Deutsche Telekom and TI will deploy 'C80-based videoconferencing systems at their worldwide locations, allowing communication with each other and with systems compatible to the ITU H.320 stand- ard. Potential end users will have the opportunity to test these systems and will be interviewed regarding their experiences and preferences. The goal is to use the sur-vey results to help determine end-user re-quirements for videoconferencing systems.
The TI, PDI, and IAT agreement brings together three companies with unique positions of leadership in desktop videoconferencing. Along with its high-performance 'C8x products which can simultaneously handle data, video, and audio, TI will provide its industry-leading DSP design support capabilities. PDI will use its expertise in creating video subsystems for PCI Bus platforms to develop videoconferencing hardware suited to the requirements of Windows 95. IAT will bring parts of H.320, design knowledge in Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDN) and Windows 95 applications to product development and testing to the alliance, as well as design knowledge in hardware structure on the board level.
"With the right products and agreements in place, TI is building momentum in the videoconferencing market," said Julie Koelsch, TI's TMS320C8x marketing manager. "This is just the first of many developments we plan for bringing affordable videoconferencing to the desktop."
Products that result from the agreements will be used by OEMs to support a variety of applications, including desktop videoconferencing compliant with the H.320 and H.324 standards, business and consumer video phones, and collaborative software such as interactive whiteboards, spreadsheets, and word processors.
The videoconferencing agreements reflect TI's strategy of providing comprehensive DSP solutions with the hardware and software that OEMs need to supply products for their markets quickly and cost effectively. New hardware and software products resulting from the alliance will be announced as they become available. Release dates are planned throughout 1996.