Connectware introduces MPEG-1 playback solution for Sun SPARC and Sun-compatible workstations

Business Wire, Sept 16, 1996

RICHARDSON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 16, 1996--Connectware Inc., an AMP company, Monday announced its RasterVideo-MPEG card, a high-performance, full-motion MPEG-1 playback solution for Sun SPARC and Sun-compatible workstations.

``With RasterVideo-MPEG, all the live video display capabilities of the base RasterVideo product remain available. The user can select MPEG playback or live video display using a TV/VCR button on the screen,'' explained Tim Sullivan, president and chief executive officer of Connectware.

``This product ideally complements the company's portfolio of high-end performance video and imaging solutions developed for Sun and UNIX environments.''

RasterVideo-MPEG incorporates industry-standard MPEG-1 in hardware for high-quality decompression of video and audio on the desktop. The decoded video is overlaid on the SPARCstation screen, while the CD-quality MPEG audio is supplied to an output connector which can be connected to the SPARCstation audio input or can drive powered speakers directly.

RasterVideo-MPEG uses SBus DVMA (Direct Virtual Memory Access) to minimize impact on the system CPU, even on older SPARC configurations, such as SPARC 2 and SPARC Classic.

8x8's MEP Multimedia Encode Processor is at the heart of the RasterVideo-MPEG card. The MEP contains two programmable engines: the MIPS-X RISC microprocessor and the VP (Vision Processor) core, a SIMD (single instruction multiple data) DSP.

In addition to the audio and video decoding, specialized hardware in the MEP performs video scaling and temporal filtering to provide the highest-level video quality.

The RasterVideo-MPEG card is now available and priced at $2,995. Customers may call Connectware at 800/357-0852 or 214/997-4111 for more information. Visit the Web site at www.connectware.com.

Founded in 1987, 8x8 (formerly Integrated Information Technology) is an innovator in high-performance silicon and software products serving the multimedia computing, communications and consumer marketplaces. 8x8 is the world leader in the explosive markets of ISDN video conferencing, analog videophone, MPEG encode/ decode and multimedia-for-PC.

A privately held company, 8x8 has employees worldwide, with offices in Boston and London.

Connectware, Richardson, was founded in September 1993 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of AMP Inc. Connectware is an emerging leader in multimedia communications and advanced networking technologies.

The company's technology focus addresses not only today's traditional LANs but also the convergence of LANs and WANs through Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) workstation interfaces and network switches.

Connectware provides communication integration through software and hardware offerings, imaging/video solutions to the desktop and custom software applications development. Connectware has sales and marketing offices throughout North America, Europe and the Asia- Pacific region. Product development is conducted in Texas, California, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida and India.

AMP is the world's leading supplier of connectors and interconnection systems, serving customers around the world in a wide range of markets, from consumer goods to communication and computer systems. Employing more than 40,000 people in 200 facilities in the United States and 39 other countries, the company had a record $5.2 billion in sales in 1995. -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: Connectware and RasterVideo are trademarks. AMP is a registered trademark. All other product or service names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners. Editorial inquiries may be directed to Connectware at 214/997-4143.

CONTACT: Connectware Inc., Richardson

Zoe Meyer, 214/997-4143