3Com's Bigpicture Video Group and White Pine Software Announce New Partnership; Industry Leaders Join Forces to Deliver Comprehensive Video Hardware and Software Solutions
Business Wire - November 12, 1998 08:23
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 1998--Continuing to deliver leading desktop PC video solutions, global networking leader 3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS) and White Pine Software Inc. (Nasdaq: WPNE), a leading provider of IP-based videoconferencing applications, today announced a new partnership to provide complete hardware and software video solutions to the mass market. Both companies are teaming to advance desktop videoconferencing in consumer, education and corporate spaces worldwide through co-marketing and the development of fully-compatible solutions for the channel.
This relationship between two major industry players is intended to offer both corporate and consumer users alike a high-quality, scalable Internet videoconferencing solution as well as collaboration opportunities in either one-on-one or group conferences. The relationship will leverage both companies' solutions in desktop video for the consumer market and extend their reach into the corporate and education markets.
"This new alliance is a great thing for the videoconferencing market as a whole," said Andrew Davis, senior consultant for Forward Concepts. "It brings together the highest quality desktop video product with one of the most popular video software clients available today -- offering video solutions that will reach into the corporate network as well as into people's homes."
3Com has selected White Pine's award-winning CU-SeeMe(R) software-based video client, with an installed base of millions of users globally, as the multi-point video chat product of choice to be used with its award-winning Bigpicture(R) video phone products. When used with White Pine's MeetingPoint(tm) conference server, CU-SeeMe software will provide users access to standards-based (H.323 and T.120) group conferences that can also include Microsoft(R) NetMeeting(R) clients. Together, the Bigpicture video phone and CU-SeeMe client software will provide complete videoconferencing solutions for a variety of applications for consumers, businesses and educational institutions.
"We are thrilled about our new relationship with White Pine because it adds multi-point capabilities and a complete video solution for our customers working from the home or office," said Rob Hudson, video product line manager for 3Com Corporation. "The scalability and high quality of our Bigpicture products coupled with White Pine's dynamic conferencing products, enables all types of group interaction -- whether it's point-to-point, small group conferencing, distance learning or corporate training."
"White Pine has teamed with 3Com and selected Bigpicture as the 'PCI camera of choice' because of its image quality and performance," said Killko Caballero, president of White Pine Software. "We are pleased to join forces with a leader in both the consumer and networking communications markets. We expect this relationship to provide for more complete IP-based videoconferencing solutions to business, consumer and education markets."
3Com Bigpicture Video Phone
3Com's Bigpicture video phone camera and PCI capture card (product number 1689-01) is currently available for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $159.95 in the U.S and ships complete with a 30 fps video capture card, color video camera, suite of video communications and editing software. The system includes a video applications launcher, a video phone software suite supporting H.323 point-to-point, multi party video chat, video e-mail, video capture and editing. It can be used with LAN networks, analog, ISDN, cable, and DSL technologies. For additional information about Bigpicture video phone products, visit 3Com's Web site at http:www.3com.com/bigpicture.
White Pine Conferencing Products
CU-SeeMe is the only cross platform product capable of H.323 interoperability via Windows 95/NT and MacOS. It is available in all major retail outlets and can also be downloaded via the Web for $69.
MeetingPoint is the industry's first H.323 standards-based conferencing server, enables multipoint group conferences and full interoperability between users of standard H.323 clients including Microsoft NetMeeting, Intel ProShare, PictureTel LiveLAN, White Pine CU-SeeMe and others. MeetingPoint ranges from $8,995 for a 10-user server to $15,995 for a 25-user server.
ClassPoint(tm), White Pine's newest vertical application, is an interactive distance learning/corporate training product that combines real-time audio, video, text chat, whiteboard sharing, and Web touring for synchronous learning. It is available for Windows NT and Solaris operating environments and licenses are sold in 10 and 25 user bundles, with pricing ranging from $6,395 to $12,995 for business, and from $5,095 to $10,395 for education, government and non-profit organizations.
About White Pine Software
White Pine Software develops multimedia conferencing applications tailored to education, training and business. The company is focused on providing application-specific solutions that enrich the way people interact, moderate, and administer conferences in real-world conference situations. The company's vision is to enable the convergence of audio, video and data to provide users an enjoyable and rewarding conferencing experience. White Pine Software can be found on the World Wide Web at wpine.com.
About 3Com
3Com Corporation enables individuals and organizations worldwide to communicate and share information and resources at anytime from anywhere. As one of the world's preeminent suppliers of data, voice and video communications technology, 3Com has delivered networking solutions to more than 200 million customers worldwide. The company provides large enterprises, small and medium enterprises, carriers and network service providers, and consumers with comprehensive, innovative information access products and system solutions for building intelligent, reliable and high performance local and wide area networks. For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at 3com.com or the press site at http//www.3Com.com/pressbox.
Note to Editors: 3Com and Bigpicture are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation. CU-SeeMe is a registered trademark and MeetingPoint and ClassPoint are trademarks of White Pine Software, Inc. Microsoft and NetMeeting are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. All other company names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.
CONTACT: 3Com Public Relations
Mike Beltrano, 847/262-2331
mike_beltrano@3com.com
or
White Pine Public Relations
Tanya Prather, 603/886-9050 x359
tprather@wpine.com
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