• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

New Avistar Desktop Videoconferencing Software Increases Deployment Flexibility

Posted on: Tuesday, 3 April 2007, 18:00 CDT

Avistar Communications Corp. (NASDAQ: AVSR), a video collaboration platform provider, today announced a new desktop video software release that offers increased deployment flexibility and ease-of-use for mobile workers.

Part of a flexible architecture, the AvistarVOS™ v9.1 is a single software application that dynamically detects and supports all Avistar video-over-IP endpoint types--software-only and hardware-accelerated, as well as Avistar's legacy circuit-switched endpoints. With this new release, organizations can deploy one software application and integrate Avistar's newest software-only endpoints with existing video installations. In addition to simplifying deployments, this gives users new flexibility regarding where and how they use video. For example, a user can employ a hardware-accelerated endpoint to offload video processing from the PC while in the office, and switch to a software-only endpoint when at home or traveling. The Avistar solution detects what kind of endpoint is available and switches modes automatically, without user intervention.

"With one software application, enterprises can deploy software-only endpoints, as well as hardware-accelerated endpoints on systems with limited processing power--it's that flexible," said Chris Lauwers, Avistar CTO. "In each case, users have access to Avistar's full range of high-performance video capabilities, all through the same unified user interface."

With Avistar's easy-to-use, self-service desktop video solution, users are free to focus on leveraging visual communications to quickly solve business challenges. To improve the speed and quality of collaboration, Avistar's videoconferencing solution provides:

One-to-one and multi-party video calling for ad hoc collaboration;

Broadcasting of interactive meetings and presentations to large audiences;

Video recording, playback and publishing via e-mail and websites;

Real-time data sharing that increases the accuracy and rate of information exchange.

New Features Available in One Package

This release also brings together, for the first time, several new features that simplify system administration, enhance call quality and reliability and provide state-of-the art collaboration tools:

Automatic bandwidth detection and management assures calls are placed at a rate that helps maximize call quality, even over wireless networks, while eliminating the allocation of unnecessary bandwidth;

End-to-end connectivity testing before a call is placed detects network blockages that would prevent call completion or reduce call quality;

A centralized web-based tool--System Central--manages administrative access and logs administrative activity;

A new video codec leverages H.264 video compression to provide a high-quality video experience at lower speed network connections;

A new single-click feature allows users to request help directly from their desk. The software automatically collects troubleshooting information and integrates with existing helpdesk systems.

Integration with IBM Lotus Sametime 7.5 allows users to initiate Avistar one-to-one and multi-party video calls from the Lotus Sametime contact list or an active chat.

For more information, please visit www.avistar.com.

About Avistar Communications Corporation

Avistar Communications Corporation develops, markets, and supports a video over-IP collaboration platform for the enterprise, all powered by the AvistarVOS™ software. From the desktop, Avistar delivers business-quality video calling, recording, publishing to web and e-mails, video-on-demand, broadcast origination and distribution, and document sharing. Avistar video-enables business processes by integrating visual communications into the daily workflow and connecting communities of users within and across enterprises. Founded in 1993, Avistar is headquartered in San Mateo, California, with offices in New York and London. Avistar's technology is used in more than 35 countries.

Collaboration Properties, Inc. (CPI) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Avistar Communications Corporation. CPI develops patents for presence-based interactions, wireless communications, desktop video, recorded and live media at the desktop, multimedia documents, data sharing, and a service-rich video network architecture. It holds a current portfolio of 75 patents for inventions in the primary areas of video and network technology. CPI offers licenses to its patent portfolio and Avistar's video-enabling technologies to companies in the video conferencing, rich-media services, public networking, and related industries. Current licensees include Sony Corporation, Polycom, Inc., Tandberg ASA and Emblaze-VCON.

Copyright (c) 2007 Avistar Communications Corporation. All rights reserved. Avistar, AvistarVOS™, and the Avistar logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avistar Communications Corporation. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

Source: Business Wire

More News in this Category