PictureTel iPower 3.0 Takes Aim At IP Quality of Service Obstacles; Delivers Industry-Leading IP Call Reliability.Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 27, 2001 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 release of iPower(TM) 3.0, the first simultaneous update for the PictureTel 900 Series(TM) and PictureTel 600 Series(TM). iPower 3.0 features support for Resource-Reservation Protocol (RSVP (ReSerVation Protocol) A communications protocol that signals a router to reserve bandwidth for real time transmission. RSVP is designed to clear a path for audio and video traffic, eliminating annoying skips and hesitations. ), a protocol that enables endpoints to request the optimal amount of bandwidth for the duration of an IP video call. The release also includes PictureTel's Dual Images(TM) technology for the PictureTel 600 Series, and the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 2000 operating system operating system (OS) Software that controls the operation of a computer, directs the input and output of data, keeps track of files, and controls the processing of computer programs. for the PictureTel 900 Series. iPower is the next-generation integrated collaboration architecture developed jointly by PictureTel and Intel, and the recent recipient of Frost & Sullivan's Market Engineering Award for Product Innovation. iPower is a breakthrough technology that finally gives users as much power and flexibility to share information in a meeting with remote sites as most users enjoy in meetings at one location. Full-resolution slides and PC information is simply provided at all sites with the touch of a button. Complete, full-resolution interaction with the user's LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. or the Internet is a built in feature. The PictureTel 900 Series and the PictureTel 600 Series are the first two products in the iPower family. Take an online product tour at www.picturetel.com. RSVP Raises the Quality-of-Service (QoS) Bar New to both the PictureTel 900 Series and PictureTel 600 Series, 3.0 features RSVP, a protocol that enables endpoints to request the optimal amount of bandwidth for the duration of an IP video call. With RSVP, users will achieve an experience more immune to the changing patterns of network traffic by having the bandwidth of a call actually reserved in advance for the duration of the session. RSVP reduces the requirement for technical support and enables non-technical users to achieve the highest quality IP connections. "We are listening closely to user feedback," states Lew Jaffe, president and chief operating officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. . "We know that one of the biggest issues affecting the ubiquitous adoption 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 over IP is Quality of Service. One of the ways we are addressing this is with the RSVP protocol. We are empowering non-technical executive end users to achieve business-quality, reliable videoconference vid·e·o·con·fer·ence n. A teleconference using video technology, such as closed-circuit television. vid calls over an IP connection - which delivers, at the lowest cost possible, connections that enable teams to make more informed decisions, achieving the highest levels of productivity." The PictureTel 900 Series with iPower 3.0: Top of the Line The top-of-the-line iPower offering, the PictureTel 900 Series, is optimized for the most demanding conference room environments. The solution boasts a Pentium Processor that enables conference participants to harness even the most memory-intensive applications - delivering the highest level of data-sharing for mission-critical applications. The PictureTel 900 Series also offers the flexibility of working with multiple networks, including V.35/RS-449, ISDN ISDN in full Integrated Services Digital Network Digital telecommunications network that operates over standard copper telephone wires or other media. , and IP, enabling the end user to achieve high quality with a variety of network bandwidths and network interfaces. An internal floppy and CD-ROM drives CD-ROM drives, which today typically means a CD-RW drive that is a combo CD-ROM, CD-R and CD-RW drive, come in a variety of speeds. The original drive (1x) transferred data at 150KB per second. and the ability to connect to any standard meeting peripheral enable meeting participants to easily re-create the in-person experience. For the PictureTel 900 Series, iPower 3.0 adds: -- RSVP Protocol Support -- Microsoft Windows 2000 Operating System -- User-Selected Foreign Language OS and iPower Application Options Pre-Loaded on all Systems for English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish -- All Software Pre-Loaded at Factory The PictureTel 600 Series with iPower 3.0: Collaboration in a Compact Package The PictureTel 600 Series, the second product offering from the iPower family, is the first comprehensive collaboration solution in a compact package. The PictureTel 600 Series harnesses technology, design, and manufacturing expertise from Sharp Corporation. The solution's unique two-part design can be set up as an all-in-one, appliance-type unit for a top of monitor placement, or split into two pieces - a sleek camera/microphone unit and a compact base station. The flexible design enables compatibility with today's more popular flat panel displays A thin display screen for computer and TV usage. The first flat panels appeared on laptop computers in the mid-1980s, and the LCD technology became the standard. Stand-alone LCD screens became available for desktop computers in the mid-1990s and exceeded sales of CRTs for the first time and PC projectors. For the PictureTel 600 Series, iPower 3.0 adds: -- RSVP Protocol Support -- PictureTel's Dual Images -- ImageShare II -- User-Selected Foreign Language OS and iPower Application Options Pre-Loaded on all Systems for English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish -- All Software Pre-Loaded at Factory New to the PictureTel 600 Series in iPower 3.0, PictureTel's Dual Images technology enables remote participants to see two very different full-motion images at the same time, on single or multiple displays - this happens automatically and without any user action. One full motion image could be high-resolution content such as paper documents, Web files, word processing word processing, use of a computer program or a dedicated hardware and software package to write, edit, format, and print a document. Text is most commonly entered using a keyboard similar to a typewriter's, although handwritten input (see pen-based computer) and , presentations, and spreadsheet files, etc. at their native resolution. A second full motion image could be a high frame rate view of people. Dual Images closely simulates an in-person meeting, allowing for greater interaction between meeting participants and the content required to drive the decision-making process. ImageShare(TM) II is a device allowing the sharing of laptop content at a touch of a button for the PictureTel 600 Series. The ImageShare II extends the laptop connectivity to the conference room table top and enhances the sharing of laptop content in a meeting. Released in April 2001, the PictureTel 600 Series has received positive feedback from product reviewers and customers: -- "The PictureTel 600 Series provided quality audio and video conferencing. Overall the product is easy to use, setup, and configure See configuration. (software) configure - A program by Richard Stallman to discover properties of the current platform and to set up make to compile and install gcc. Cygnus configure was a similar system developed by K. . The unit is versatile, utilizing a two-piece design allowing for any type of set-top positioning, and encouraging a simple set-up procedure. Additionally, configuring the software as an administrator didn't take us long, as the set-up wizard led us through most of the major steps. Sharing tools are included with room to add several other types, such as a document camera or a laptop. IP capability utilizing the H.323 protocol is a differentiating feature of the product, sparing hosts from doling out monthly Telco ISDN charges. ISDN, however, is a standard interface for the unit, providing an additional avenue for quality video conferencing See videoconferencing. (communications) video conferencing - A discussion between two or more groups of people who are in different places but can see and hear each other using electronic communications. and collaboration. TMC TMC Technology Marketing Corporation (Norwalk, Connecticut) TMC Texas Medical Center (Houston, TX) TMC Traffic Message Channel TMC The Movie Channel TMC Traffic Management Center Labs felt that overall the product provides easy setup and operation, with solid, state-of-the-art technology providing a company in need of video conferencing and collaboration equipment with a simple solution." Adam Altman, Communications Solutions, August 2001 -- "Bud Parer parer see hoof knife. , information systems manager for the electromechanical The use of electricity to run moving parts. Disk drives, printers and motors are examples. Electromechanical systems must be designed for the eventual deterioration of moving components that wear over time. The first TVs were electromechanical systems (see video/TV history). automation group at Cleveland-based Parker Hannifin Corp., said he has been testing the PictureTel system to link two company conference rooms. One is in Rohnert Park Rohn·ert Park A city of west-central California, a residential suburb of Santa Rosa. Population: 42,300. , Calif., where Parer is located; the other is in a Parker Hannifin facility in Milford, Ohio Milford is a city in Clermont and Hamilton counties of the U.S. state of Ohio, along the Little Miami River in the southwestern part of the state. Milford, an abbreviated form of mill ford, was so named because it was the first safe ford across the Little Miami north of the Ohio . 'We dedicated a room in both facilities,' Parer said. '(The videoconferencing systems) are on all of the time. It's like a virtual hallway between California and Ohio...'The audio quality on the system is a hell of a lot better than anything I've seen,' Parer said. He noted that on some videoconferencing systems, it's difficult to have a `real conversation' because `you talk and then halt' to wait for others to speak." James Cope, Computerworld, April 23, 2001 -- "'Things are going very well,' said John Hempe, foreman of electronic maintenance at FEMA FEMA, n.pr See Federal Emergency Management Agency. ...'The product integration into the operating system is so much nicer than having to plug in peripherals,' Hempe said, adding that he has been testing it with different systems, documents and data, and has been pleased with the results." Dan Caterinicchia, Federal Computer Week, April 16, 2001 Pricing and Availability Pricing and availability for iPower 3.0 in the PictureTel 900 Series and PictureTel 600 Series is as follows:
-- PictureTel 900 Series 3.0
-- Upgrades: Available Now on CD-ROM for $125 (US)
-- New Systems: Available Now
-- PictureTel 600 Series 3.0
-- Upgrades: Available Now, free of charge from PictureTel's
web site www.picturetel.com, or on CD-ROM for $35 (US)
-- New Systems: Available Now
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 markets network conferencing 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, the difficulty in forecasting in overseas markets and indirect channels, or changes in or failure to consummate our announced strategic transaction. 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, PictureTel 600 Series, iPower Dual Images, ImageShare 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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