Accord Video Telecommunications Announces the Industry's First Multipoint Control Unit Connecting Internet and ISDN Conferencing Endpoints.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 19, 1998--

MGC-100 offers more reliable, easier to manage multi-network,

multipoint conferences

Accord Video Telecommunications, a leading provider of next generation network conferencing and collaboration systems, today announced that the Accord MGC-100 is now the industry's first single platform Multipoint Control Unit that accommodates both ISDN-based and IP-based (H.320/H.323) conference and gateway connections, including those on corporate intranets and the Internet.

In addition, the MGC-100 is the industry's first solution to offer a single management and reservation system for conferences spanning multiple networks. The first demonstration of the multinetwork MGC-100 will be at Telecon XVIII in Anaheim, California, October 26-28, 1998.

The award winning, standards-based Accord MGC-100 is known as the "next generation" multipoint control unit - designed to easily integrate H.3xx standards in a single-platform solution, connect up to 132 remote sites, and deliver unprecedented conference features including six layouts of Continuous Presence and Multiway Transcoding. Now this level of multipoint capability is available to the millions of Internet and corporate intranet users for collaboration and conferencing within an IP environment, or between ISDN and IP networks.

"Accord is changing the playing field in terms of what users expect from multipoint conferencing," said Stan Kluz, Lawrence Berkeley Labs. "Now, for the first time, a conference between a participant on the Internet or corporate intranet and an ISDN participant is not only a viable option, but a reliable and high-quality experience."

Having a single multipoint control unit with a common management and reservation system for multiple network types "makes it easier for conference producers to conduct reliable, world-class conferences," according to Frank Cooke, COO of 1-800-Video-On. In addition, a common management system is a more affordable solution because of the minimal amount of hardware required.

"This announcement is another example of the benefits reaped by the robust architecture inherent to the Accord MGC-100. We are excited to bring Accord's multipoint features to the IP world, as well as offer the ideal solution that bridges the traditional ISDN videoconferencing user base to the growing number of IP conference participants," said Jules L. DeVigne, CEO of Accord Video Telecommunications.

The Accord MGC-100 leads the market with its robust architecture, sophisticated feature set, ease of maintenance, and conference management facilities. Users with H.323-compliant endpoints now have access to these advantages, in addition to Accord's other industry firsts including six layouts of Continuous Presence, Multiway Transcoding, and Touch-Tone Conferencing Management - all features and functions that make multipoint conferencing more reliable and beneficial.

"By combining H.320 and H.323 support into a single unit, Accord is addressing the growing need for users who are videoconferencing over ISDN and TCP/IP heterogeneous networks. We are looking forward to introducing this product to our customers," said Udi Netzer, Senior Vice President for VCON, a leading IP videoconferencing supplier.

The multi-network MGC-100 will begin shipping in the first quarter of next year. Depending upon configuration, the H.320/H.323-compliant MGC-100 costs approximately $3,000 per port.

About Accord

Accord Video Telecommunications develops next-generation network solutions that are revolutionizing the conferencing industry. The company markets and supports multipoint gateway and control systems for the multimedia conferencing and collaboration industry. The MCG-100 is known worldwide for its robust architecture, sophisticated feature set, ease of maintenance, and conference management functions. It is the industry's first MCU to offer multi-way Transcoding, Continuous Presence with six different layouts, and integrated T.120. Enabling live, interactive multimedia communications between two or more conferencing endpoints, the MGC-100 today supports 8-84 sites and in the future will support up to 1280 sites. All systems use the same card set for easy expansion and investment protection. Accord's MGC products comply with the ITU standards for multimedia conferencing including H.320, H.323, the G series for audio compression and the T.120 standard suite for data transfer and application sharing. For more information, visit the Accord website at www.accordtelecom.com.