PictureTel Announces the iPower Control Protocol.Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 2000 Software Enables VARs and Integrators To Easily Integrate iPower Solutions With Advanced Remote Control Systems; Crestron and Panja To Offer Standard Interface Controls PictureTel(R) 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 :PCTL PCTL Percentile PCTL Prioritized Candidate Target List ), the world leader in integrated collaboration, today announced the PictureTel 900 Series iPower(TM) Control Protocol - software that offers systems integrators and VARs even more flexibility in integrating the PictureTel 900 Series into custom environments such as corporate boardrooms, distance learning centers, meeting facilities, and more. The PictureTel 900 Series is based on PictureTel's iPower(TM) architecture, developed in collaboration with Intel. The solution is the first to offer real-life, content-rich remote integrated collaboration. Features include: best-in-class audio and video, the ability to share ideas easily - bringing in many different types of content at the touch of a button, and powerful system management capabilities. Utilizing RS-232 Serial Communication, the iPower Control Protocol allows integrators to add PictureTel 900 Series controls to advanced remote control systems. An important component in any integrated environment, these panels allow users, from a single interface, to remotely manage all room components, including the 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 system, lighting, VCR VCR: see videocassette recorder. VCR in full videocassette recorder Electromechanical device that records, stores on a videotape cassette, and plays back on a TV set recorded images and sound. , projector, screens, and other peripherals. And, with the open platform architecture of iPower, integrated environments can now include the huge array of PC-based applications and peripherals in use by business today. "The iPower Control Protocol delivers quick and easy integration of the PictureTel 900 Series into custom rooms," says Bill Othick, Founder and CIO CIO: see American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. (Chief Information Officer) The executive officer in charge of information processing in an organization. of AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) An audio compression technology that is part of the MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 standards. AAC, especially MPEG-4 AAC, provides greater compression and better sound quality than MP3, which also came out of the MPEG standard. , Incorporated. "The PictureTel 900 Series transforms the custom room into a state-of-the-art multimedia collaboration workspace - with advanced call management capabilities, the highest quality audio and video, and the ability to quickly and easily integrate content into the meeting from any networked application or from a Web browser The program that serves as your front end to the Web on the Internet. In order to view a site, you type its address (URL) into the browser's Location field; for example, www.computerlanguage.com, and the home page of that site is downloaded to you. . This functionality is available both on and off a video call. "No longer a single use-appliance that sits idle when off a call, the PictureTel 900 Series is the first true rich-media communication solution. Integrating the controls into a central flat panel delivers ease of use - allowing participants complete control of the meeting and freeing them to focus on the meeting - rather than on the enabling technology." Crestron and Panja To Offer Standard Applications PictureTel also announced an agreement with Crestron and Panja, two of the leading manufacturers of advanced remote control systems, enabling the two companies to develop and market PictureTel 900 Series-specific applications for each company's advanced equipment controllers. These officially certified See certification. applications are written for specific PictureTel 900 Series functions and further ease the integration process - as the integrator can harness pre-programmed controls for standard PictureTel 900 Series functions. "This partnership between Crestron and PictureTel really leverages the power of Crestron e-Control and Isys Touchpanel Control Systems with PictureTel 900 Series, creating the ultimate in control integration," says Fred Bargetzi, Crestron's Vice President, Technical Sales. "We've developed a fully integrated PictureTel 900 Series Macro that allows for drag and drop A graphical user interface (GUI) capability that lets you perform operations by moving the icon of an object with the mouse into another window or onto another icon. For example, files can be copied or moved by dragging them from one folder to another. compatibility with all Crestron Internet-enabled systems." "We are pleased to have PictureTel join P3, the Panja Partner Program," says Alexandra Kovach, Director of Partnerships, Panja. "PictureTel's leadership in the teleconferencing market brings a strength to P3 from which our custom integrators will benefit immensely. We look forward to enhancing the partnership as we continue to work together in the future." "The iPower Control Protocol is an exciting step for the PictureTel 900 Series," says Michelle Waugh, Vice President, Product Management, PictureTel. "By offering systems integrators and VARs the ability to easily integrate the PictureTel 900 Series into all sorts of specialized environments. "Integrators and VARs can now deliver more value to their customers and these customers get solutions that are more tailored to their needs - enabling them to fully leverage geographically dispersed teams A Geographically Dispersed Team (GDT) – also known as a Virtual team – is a group of individuals who work across time, space, and organizational boundaries with links strengthened by webs of communication technology. , easily share real-time data Real-time data denotes information that is delivered immediately after collection. There is no delay in the timeliness of the information provided. Some uses of this term confuse it with the term dynamic data. , and, as a result - speed time to market." Pricing The iPower Control Protocol is available directly from PictureTel. The software and documentation is available for $1,000 and offers unlimited use of the control protocol software. About PictureTel PictureTel Corporation (NASDAQ:PCTL) is the world leader in developing, manufacturing, and marketing a full range of visual- and audio- collaboration platforms An emerging category of computer software, collaboration platforms are unified electronic platforms that support synchronous and asynchronous communication through a variety of devices and channels. . PictureTel also owns 1414c, a communications ASP that greatly simplifies the network complexity inherent in mixed rich media collaboration. PictureTel markets network conferencing See teleconferencing. servers in addition to the complete range of end-point products and delivers a global capability to service, support, and provide complete solutions for customers needing rich media communications. PictureTel is fundamentally in the business of eliminating the barrier of distance, enabling people to be Anywhere Now.(TM) This release includes projections and other forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. about the company's revenues, earnings, and other measures of economic performance. Actual results could differ materially from forecasts due to many factors such as, for example, competitive pressures, changes in technology, and the difficulty in forecasting in overseas markets and indirect channels. Additional information concerning risks that could cause actual results to differ is contained in the company's annual report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. and its Form 10-Q Form 10-Q See 10-Q. as filed with the SEC. The company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. PictureTel is a registered trademark of PictureTel Corporation. PictureTel 900 Series, iPower, and Anywhere Now are trademarks of PictureTel Corporation. All other terms and products names may be trademark or registered trademarks of their respective owners. |
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