Latest conferencing products - News Briefs

Communications News, Dec, 2000

VoIP conferencing

CONFERENCING DEVICE WITH VOICE OVER IP function reduces costs and comes in 12-, 64- and 96-port versions. The MultiPoint Conferencing Unit (MCU) Release 7.0 supports the H.323 audio protocol transmitting voice over IP networks the H.320 standard for video, data and audioconferencing. Businesses can utilize their existing LAN bandwidth, reducing transmission costs. The MCU is also IP video-ready and will be able to support H.323 video protocol capabilities. A reservation and control system automates the reservation process and conference control on the MCU. The unit can support up to 16 images on the screen at one time, and includes a feature to allow users with different transfer rates, audio or video formats to participate in a single conference. Conferences can be customized via a touch-tone phone or a Web-browser, including the screen composition, muting of sites, dropping sites and roll calls.--Avaya

www.avaya.com

Circle 314 for more information

Portable videoconferencing

SET-TOP VIDEOCONFERENCING SOLUTION is designed for small meeting rooms and professional offices. The TANDBERG 500 is a compact, portable communications tool that can be used with any standard TV monitor, and features clear sound, brilliant video, streaming and automatic ISDN/IP selection. It automatically selects the best audio and video settings, and operates on ISDN and IP networks at speeds up to 384 kbps. The system is easy to set up, easy to use and take care of, and can be carried back and forth for home office use. Setting up a videoconference on the TANDBERG 500 is as simple as making a telephone call: just dial the number and push the connect button. Automatic gain control ensures that speakers are heard at the same level in all remote sites, regardless of the volume at which they speak.--TANDBERG

www.tandberg.net

Circle 311 for more information

Echo cancellation

TRANSMISSION ECHO CANCELLER has multichannel acoustic echo and noise cancellation, and is designed for use in multiple-site distance learning or videoconferencing installations. The EchoFree EF1210TEC cancels transmission-delayed echoes in conferencing networks. It serves as a multichannel acoustic echo and noise cancellation system, and may be used in conjunction with almost any vendor's automatic microphone mixer. The unit solves two significant problems, including redundant audio caused by high and low delay paths; and looped-back echoes of the local room's audio, created through the audio mix at the master transmission facility. In addition to its transmission echo cancellation capability, the EF1210TEC cancels acoustic echo and ambient background noise on each of seven channels.--ASPI Digital

www.aspi.com

Circle 319 for more information

Web service

CROSS-PLATFORM WEB-COLLABORATION SERVICE supports an unprecedented number of simultaneous meeting participants. Evoke Collaboration 4.2 is a real-time, online presentation service that enables businesses to conduct large-scale Web-based seminars and presentations. Evoke Collaboration functions across multiple platforms, and enables businesses to present live, full-functioning software demonstrations via the Web through live application sharing. Customers can do everything from leading a tour of their company's new website to executing live participant polls and getting immediate results-all through a customized, branded interface reflecting their corporate identity. Evoke Collaboration 4.2's standard service features include online whiteboarding, Web touring, real-time polling, live application viewing, interactive text chat and recording of live presentations. The collaboration server platform runs on Microsoft Windows NT/2000, Unix and Linux operating systems. Moderators and participants can attend events using any Java-enabled browser on any major platform.--Evoke communications

www.evoke.com

Circle 316 for more information

Microphone

CONFERENCE MICROPHONE SYSTEM provides audio clarity and automatic gain control. The AudioMate system is a compact, self-contained microphone that connects directly to any VBrick audio/video codec. It provides full-room audioconferencing performance by automatically detecting the location of the person speaking, and steering its dynamic audio pickup beam in his direction. The AudioMate is a full-duplex, hands-free audio accessory to match the video stream provided by the Vbrick MPEG encoder. Up to three AudioMates can be daisy-chained together to extend coverage area in large conference centers and classrooms. The unit performs automatic echo cancellation, background noise reduction and reverberation elimination. LEDs provide feedback that the microphone is directed correctly, and a large mute button provides privacy.--Vbrick Systems

www.vbrick.com

Circle 320 for more information

Conference phone

ADVANCED PHONE offers easy audio-conferencing and a 360-degree audio pickup. The ClearOne conference phone features full duplex operation, enabling natural conversations that allow more than one person to speak at a time. An express conference button will link the unit to an operator for setting up the conference call, and advanced echo cancellation and background noise reduction features ensure clear audio. Visual feedback indicators track the direction of the speaker's voice, letting him know he is being heard at the distant location. Additionally, Internet communications software can be enhanced with full duplex audio by connecting the unit to a PC sound card.--Gentner Communications