REDMOND, Wash., and HILLSBORO, Ore., Dec. 9, 1996 — Microsoft Corp. and Intel Corp. today announced they have delivered the industry’s first H.323 standards-compliant interoperable products for real-time video communications over the Internet. Both products are available now at no charge from the respective company’s Web site.
The newMicrosoft NetMeeting
™ conferencing software version 2.0 beta 2 and Intel Internet Video Phone beta 1.0 enable PC users to place video calls over the Internet. Users of these interoperable products can conduct real-time video calls with friends, family, colleagues and customers as easily as they now browse the World Wide Web or send e-mail. In promoting industry standards, Intel and Microsoft share a goal of making PC-based video, voice and data communications over the Internet as commonplace as a simple telephone call.
“We have been working closely with Intel and the industry to remove interoperability as a barrier to market growth for audio, video and data conferencing over the Internet,”
said John Ludwig, vice president, Internet platform and tools division at Microsoft.
“The delivery of interoperable H.323 video conferencing products is another important milestone in making the Internet a world-class communication network.”
“Intel and Microsoft have moved standards-compliant Internet communications forward with another key milestone this year – interoperable audio and video calls,”
said Sandra Morris, director of strategic marketing, Intel Internet and communications group.
“Our goal is to make video-based Internet communications a mainstream activity for millions of PC users.”
By agreeing to develop products that work together because they conform to industry standards, Microsoft and Intel are pledging their commitment to drive the industry forward and help it avoid the problems that have hindered broad acceptance of previous, proprietary video alternatives.
The Microsoft and Intel products integrate International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standards and Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) specifications including the H.323 standard for audio and video conferencing, RTP/RTCP for providing real-time quality over the Internet, and the Microsoft User Location Service (ULS) extensions to the LDAP standard directory services protocol. In addition, Microsoft NetMeeting 2.0 supports the T.120 standard for multipoint data conferencing, as well as LDAP.
“Once again, the Microsoft and Intel commitment to providing products that comply with industry standards proves to be unwavering,”
said Jeff Pulver, founder of the Voice on the Net Coalition.
“The delivery of these two products further cements in the hearts and minds of the industry that H.323 is the interoperable communication solution for voice and video on the Internet.”
Intel’s Internet Video Phone is a software applet that adds a new visual dimension to online gaming, chat rooms and joint explorations of the Internet. For example, consumers can add video phone calls to online chats, or to observe and communicate with their opponents as they compete online in virtual games.
Microsoft NetMeeting is a real-time communications client application for consumer and business communications and provides an open, standards-based platform for third-party companies to build and integrate solutions. NetMeeting is the platform of choice for companies integrating real-time communication and collaboration functionality in their productivity applications, custom vertical market solutions, existing conferencing products and Web sites. The NetMeeting conferencing platform is at the core of Microsoft’s multimedia Internet communications strategy.
Microsoft NetMeeting 2.0 beta 2 is available now for download free of charge (other than the cost of connect time, if any) from Microsoft’s Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/netmeeting/ .
Intel Internet Video Phone beta 1.0 is available now for downloading free of charge (other than the cost of connect time, if any) from Intel’s Connected PC Web site at (http://connectedpc.com/iaweb/cpc/iivphone/) . This beta version will time out on April 19, 1997, with the next beta version scheduled to be available for downloading prior to that date.
Intel, the world’s largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of personal computer, networking and communications products. Through innovative technologies, Intel is committed to improving the Internet experience for PC consumers. Additional information is available at (http://www.intel.com/pressroom/) .
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.
Microsoft and NetMeeting are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Intel is either a registered trademark or trademark of Intel Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
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