Videoconferencing: new VTEL chief envisions "breakout scenario" for videoconferencing industry Jerry Benson presents "State of the Industry" address at TeleCon XVIII Conference - Industry Trend or Event

EDGE, On & About AT&T, Nov 2, 1998

"The true potential of our market is not contained within the boundaries of the videoconferencing industry, but in a multi-billion dollar marketplace," said Jerry S. Benson, Jr., president and recently appointed CEO of Austin, Texas-based VTEL Corporation. Benson made his comments during the annual "State of the Industry" address at TeleCon XVIII, Anaheim, California, the world's largest conference and trade show devoted to teleconferencing and interactive multimedia technologies and their applications.

"To breakout from this videoconferencing niche into a Digital Visual Communications(SM) industry we must fully comprehend the eventual video- enabling of the corporate data network and consider the growth of both the consumer/home office segment, and the burgeoning strategic consulting and enterprise network implementation market. That enables our traditional 'videoconferencing' companies to compete in an arena valued in excess of $160 billion. That's virtually 100 times larger than the videoconferencing industry is today. And that's where VTEL is going." To achieve what Benson termed the "breakout scenario" into the competitive market of Digital Visual Communications the industry must quickly adapt to the current industry landscape that revolves around network convergence, the potential of the Internet and the power of PCs and software advances, with the goal of making videoconferencing systems easy to use for the client user and the network administrator. "The new age of Digital Visual Communications is not about getting video from one place to another and then getting it on the screen," continued Benson. "The real value of advanced video networking is getting the most out of the video itself and everything around it. That means sharing applications, conducting presentations, or any mix of live video with other media and information." Benson concluded that the "breakout scenario" will be fueled by technology that provides seamless integration, open-standards architecture and hybrid networks, that is software upgradeable and contained on a PC-based platform. VTEL Corporation is the world's largest developer and manufacturer of Digital Visual Communications technology. The company is committed to expanding its leadership position by providing the world's most innovative video networking software, service and systems. VTEL's cutting-edge products bring visual communications from the desktop to the boardroom, incorporating data networks and the Internet. With headquarters in the United States, Europe and Asia, the company distributes products through value-added resellers and partners in 61 countries. VTEL's Digital Visual Communications products are deployed in the most advanced corporations, healthcare facilities, educational institutions and government operations around the globe.