BTVI combines partners' strengths to win market position; BTVI, CBCI Telecom and ImageCom Team to deliver Best of Product for Global Videoconferencing Solutions.HERNDON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 24, 1995--A memorandum of understanding A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is a legal document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action and may not imply a legal commitment. was signed today by executives of BT Visual Images L.L.C., ImageCom Ltd. of the United Kingdom and CBCI Telecom Inc. of Canada which lays a clear foundation for the three parties to cooperate in development, manufacture and marketing of 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 systems. The alliance was formalized for·mal·ize tr.v. for·mal·ized, for·mal·iz·ing, for·mal·iz·es 1. To give a definite form or shape to. 2. a. To make formal. b. as part of BTVI's effort to become one of the world's leading suppliers of videoconferencing solutions targeted at an array of vertical markets such as distance learning, telemedicine ("long distance" medicine) Using a videoconferencing link to a large medical center in order that rural health care facilities can perform diagnosis and treatment. A specialist can monitor the patient remotely taking cues from the general practitioner or nurse who is actually examining and customized meeting room systems. "Our ability to develop videoconferencing solutions is the strongest it has ever been," said Steven Edwards, president of BT Visual Images. "What we've done with our alliance is to combine the collective strengths of each participating party to form a solid collaborative working unit. Each party possesses unique strengths and we plan to delegate responsibilities accordingly. This move will enrich the breadth and depth of video solution choices available to BT customers worldwide." "ImageCom will remain a key provider of fundamental technologies for BTVI videoconferencing solutions, including enhanced video codec (1) A hardware circuit that converts analog video (NTSC, PAL, SECAM) into digital code and vice versa. The term may refer to only the A/D and D/A conversion, or it may include the compression technique for further reducing the signal (definition #2 below). See codec. platforms, and will continue its pivotal role in research and development of core technology," explained Edwards. "CBCI will serve as an integrator (1) In electronics, a device that combines an input with a variable, such as time, and provides an analog output; for example, a watt-hour meter. (2) See systems integrator. of these technologies for sale through BTVI, with an eye toward vertical market solutions. Collaboration among the three of us will provide our customer base with the most comprehensive and market-driven portfolio of videoconferencing products to be found anywhere," concluded Edwards. "This new alliance will provide the face-to-face interaction we need to better integrate product development - from initial product design to application-specific fulfillment ful·fill also ful·fil tr.v. ful·filled, ful·fill·ing, ful·fills also ful·fils 1. To bring into actuality; effect: fulfilled their promises. 2. ," said Jeff Speak, president of CBCI Telecom. "CBCI has developed significant strengths in the design, integration and provision of software-based control systems and application specific utilities on independent hardware platforms Each hardware platform, or CPU family, has a unique machine language. All software presented to the computer for execution must be in the binary coded machine language of that CPU. Following is a list of the major hardware platforms in existence today. See platform. . Combining all three companies' strengths will deliver unequaled product performance for telemedicine and distance learning." "We've been working with BT for a number of years developing, manufacturing and supporting their technology platforms. Our new agreement to work directly with BTVI and CBCI brings together complementary skills to allow BTVI to strengthen its market presence and provide the capability for a more rapid time to market than is available from anybody else," said Ken Bayley, commercial director of ImageCom. "This initiative is welcomed by BTVI's parent British Telecommunications plc. Alliances such as this one are critical to the ongoing success of BTVI and will reinforce its market position and BT's ability to serve its customers worldwide," said Steve Gandy, general manager of BT Visual Systems Division located in London. BT Visual Images is a pioneer in visual communications and is a global leader in the development of standards-based videoconferencing tools for corporate and institutional applications. Based in Herndon, BTVI is jointly owned by BT 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. , 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. CONTACT: Austin Lawrence Group Inc. Jason Kannon/Ken Lempit, 203/961-8888 |
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