AT&T delivers first product for new multimedia networks.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 30, 1995--AT&T's business communications systems unit today unveiled the first product to bridge the separate worlds of private voice and data networks and laid out its strategy to bring multimedia communications to businesses worldwide.

With the company's new AT&T MultiMedia Communications eXchange (MMCX) Server, people for the first time can use all the familiar office telephone features -- such as conferencing or transferring calls to another extension -- on multimedia calls involving voice, data, image and video. The product works with existing private voice and data networks, enabling customers to add multimedia communications when and where it makes sense for them to do so.

"Clearly customers are telling us they envision voice and data networks ultimately evolving to become new multimedia networks, but just as clearly they want new solutions to work seamlessly with the networks they have today," said Patricia Russo, president of AT&T Global Business Communications Systems (GBCS).

MMCX Server first step to single, unified networks

The MultiMedia Communications eXchange Server includes communications software for workstation and client/server architectures. Developed by AT&T Bell Laboratories and GBCS in consultation with a 12-member customer advisory council, the product supports multimedia calling on switched Ethernet LANs and on emerging high-speed Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networks.

It's a breakthrough in interoperability between phones and multimedia terminals, enabling calls to be completed, transferred, forwarded or routed no matter what kind of terminal is calling another terminal, said Arun Netravali, vice president of research at AT&T Bell Laboratories.

In a trial of the server, McDonald's Corporation restaurant designers at Oak Brook, Ill., and Fairfax, Va., used it to enable remote collaboration via simultaneous voice, data, image and video communication, and sharing applications, including a sophisticated CAD/CAM package.

Being able to see each other and hear each other while sharing files at the same time, and add participants spontaneously, boosted the productivity of our design team, said Pat Krause, director of network services for McDonald's.

At a press conference in New York today, several companies joined GBCS to announce their commitment to deliver products that will work with the MMCX Server. They include internetworking companies Bay Networks, Cabletron, Cisco and 3Com, workstation vendors Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems and software vendor InSoft.

Separate networks to evolve into new infrastructure

In designing the new multimedia networks, GBCS said it will introduce innovative, easy-to-use multimedia communications hardware and software that capitalize on the best features of voice and data networks. Ultimately, the company intends to lead the multimedia communications industry to a single, flexible network architecture based on switched Ethernet LANs and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) technology.

"Our multimedia solutions are based on our strengths in real-time switching, advanced call processing, messaging, enterprise-wide networks and network management," Russo said. "We are well on the way to creating a robust, reliable communication networking infrastructure that delivers openness and interoperability in multivendor environments."

In addition to providing LAN server-based systems such as the MMCX Server, the company said it will evolve its DEFINITY. Communications System well beyond its traditional role of providing voice call features and voice mail.

Today the system, which GBCS has renamed the DEFINITY Enterprise Communications Server, supports call centers, videoconferencing, computer-telephone integration, wireless phones and direct local area network connectivity. In its expanded role, it will function as a telephone feature server on the LAN and evolve to support real-time multimedia calling and messaging and ATM technology.

Business focuses on integrated solutions

Recognizing that introducing multimedia communications in today's networks is a complex task, the company will create and provide integrated offers beginning today under the family name of BusinessWorks (tm) Solutions. These offers, coupled with world-class service and support, are designed to address problems that businesses face today.

"Instead of focusing on selling product features and capabilities, we will concentrate on finding the right combination of products and services -- from any source -- that will enable customers to meet their strategic goals," Russo said.

To deliver on this commitment, GBCS has created a new integrated solutions organization supported by 650 people and headed by Lou Marianacci. The new organization will provide the company s sales force with integrated solutions initially in three areas: customer sales and service, conferencing and collaboration, and distributed and mobile work forces.

Six world-class BusinessWorks service centers in Denver, Colo.; Largo and Coral Gables, Fla.; Budapest; Singapore and Farnborough, England, will be a key component of GBCS s expanding management and support services.

The MMCX Server will be available in the first quarter of 1996. For more information about the MultiMedia Communications eXchange Server or any of the company's integrated offers, customers can contact their account executive.

Global Business Communications Systems designs, manufactures, sells and services a complete line of customer-premises communications, video, voice processing and computer-telephone integration systems for business customers globally. By the end of 1996, it will be part of a new communication systems and technology company with more than $20 billion in annual revenues. Bell Laboratories will continue to be the research and development engine for the company.

CONTACT: Dick Muldoon, 908-953-7510 (office)

201-635-6699 (home)

Glynnis Woolridge, 908-953-7526 (office)

908-247-0839 (home)