3Com's Bigpicture Video Phone Delivers New Video
Applications for Homes and Businesses
Video Phone System Provides Multi-Party Video Chat, Application
Sharing, Video E-mail, Capture and Editing Software Suite
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 3, 1999--
Meeting the demand for high-quality videoconferencing over PC's,
global networking leader 3Com Corporation (Nasdaq:COMS) today
announced a new version of its Bigpicture(R) video phone camera
and PCI capture card system for homes and businesses. The new
software suite provides all the video components necessary for
friends and family to stay in touch face-to-face, and for business to
collaborate with co-workers around the globe.
The new 3Com(R) Bigpicture video phone includes: White Pine
Software's CU-SeeMe(R) client-based software for point-to-point
videoconferencing, multi-point video chat and interactive
cybercasting; the latest version of Microsoft(R) NetMeeting(R) 2.1
for point-to-point video calls and application sharing; NetCard(TM)
Pro by PictureWorks Technology, Inc. for sending dynamic digital
postcards through the Internet with email; and PictureWorks
Live!(TM), which allows users to easily create, edit and share video
files.
"The new Bigpicture video phone provides consumers and
businesses all the tools they need to make high-quality video calls
no matter what type of bandwidth is being used," said Rob Hudson,
video manager for 3Com's Personal Communications Division.
"Utilizing the flexibility of our new video phone applications, users
can easily conduct coast-to-coast business meetings from remote
locations, share multiple applications or special moments, without
leaving the home or office."
Bigpicture Video Application Launcher
The Bigpicture video phone application launcher gives users 'point
and click' access to all the new video software applications. This
main launcher unifies all the video software under one application
that includes:
-- Video Phone Launcher
The Video Phone launcher provides two options to make video
calls. White Pine's award-winning CU-SeeMe software-based
Internet/LAN video client provides multi-point or point-to-point
video calls. Microsoft NetMeeting 2.1 delivers H.323 standard
based Internet/LAN video phone calls and application sharing.
When used with White Pine's MeetingPoint(TM) conference server,
CU-SeeMe provides standards-based (H.323 and T.120) group
conferences and multicast capabilities that can also include
Microsoft NetMeeting clients. In addition, the Bigpicture video
phone is compatible with ClassPoint(TM), White Pine's
award-winning distance learning and corporate training software
that combines real-time audio, video, text chat, whiteboarding,
application sharing, and Web-touring for both synchronous and
asynchronous learning over LANs/WANs or the Internet.
-- Video Mail Launcher, Video Gear Launcher, WHAT'S HOT!
With the Video Mail launcher, users can create and send video
e-mail using PictureWorks NetCard Pro software. From this
streamlined application, users can record a special greeting or
attach a video presentation and send it to anyone over the
Internet for person-to-person message delivery.
Accessing PictureWorks Live! from the Video Gear launcher, users
can create their own video productions from a camcorder, VCR or
the Bigpicture video camera. Users can quickly and easily grab
still images or develop their own video clips and send them to
friends or business collogues over the Internet.
What's Hot! connects users directly from the application launcher
to the latest and greatest Bigpicture video phone applications,
upgrades, upcoming video chats, accessories, news events,
freebies, and more.
Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Capture Card Advantage
Bigpicture video phone users can take full advantage of PCI
technology for higher-quality, full motion video at 30 frames per
second while providing video capture capabilities from VCRs and
camcorders. With the capability to be used with standard or V.80
analog modems, ISDN, DSL, cable or LAN networks -- the
Bigpicture video phone provides a flexible, affordable solution for
consumers and businesses to conduct high quality video
communications as higher bandwidth technologies become more
available.
System Requirements & Availability
The 3Com Bigpicture video phone (1689-02) is now available for a
suggested retail price of $159.95 in the U.S. only. The minimum
system requirements are a Pentium(R) 133 MHz PC with 16
Megabytes of RAM running Windows(R) 95 or Windows 98, and
only one PCI slot to install the capture card. Installation support is
available toll-free at 888-877-4VID. For additional information, visit
3Com's Bigpicture Web site at 3com.com.
About 3Com
With more than 200 million customers worldwide, 3Com
Corporation connects more people to information in more ways than
any other networking company. 3Com delivers innovative
information access products and network system solutions to large,
medium and small enterprises; carriers and network service
providers; PC OEMs; and consumers. 3Com -- More
connected(TM). For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide
Web site at www.3com.com or the press site at
www.3com.com/pressbox.
3Com and Bigpicture are registered trademarks and More
connected. is a trademark of 3Com Corporation. CU-SeeMe is a
registered trademark and MeetingPoint and ClassPoint are
trademarks of White Pine Software, Inc. Microsoft, NetMeeting,
and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
NetCard and PictureWorks Live! are trademarks of PictureWorks
Technology, Inc. Pentium is a registered trademark of Intel
Corporation. All other company and product names may be
trademarks of the respective companies with which they are
associated.
CONTACT: 3Com
Mike Beltrano, 847/262-2331
mike_beltrano@3Com.com
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