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VCON release vPoint software for VIGO with Media eXchange Manager 3.0, Falcon 3.0 and MediaConnect 9000 2.0

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Media Xchange Manager v3.0

New version: 3.0
Previous version: 2.01
Date new version available: mid-August
Upgrade information: sales@videocentric.co.uk

VCON announces version 3.0 of its award-winning Media Xchange Manager (MXM). MXM 3.0 includes enhancements to current features as well as new features and optional modules. MXM 3.0 makes managing an IP video network easier for the network administrator and gives users on the network additional functionality and ease-of-use.
VCON simplified the MXM in version 3.0 by including in the base-license the Conference Control features (previously an optional module) and the Reporting and Billing features (previously an optional module).

With Conference Control, users will be able to invite a 3rd (or more) users into an existing video call on an ad-hoc basis, by simply clicking "invite" on the user interface; this is called ad-hoc conferencing and is available exclusively with VCON's MXM. Remote Call Initiation and Termination additional Conference Control features that allow the network administrator to remotely start or terminate a video call. A new feature of Conference Control is Least Cost Gateway Routing, which allows users on a multi-state or multi-country IP video network to place gateway calls through the most cost efficient gateway available on the network.

The Reporting and Billing feature includes multiple pre-formatted reports that network administrators can use for planning and billing purposes. These reports include MCU and gateway usage, as well as endpoint usage.

With these two optional modules rolled into the base MXM license, the MXM now has three (3) optional modules, two of which are new and will be discussed in this Announcement Summary. Following is a short description of each of the modules. For a more detailed description of the modules, see the individual data sheets on each module.

VCON Conference Bridge

The VCON Conference Bridge (VCB) version 3.0 is a software videoconferencing bridge that registers to the MXM. The VCB allows for up to 8 participants per session, with an unlimited number of sessions supported on an MXM-enabled network. Participants in each session can conference at data rates up to 1.5Mbps in Voice-Activated mode and up to 384Kbps in Continuous Presence mode. A one-session VCB can be loaded onto the same server as the MXM or can be loaded onto a MediaConnect 9000 workgroup videoconferencing system. Two to Eight session VCB's reside on a dedicated PC.

Two significant features were added to the VCB in version 3.0. The first is Firewall Port Synchronization. Most firewall's today may be configured to support H.323 traffic. However, the H.323 standard allows for a wide range of ports to be used for the audio and video streams (1024 - 65535). Because of this, an administrator may choose to only configure a smaller range of ports for H.323 support.

The other feature added to the VCB is the ability to have gateway-connected users join a continuous presence multipoint call. These users will receive a voice-switched image. However, a user that is away from the office can join a multipoint video call even if the call is being done in continuous presence mode. This valuable VCB feature is normally only found in high-end MCU's.

vPoint Software Client (new)

vPoint software client is a managed software client and an optional offering of the MXM. Installed from the MXM CD, vPoint can operate in three different modes. When a USB camera is attached to the PC, vPoint will run in software-client mode, allowing the user to fully participate in video conferences at up to 1.5Mbps over an IP network. When no camera is attached, vPoint will run in Viewer+ mode, which allows for 2 way audio and 1 way video. Lastly, if a ViGO is attached to the PC that is running vPoint, it will run in hardware-accelerated mode, which moves much of the processing onto the ViGO hardware. vPoint is sold in groups of 10 and 100 client seats, or a site license for 1000+ client seats. The data rate and video quality that a user receives on vPoint depends on the speed of their PC.

IPNexus (new)

IPNexus is a new product and a new module of the MXM. The simplest explanation of IPNexus is that it is Instant Messaging server/client software. But IPNexus is more than just instant messaging. It also includes data sharing, file transfer and is tightly integrated with the MXM. The IPNexus software is located on the MXM CD and can be licensed for up to 1000 concurrent logins. In other words, all employees could have IPNexus loaded on their PCs, but only up to 1000 can be actively logged in at one time. The number of users logged in to IPNexus is not limited to the number of licensed MXM users. So, if a company has a 50-user MXM license, they can still have a license for 1000 IPNexus logins.

Any MXM can be upgraded to the new version 3.0 by purchasing an MXM upgrade (unless a software subscription was purchased). The VCB, vPoint and IPNexus modules are priced separately.

vPoint

New version: 5.0
Previous version: MeetingPoint 4.6
Date new version available: mid-August
Upgrade information: sales@videocentric.co.uk

VCON vPoint software is the newest version of VCON's MeetingPoint software. vPoint is only supported on the VCON ViGO and in the new software-only client mode that works in conjunction with the VCON MXM. Other VCON systems running MeetingPoint will continue to use MeetingPoint 4.6. These systems include VCON Escort and Cruiser products.

vPoint is a next-generation videoconferencing client application that allows users to participate in video conferences or multicasts in a variety of ways: software-only mode with a USB camera, Viewer+ mode with no camera (2 way audio, 1 way video) or hardware accelerated mode by attaching a VCON ViGO.

As a managed software client of the MXM, vPoint is located on the MXM CD and can be installed as a software videoconferencing client on as many PCs as are licensed on the MXM. vPoint is low-cost and requires extremely minimal PC resources so you can have it on your desktop and ready to receive calls at all times. The user interface on

vPoint is compact, ergonomic and easy to use. It has a customisable shortcut tray, a conversation status monitor (so a user can see exactly how much bandwidth they are consuming and what algorithms they are using), and two window-size options. vPoint includes PacketAssist for advanced QoS and bandwidth management over the IP video network, along with VCON Interactive Multicast technology for participating in interactive multicast sessions.

vPoint is completely integrated with the MXM, allowing vPoint users to transfer and forward video calls, as well as to participate in ad-hoc conferences. The network administrator sees vPoint as a videoconferencing client on the network, just like any other H.323 videoconferencing client and can set individual and group bandwidth limits and access multiple parameters on a vPoint client including changing the volume control. vPoint software can be remotely upgraded by the network administrator, to ensure that all employees are running the latest version of vPoint at any given time.

vPoint is a software client, but has many advanced features not found in other software clients. Some advantages of vPoint over other software-only clients are:

IPNexus Instant Messaging Solution

New version: 1.0
Previous version: none
Date new version available: mid-August
Upgrade information: sales@videocentric.co.uk

IPNexus, as a module of the MXM, serves as an instant messaging client. Today, many corporate employees use an instant messaging application to communicate with co-workers, vendors, suppliers, analysts, etc. However, organizations are finding that instant messaging can sometimes be as harmful as it is helpful to the company's goals and objectives. Two of the main drawbacks of instant messaging are: 1) security - with the instant message server (like MSN, or AOL) outside the company firewall, there is a possibility that viruses or other unwanted electronic data could find its way into the network and do damage. 2) abuse by employees - if the organization does not have control over the IM server, employees could use their instant message applications for non-work related reasons and employee productivity could suffer. There are other drawbacks, but these two seem to be the main concerns.

IP Nexus addresses these concerns allowing an organization to encourage or mandate the use of instant messaging as a viable communications tool. First, IPNexus is a client/server application, so the server resides on the corporate IP network, controlled by the IT department. Whether the IPNexus server is behind or outside the company's firewall is up to each individual organization. Also, since the IPNexus server is maintained and owned by the company, it has control over who is on the "buddy list" so there is confidence that the IM application is being used between employees, or vendors/suppliers if the organization allows that.

The IPNexus application does not take up a "user" count of the MXM each time someone logs on to the application. Therefore, the number of IPNexus users does not have to match the MXM user license. A company could decide that 100 of its employees will have videoconferencing capability and 350 of its employees will have IPNexus access.

The main features of IPNexus are:

MediaConnect 9000 v2.0

New version: 2.0
Previous version: 1.0
Date new version available: mid-September
Upgrade information: sales@videocentric.co.uk

The VCON MediaConnect 9000 received several feature upgrades with version 2.0. These features, added to the robust functionality available in version 1.0, create a competitive workgroup conferencing system. The new features added to the MediaConnect 9000 include:

The remote control interface APIs are available at no charge to any VCON value added reseller or integrator wishing to create a custom interface, such as a touch panel or tablet display.

With version 2.0, the MC9000 can now chair an Interactive Multicast session as well as participate in one. This gives customers, who have deployed VCON Interactive Multicast technology the ability to stream videoconferencing sessions from their conference rooms, as well as from their desktop videoconferencing systems.

Click here for more details.......

Falcon v3.0

New version: 3.0
Previous version: 2.0
Date new version available: early August

The Falcon videoconferencing system, with version 3.0, can now achieve IP data rates up to 768Kbps. Annex Q - the new standard for IP Far End Camera Control (FECC) is available with version 3.0 Falcon. Additionally, when registered to the VCON Media Xchange Manager (MXM), the administrator can remotely initiate both ISDN and IP video conferences Similarly, the network administrator, via the MXM, can remotely view the status of ISDN calls made from the Falcon, making troubleshooting and remote administration easier than ever, and can remotely reboot the Falcon if needed. The administrator can also opt for the Falcon to have "property setting lock-out," meaning that participants in the conference room are unable to change critical settings on the Falcon; such changes would be possible only by the network administrator.

To summarize, the main enhancements in version 3.0 of the Falcon are:

Customers or resellers can download the newest version of the Falcon software from the VideoCentric website in the Download section free of charge starting August, 5, 2002.

Customers are encouraged to read the release notes before starting the download.

vPoint Development Kit (vPDK)

New version: 5.0
Previous version: none
Date new version available: mid-August

The vPoint Development Kit (vPDK) is a complete set of 32 bit OCX custom controls for integrating all of VCON's software visual communication capabilities into new or existing applications. vPDK is a software package designed for use by developers in IP communication environments for customizing applications to the specific needs of the customer. vPDK enables the developer to create custom-built videoconferencing applications in three modes, depending on the hardware connected to the PC. With ViGO attached, vPDK based application becomes a hardware-accelerated conferencing client with business quality. With a USB camera, vPDK based application is a low-cost software only solution, with full conferencing capabilities. For the traveling user, with no camera attached, vPDK based application Viewer+ mode provides two-way audio and one-way video, enabling remote participation in important conferences and broadcasts while maintaining business quality.

For more details contact sales@videocentric.co.uk

About VideoCentric

VideoCentric is an integrator & reseller of the world’s leading video conferencing and streaming products from RADVision, Codian, Polycom, Tandberg, Emblaze-VCON, Lifesize, SONY & Canon. Headquartered in the Thames Valley, England, with satellite sites in Edinburgh and Ayr Scotland, VideoCentric markets its products and services primarily in the UK but has also formed associations with other Companies worldwide to facilitate the global supply and support of major corporations and system integrators, including those of Cisco, Avaya, Mitel, IBM and Nortel. VideoCentric’s bandwidth services include the supply of ISDN, ADSL, ADSL-Max, SDSL and uncontended leased lines for video and voice over IP, and their other value added services include free demonstrations, long-term rental, short-term hire, installation, maintenance, training, managed multipoint and 24x7 video dial-in support. For more information, visit www.videocentric.co.uk or telephone 0118 9798910 (England/Wales) or 0131 473 2351 (Scotland).

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