VCON's IPNexus Enhanced with Webcast Ability

VCON's IPNexus instant messaging and collaboration application now includes IPWebShare, giving uses the ability to share data with Internet Users

(March 12, 2003) Austin, Texas - VCON (Nouveau Marché No. 022021), a worldwide leader in visual communications solutions, today announced IPWebShare, a webcast feature for IPNexus, VCON's instant messaging and collaboration application. IPWebShare, included in the latest service pack for IPNexus, gives IPNexus users the ability to share data with users over the Internet by providing a simple web link.

"IPNexus has always been a robust, fully-featured application with unique tools and capabilities," said Gordon Daugherty, president, VCON, Inc. "The functionality provided by IPWebShare allows users to expand beyond their network and share information with anyone using a web browser. This increases the value and the ease-of-use of the IPNexus application."

With IPWebShare, IPNexus users can share a presentation, or any document on their PC, with anyone with a web browser. IPWebShare works by generating a pre-determined web link that allows any number of people to view what the presenter has selected. The web link created by an IPNexus user includes password options for security and can easily be changed by that user.

IPNexus includes IPWebShare presentation templates to choose from, allowing users to "drag and drop" presentations or documents into the templates for webcasting. There are pause, play and stop buttons on the IPWebShare interface, giving presenters the ability to secretly edit or change what is being presented. The unique web link that each user can generate for his/her own webcasts allows users to easily create and communicate when and where a webcast will start, including password protection.

The IPNexus 1.5 service pack is available now. To receive the full functionality of the new service pack, existing IPNexus users are entitled to a free upgrade found on the VCON website in the Downloads section. Additionally, a new evaluation version of IPNexus can be downloaded which includes the new IPWebShare functionality.

For more details contact sales@videocentric.co.uk

VCON Announces
the VCB 1000 MCU and Streaming Server

Streaming capability further enhanced with
VCON's new Broadcast Viewer

(March 11, 2003) Austin, Texas - VCON (Nouveau Marché No. 022021), a worldwide leader in visual communications solutions, today announced the VCB 1000, an integrated MCU, streaming server, embedded gatekeeper and management system. In conjunction, VCON today announced the VCON Broadcast Viewer, which enables users to passively view VCB 1000 streaming sessions as well as VCON Interactive Multicast sessions. These products combine to provide a complete MCU and streaming solution for organizations deploying IP videoconferencing throughout their enterprise.

"The VCB 1000 is a product that delivers unparalleled price performance in the MCU market," said Gordon Daugherty, president, VCON, Inc. "Essentially three products in one, the VCB 1000 is scalable and versatile, fitting the needs of any organization."

The VCB 1000 allows users to participate in continuous presence or voice-activated switching conferences, as well as stream any VCB 1000 conference out over the corporate network using the IP multicast standard. The VCB 1000's simultaneous streaming allows the broadcasting of an individual user, a point-to-point conference or a multipoint conference while hundreds or thousands of other users can passively watch the stream using a simple viewer application. This feature can even be remotely turned on and off by the administrator during a call. Included with the VCB 1000 is a 1-year software subscription, giving customers unmatched investment protection.

The new VCON Broadcast Viewer is designed to passively view both VCB 1000 streaming sessions and VCON Interactive Multicasts. With the same look and feel of VCON's vPoint desktop conferencing software, the Broadcast Viewer easy to use and can be loaded onto any PC on the corporate network, giving all employees access to important company broadcasts. The Broadcast Viewer supports H.261 and H.263 video standards as well as G.711, G.722 and G.728 audio standards. Participants can view streams at data rates up to 1.5Mbps from Windows 98, ME, 2000 or XP workstations. The Broadcast Viewer also includes an embedded content manager so that each user can view a listing of the active broadcast sessions and choose the session they wish to join.

The no-charge Broadcast Viewer is now available and can be downloaded from here

For more details contact sales@videocentric.co.uk

VCON Upgrades Group System Product Lines

VCON group systems to include H.264 support in the future

(March 11, 2003) Austin, Texas - VCON (Nouveau Marché No. 022021), a worldwide leader in visual communications solutions, announced software upgrades for the MediaConnect 9000 and Falcon group videoconferencing systems. The upgrades include software enhancements to the endpoints as well as additional integration with the Media Xchange Manager TM (MXM), VCON's integrated video network management system.

"These software enhancements represent VCON's commitment to video and audio excellence in our group system families," said Gordon Daugherty, president, VCON, Inc. "This further supports our mission to make visual communication over IP networks a common, easy, affordable and productive way for people to interact with one another across distances throughout their organization."

VCON's MediaConnect 9000 workgroup conferencing system has been upgraded to version 2.11. The new version includes Annex Q, the new ITU H.323 standard for Far End Camera Control, improved video frame rate, the ability to work off-line when registered to the MXM, improved firewall support, and support for additional types of online directories. This upgrade is free of charge for existing MC9000 2.0 customers and can be found on the Downloads section of the VCON website.

VCON's Falcon set-top videoconferencing appliance software has been upgraded to version 3.01, which includes Russian language support, improved firewall support and enhanced audio. Falcon software is free of charge and this latest version can be found on the Download section of the VCON website.

Additionally, VCON announced future support for the H.264 standard. The newest ITU video coding algorithm, H.264, is expected to be ratified by mid-year 2003. VCON has been working with this new developing standard, and is expecting to have products that incorporate H.264 in the second half of this year, after ratification.

For more details contact sales@videocentric.co.uk