3Com and PictureTel Partner to Deliver Lan-Based Multimedia Solutions; 3Com Enhances Ethernet Network Interface Cards to Deliver Real-time Multimedia Over Ethernet Networks.LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 1996--The worldwide leader in network connectivity, 3Com Corporation (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :COMS COMS 3Com Corporation (stock symbol) COMS Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist COMS Continuous Opacity Monitoring Systems COMS City of Manchester Stadium (UK) ), and PictureTel Corporation (NASDAQ:PCTL PCTL Percentile PCTL Prioritized Candidate Target List ), the world leader in videoconferencing A real time video session between two or more users or between two or more locations. Although the first videoconferencing was done with traditional analog TV and satellites, inhouse room systems became popular in the early 1980s after Compression Labs pioneered digitized video systems , today announced a strategic partnership to work towards eliminating barriers to widespread LAN-based multimedia, and accelerate the deployment of practical data and video conferencing See videoconferencing. (communications) video conferencing - A discussion between two or more groups of people who are in different places but can see and hear each other using electronic communications. solutions. This comprehensive program includes two major elements. First, 3Com is enhancing its industry-leading Ethernet and Fast Ethernet An earlier name for 100Mbps Ethernet. See 100Base-T. (networking) Fast Ethernet - A version of Ethernet developed in the 1990s(?) which can carry 100 Mbps compared with standard Ethernet's 10 Mbps. It requires upgraded network cards and hubs. network interface cards to deliver optimized LAN-based multimedia in conjunction with 3Com switches. Secondly, the alliance between 3Com and PictureTel will provide a product bundle, delivering PictureTel LAN-based data conferencing Sharing data interactively among several users in different locations. Data conferencing is made up of whiteboards and application sharing and are often used in conjunction with an audio or videoconferencing connection. software free of charge to 3Com network interface card users, as well as low-cost upgrades to full videoconferencing. Emerging LAN-based multimedia applications such as data and video conferencing for collaborative computing offer improved communication and productivity. Today's desktop PCs have the power to support these applications, however, widespread deployment has been limited due to technology, acceptance and cost barriers. 3Com and PictureTel are working together to eliminate these barriers. "As the leader in videoconferencing, we are extremely pleased to partner with the leader in network connectivity." said Dom LaCava, vice president of PictureTel's Enterprise Systems Group. "We believe this alliance will bring to market the technology necessary to accelerate the acceptance and deployment of LAN-based data and video conferencing and bring network productivity to the next level." 3Com Network Interface Cards Deliver Multimedia Optimized Desktops Eliminating Technical Barriers: With 3Com's Priority Access Control Enabled (PACE) technology users can cost-effectively run multimedia networked applications to the desktop without requiring forklift upgrades to their existing Ethernet network infrastructure. PACE is an enhancement to Ethernet switching technology that delivers optimized multimedia support over Ethernet and Fast Ethernet. A major barrier to deployment of LAN-based multimedia has been the lack of support for prioritization in operating systems Operating systems can be categorized by technology, ownership, licensing, working state, usage, and by many other characteristics. In practice, many of these groupings may overlap. and network operating systems An operating system that is designed for network use. Normally, it is a complete operating system with file, task and job management; however, with some earlier products, it was a separate component that ran under the OS; for example, LAN Server required OS/2, and LANtastic required DOS. . 3Com has eliminated this barrier with an enhanced network interface card software driver which identifies key applications and sets the PACE packet priorities. PACE software drivers will be available for 3Com EtherLink III and Fast EtherLink 10 /100 PCI-bus network interface cards beginning in April. The next natural step in optimizing the desktop for multimedia, is to enhance network interface card drivers to facilitate control of multicast traffic. Today there are a limited number of multicast-based applications, however, as applications supporting key standards for point-to-multipoint conferencing such as T.120 and H.323 ship starting in late 1996, use of these applications will increase. Multicast applications pose challenges for switched networks, because without multicast control, excess multicast traffic can flood desktop links. 3Com plans to ship enhanced network interface card drivers which leverage the desktop network interface card's knowledge of the applications running on the PC to dynamically set switch multicast filters to control this traffic. This multicast capability will be phased into 3Com Ethernet network interface cards starting 2H '96. 3Com will proliferate pro·lif·er·ate v. To grow or multiply by rapidly producing new tissue, parts, cells, or offspring. this software this year to build a large installed base of PCs which are future-proofed with the ability to automatically configure filters on the switches which will have this capability in 1997. With these two software enhancements 3Com EtherLink III and Fast EtherLink network interface cards will play a key role in delivering networking solutions which eliminate the technology barriers preventing widespread use of LAN-based multimedia. "As a world leader in Ethernet network interface cards and switches, 3Com is able to envision and deliver breakthrough networking solutions which enable the pervasive use of LAN-based multimedia," said Doug Spreng, executive vice president of 3Com's Personal Connectivity Operation. "Working with PictureTel, as the best in class in videoconferencing, lets us deliver a high-quality conferencing solution to run over these multimedia optimized networks." 3Com and PictureTel Eliminate LAN-based Conferencing Acceptance and Cost Barriers 3Com and Picture Tel, market leaders in their respective areas, are eliminating conferencing acceptance and cost barriers by allowing users to get PictureTel's data conferencing software -- LiveShare Plus, a $249 value, for free. LiveShare Plus software will be bundled with 3Com's PACE-enabled EtherLink III PCI (1) (Payment Card Industry) See PCI DSS. (2) (Peripheral Component Interconnect) The most widely used I/O bus (peripheral bus). and Fast EtherLink 10/100 PCI Parallel Tasking network interface cards. PictureTel's LiveShare Plus enables PC users in separate locations to work jointly in real-time on data files using application sharing A data conferencing capability that lets two or more users interactively work on the same application at the same time. The application is loaded and running in only one machine; however, keystrokes are transmitted from and screen changes are transmitted to the other participants. or a whiteboard The electronic equivalent of chalk and blackboard, but between remote users. Whiteboard systems allow network participants to simultaneously view one or more users drawing on an on-screen blackboard or running an application. , as well as to transfer files or share messages on a common clipboard A reserved section of memory that is used as a temporary holding area for data that is copied or moved from one application to another using the copy and paste and cut and paste (move) menu options. Each time you transfer something into the clipboard, the previous contents are deleted. . PictureTel will also provide low-cost upgrades to videoconferencing by offering its LiveLAN-V video software with a $500 manufacturer's rebate to 3Com Ethernet network interface card customers. 3Com Network Interface Card/LiveShare Plus Bundle includes the following: -- Free PictureTel LiveShare Plus software shipped with 3Com network interface cards -- Initial shipment on EtherLink III PCI and Fast EtherLink 10/100 PCI network interface cards (evaluation units in April, volume mid 1996) The LiveLAN-V Starter Kit Upgrade includes the following: Users will receive a $500 manufacturer's rebate on the LiveLAN-V Starter Kit, a $2,795 value -- 2 copies LiveLAN-V software -- 2 sound/video boards -- 2 cameras -- 2 sets of multimedia speakers -- 2 microphones -- copy of Live Manager 3Com's EtherLink III and Fast EtherLink PCI network interface cards are a natural platform for advanced applications; when combined with PictureTel's conferencing technology, they allow for high-quality LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. data and video conferencing over shared Ethernet Refers to the traditional Ethernet topology in which all stations share the total bandwidth of the network. Whether connected via a common cable (10Base5, 10Base2) or a hub (10Base-T), transmission is on a first-come, first-served basis. , switched Ethernet An Ethernet network that is controlled by a switch instead of a shared hub. The switch cross connects all clients, servers and network devices, giving each sending-receiving pair the full rated transmission speed. , and Fast Ethernet networks. In addition the embedded cooperation between 3Com network interface cards and switches enabled by PACE and desktop configured VLANs ensures optimized support of video traffic. PictureTel Corporation is the world leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing a full range of visual telecommunications solutions that are "Redefining the Way the World Meets." The company's products serve videoconferencing needs from the desktop to the boardroom. PictureTel also markets network products and a comprehensive portfolio of enterprise-wide services. 3Com Corporation has helped more than 25 million people gain access to critical information through high-speed networks. Designed to serve large enterprises, small offices and homes, 3Com products provide a scalable architecture to meet the immediate and long term connectivity needs of today's user. With research and development on three continents, 3Com is one of the data networking industry's largest and fastest growing companies. The company's innovative marketing, sales and support simplify communication, optimize network reliability and protect customer investments. For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at http://www.3Com.com. -0- Note to Editors: PACE is a trademark and 3Com, Parallel Tasking, EtherLink, and Fast Ethernet are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation. All other trademarks belong to their respective organizations. CONTACT: 3Com Public Relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most Deanna L. Perez, 408/764-5088 Deanna_Perez@3mail.3Com.com or PictureTel Public Relations Kevin Flanagan Kevin Flanagan was a computer programmer who worked for The Bank of America in Concord, California, USA. Flanagan committed suicide in the parking lot of Bank of America's Concord Technology Center after he and colleagues were laid off in April 2003. , 508/762-5178 FlanaganK@pictel.com |
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