VBrick Announces Digital Video Portal for 3Com Open Services Networking

Business Wire, Feb 13, 2008

Web 2.0 Solution Centralizes and Simplifies Access to Live and On-Demand Video on 3Com Multi-Service Router Platform

WALLINGFORD, Conn. & MARLBOROUGH, Mass. -- 3Com Corporation and 3Com Open Network[TM] (3Com|ON[TM]) Program member VBrick Systems, Inc., today introduced digital video portal capabilities that provide central access to video podcasts, live content streams and on-demand digital libraries. The new digital video 3Com Open Services Networking (OSN) application integrates seamlessly on the 3Com[R] MSR Series Multi-Service-Router platform. The VBrick Video Portal (ViP), which has been jointly tested and validated, enables 3Com users to create and watch video content quickly and easily without requiring additional multimedia infrastructure or management expertise.

"Organizations require dynamic tools to enable collaboration and provide information at users' fingertips," said Edgar Masri, president and chief executive officer, 3Com Corporation. "Partnering with VBrick to offer powerful 3Com OSN digital video applications on our new MSR platform exemplifies our commitment to providing new services that deploy quickly and have the agility to support our customers' future requirements."

The browser-based VBrick ViP centralizes live and stored digital media content from multiple sources - enabling users to view programming located throughout global locations. The VBrick ViP empowers users to stream live presentations and breaking news to desktops and mobile devices, deliver webcasts that highlight new services and expand on-demand access to engaging podcasts and digital video libraries. Video podcasts are uploaded easily using VBrick software or third-party tools, and are available to podcast subscribers using standard viewers.

"As one of Georgia's largest school districts, we require flexible technology solutions that foster e-learning and work flawlessly when classes begin," said Dennis Thompson, chief technology officer, Carroll County Schools. "We are seeing significant cost and education benefits using 3Com and VBrick to provide a digital video infrastructure that enables teachers to interact in real time with students from smaller schools who are taking specialized classes remotely."

"The VBrick ViP builds on our video heritage by providing large organizations with the simplicity of YouTube for the enterprise," said Vince Graziani, chief executive officer, VBrick Systems, Inc. "3Com and VBrick are enabling organizations to use dynamic Web 2.0 applications to foster collaboration and information sharing without adding infrastructure costs."

VBrick's priority alert broadcast capabilities can stream live or pre-recorded alerts throughout an organization/campus or to specific sites or groups. The VBrick ViP can also automatically broadcast live or stored emergency broadcast messages on networked user desktops and mobile devices.

To simplify VBrick ViP portal management and administration, auto detection capabilities identify and display live and stored content from VBrick Windows Media Appliances deployed across an organization's global network.

About the 3Com MSR Series Multi-Service Router

The 3Com MSR platform, on which the new digital video application operates, delivers a measurable price and performance advantage over similar products from other leading vendors. There are three MSR models: The 50 Series, 30 Series and 20 Series, which provide a range of performance and capacity to meet the needs of enterprise branch offices and managed service providers. All of the models share a common architecture and a single software level.

Pricing and Availability

For more information and to purchase VBrick ViP software for 3Com OSN, please contact your local 3Com or VBrick representative.

The 3Com MSR Series is available now. The MSR 20 Series starts at US$1,050, the MSR 30 Series starts at US$2,140 and pricing for the MSR 50 Series chassis starts at US$6,380, with the required processor module.

Highlighting VBrick Ease-of-Use and Flexibility

VBrick is the worldwide market leader for enterprise video appliances and system solutions. The ViP software for the 3Com OSM joins a full suite of enterprise video solutions including award-winning VBrick appliances and the EtherneTV digital video system. VBrick appliances stream live video virtually anywhere. Approximately the size of a dictionary, VBrick's rugged digital video appliances digitize, transmit, receive and record digital video in Windows Media, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 formats. The EtherneTV digital video solution enables organizations to create, broadcast, record and manage live and on demand video across the global enterprise and via the Internet. The VBrick EtherneTV Portal Server provides a single user interface for all live and stored content, and centralizes management for all VBrick appliances - including set-top boxes, network video appliances and on demand servers.

About 3Com OSN

3Com OSN enables a rich and diverse set of third-party, open-source and 3Com applications and services to run seamlessly inside the network infrastructure. OSN is the industry's first open platform that integrates best-of-breed applications into the network infrastructure, enabling organizations to deliver differentiated services, operational simplicity and cost savings, while proactively addressing ever-changing business needs.