and Encounter Gatekeeper starts at $2,900. For existing Encounter users, please contact your local VideoServer representative for upgrade information.
About VideoServer
VideoServer, Inc. (Nasdaq: VSVR) is the leading global provider of networked conferencing solutions that enable people in multiple locations to communicate together using any combination of audio, video and data. VideoServer connects employees, customers, and partners, reliably to each other by providing seamless integration of networked conferencing over LANs, WANs, and any IP-based network. The Company's Multimedia Conference Servers (MCSs) and other products provide multipoint conferencing, gateway services, and conference control network management and bandwidth management. VideoServer sells its products worldwide through leading resellers and integrators, as well as remarketers of videoconferencing and networking solutions. VideoServer also sells directly to providers of conferencing services, including Internet Service Providers, telecommunication carriers, Regional Bell Operating Companies and global PTTs.
NOTE: The VideoServer logo is a registered trademark of VideoServer, Inc. Encounter and Velocity are trademarks of VideoServer, Inc. Additional information on VideoServer and its products is available at videoserver.com
SOURCE VideoServer, Inc.
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