BTVI First in North America with Digital Desktop Videophone; ISDN Unit Delivers PC and External Video Source Connectivity.CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of a company that has managers in multiple locations -- some telecommuting telecommuting, an arrangement by which people work at home using a computer and telephone, transmitting work material to a business office by means of a modem and telephone lines; it is also known as telework. from home. How do you maintain a sense of direct personal contact and quickly share ideas that keep a team glued together? With the Portrait 9000 videophone (1) (VideoPhone) A line of videophones (definition #1 below) from AT&T that were introduced in the early 1990s and later pulled off the market due to poor sales. The first models came with a price tag above $1,000, and a pair were needed. See Picturephone. from BT Visual Images you could afford high-quality videoconferencing for everyone's office. The first basic-rate Integrated Services Digital Network Integrated services digital network (ISDN) A generic term referring to the integration of communications services transported over digital facilities such as wire pairs, coaxial cables, optical fibers, microwave radio, and satellites. desktop videophone available in North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. was announced today by executives of BT Visual Images, L.L.C. Called the Portrait 9000, it is a high quality dial-up personal videoconferencing system for the desktop. The Portrait 9000 provides complete personal computer or laptop connectivity for a suite of T.120 applications including chalkboard, 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. , presentations and file transfers as well as optional support for external video inputs from sources like document cameras and remote cameras. The Portrait 9000 is capable of high-performance motion video and real-time audio without significant degradation of quality. Unlike PC-based videoconferencing units, which often rob processing power from the user, the Portrait 9000 solves this problem as a standalone unit. "The Portrait 9000 demonstrates BTVI's commitment to defining the leading edge of standards-based videoconferencing," said Steven Edwards, president of BT Visual Images. "The Portrait 9000 is completely compatible with all standards-compliant videoconferencing units, while delivering a new level of quality and flexibility to individual and small group videoconferencing users." The Portrait 9000 delivers full-motion video on a six-inch liquid-crystal display with real-time audio -- all through a desktop unit no larger than a standard speakerphone. Priced at $3,999, it is an extremely attractive tool for multiple-location managers, geographically diverse engineering teams and others who seek to maximize productivity and reduce needless travel time and expense. The Portrait 9000 is fully compatible with standards-based multi-point control units. The soon-to-be-announced Audio Visual Module supports the connection of additional equipment including stand-alone cameras, video recorders, microphones and echo cancelers. The basic-rate ISDN ISDN in full Integrated Services Digital Network Digital telecommunications network that operates over standard copper telephone wires or other media. dial-up circuit provides 128 kbps data throughput -- the bandwidth necessary to enable full-motion video and real-time audio. Users of the Portrait 9000 may simultaneously participate in videoconferencing sessions while utilizing its personal computer connectivity to transfer files between computers or to edit documents in a collaborative mode using chalkboard applications resident on each PC. Audio-only calls may be made to any standard telephone. Users access the functions of a complete speakerphone through on-screen on·screen or on-screen adj. & adv. 1. As shown on a movie, television, or display screen. 2. Within public view; in public. menus, including memory dialing, names directory, hands-free telephone and Caller ID. The Portrait 9000 is fully standards compliant, implementing ITU/TSS H.320, audio coding G.728, G.711 and G.722, video compression H.261 (QCIF See CIF. QCIF - Quarter CIF ), channel multiplexing and protocols H.221 and H.242 standards. Portrait 9000 users access other videoconference destinations by dial-up through an I.420 basic rate ISDN interface. VT Visual Images is a pioneer in the design of visual communication products and services and the global leader in the development of standards-based videoconferencing tools for corporate and institutional applications. Based in Herndon, Va., BTVI is jointly owned by BT North America, a wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock. Notes: In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners. of British Telecommunications plc, and CBCI Telecom Inc., a Canadian developer and integrator of telecommunications and videoconferencing equipment. -0- Note to Editors: Color and B&W photographs available. Please call 203/961-8888. CONTACT: Austin Lawrence Group Inc. Jason Kannon or Ken Lempit, 203/961-8888 |
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