SANTA CLARA, Calif., January 23, 1996 — Intel Corporation and Microsoft Corp. today announced plans to work with AT & T, PictureTel and other industry leaders to achieve interoperable, standards-compliant implementations for conferencing on the PC.
This work is intended to help ensure that conferencing-enabled PCs can connect to each other and with multipoint services using industry-standard multipoint control units (MCUs), providing the same worry-free connections end users experience with the telephone today. T.120, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standard for data conferencing, was ratified in 1995.
T.120 implementations are currently being designed by leading conferencing vendors for inclusion in their products. Intel and Microsoft, in cooperation with the International Multimedia Teleconferencing Consortium, Inc. (IMTC), intend to host a series of interoperability events in 1996 to test and resolve interoperability issues between desktop conferencing products, multipoint services, and application providers.
The first event, scheduled for March 25-27, 1996, in Santa Clara, CA, will test vendors’ T.120 implementations to ensure interoperability across a wide range of products. Invitations for the event have been sent to 250 companies, including all members of the IMTC, recently merged with the Personal Conferencing Work Group (PCWG).
“Microsoftsupports T.120 and intends to work with the industry to achieve interoperable T.120 solutions. We intend to provide a base level connection for widespread conferencing applications by multiple vendors,”
said John Ludwig, vice president, Personal Systems Division at Microsoft
“The ability to collaborate and share applications will significantly enhance the productivity of users of the Windows® operating system.”
“Interoperable solutions are critical to the wide-spread deployment of conferencing capability. Intel is working with Microsoft and industry leaders to enable customers to use interoperable conferencing to solve the real-time decision making requirements of business,”
said Pat Gelsinger, vice president and general manager of Personal Conferencing Division, Intel Corporation.
”
AT & T WorldWorx (sm) Network Services continues to support the use of T.120 standard for multipoint desktop conferencing.”
said Ernie DeNigris, AT & T vice president.
“We’re working closely with the IMTC as well as corporations like Intel and Microsoft to further industry-wide adoption of these standards and ensure end-user interoperability using our network for customers desiring multipoint capabilities.” “PictureTel has long supported and contributed to the development of open standards for video conferencing and data conferencing,”
said Dom LaCava, vice president of PictureTel’s Personal Systems Division.
“The increased emphasis on interoperability standards by major players such as Microsoft and Intel will help broaden the acceptance of conferencing technology and fuel growth of the industry.”
Intel, the world’s largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of personal computer, networking and communications products.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
