VCON and i3 Bring Video Telephony to the Residential IP-TV Broadband Market

   

March 10, 2005 (CeBIT) Hannover, Germany - VCON ( Eurolist Paris -ISIN CODE: IL 00 108 30540 ), a worldwide leader in videoconferencing solutions and i3 micro technology, a leading provider of voice over IP (VoIP) and IP-TV products and solutions, announce today a partnership agreement for providing residential video telephony solutions.

Initial cooperation focuses on integrating VCON's ZAPI 4 TV ( Z-Kit API for residential TV video telephony applications ) video telephony software development kit (SDK) into i3's Mood 300 IP set-top box. This new alliance provides video telephony to a new market, offering a low-cost integrated IP-TV solution that specifically targets residential consumers and SOHO installations.

The ZAPI 4 TV Video Telephony Embedded SDK (Software Development Kit) integrates directly into manufacturers' and end users' existing applications, allowing for low-cost network upgrades and maximum return on investment. The Embedded SDK includes H.323 and SIP signaling protocols combined with VCON's Packet Assist technology and ABA (automatic BW Adjustment) for enhanced QoS in challenging network conditions. The SDK has been extensively tested for interoperability with leading videoconferencing endpoints and servers.

"Our centrally managed Mood 300 video telephony solution is certain to be exciting news for service providers interested in IP-TV. This is the kind of new revenue IP-based multimedia service the market is looking for," says Chris Chalkitis, CTO at i3. "i3's strategy is to integrate more and more voice and video intelligence into our CPE, so that we can continue to offer new exciting triple play-oriented services like video telephony. This kind of service convergence is going to be driving broadband communications, especially when fixed mobile convergence enters the home."

The Mood 300 is a high performance, multiple CODEC IP set-top box that provides DVD quality and flexible video streaming services over DSL bandwidth. By supporting IP-TV, video-on-demand, and now video telephony, the multifunctional Mood 300 enables service providers to offer residential TV-oriented services that provide both content and enhanced voice/video communications. Remote software download and control allow for future decoding technology beyond existing support for MPEG-2 and MPEG-4.

"We are pleased to be able to offer videophone capabilities to the residential market through our integration with the Mood 300," said Danny On, VP Technology Alliances and OEM, VCON. "Using the ZAPI4TV SDK, we were able to easily incorporate our leading videophone technology with i3's existing set-top box to bring live interactive video telephony into every household."
 

Hall 12 (Booth E29) - S ee the Mood 300 and a live video telephony demo at the i3 stand

during the CeBIT 2005 Exhibition in Hannover, March 10-16.

Visit VCON at CeBIT in Hannover, 10-16 March: Hall 13, Booth C16
 

About i3 micro technology ab.

i3 designs and delivers premier IP customer premise equipment (CPE) for advanced triple play services: Internet access, Voice over IP, IP-TV and on-demand entertainment. Overcoming the obstacles of escalating total cost of ownership and limited operator control of end user experience, i3 takes a unique network systems approach to CPE and provides the first economical and practical solutions for managing a large installed base of multi-service broadband users. i3's comprehensive product portfolio of IP Residential Gateways, Set-top boxes and related management applications, provides service providers with unprecedented return on investment - delivering new service revenues and impressive cost savings over the lifetime of the product. i3 micro technology was established in 1997 and is headquartered in Kista, Sweden, with southern European sales office in Paris, and U.S. subsidiary in Seattle. For more information on i3 micro technology, please visit www.i3micro.com
 
 

About VCON

VCON develops and manufactures a variety of conferencing solutions that enable seamless communication and collaboration using all forms of interactive media. The company's award-winning technology ensures the highest audio and video performance for organizations worldwide. VCON's meeting and collaboration solutions include desktop and group videoconferencing products, audio conferencing products, data conferencing products and management systems. The company markets its products and services through a network of reseller partners, OEMS and value-added resellers around the world. VCON has worldwide headquarters in Israel and regional headquarters in Munich, Austin and Beijing. VCON is publicly traded on Euronext ( Euronext- Nouveau Marché -ISIN CODE: IL 00 108 30540 ).

 
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