Intel Corp has launched what is claims to be the first desktop video conferencing system that works on Windows95 and NT systems, on the internet, and over commonly used types of digital telephone lines and corporate networks. Intel Business Video Conferencing 4.0, or iBVC 4.0, is an H.323-compliant system that uses the ProShare technology Intel intends to use for reducing the amount of specialist hardware needed for videoconferencing by carrying out its functionality in software (CI No 3,175). It supports a variety of transmission mediums, including ISDN, local area networks and the internet, and is aimed at businesses that have already invested in their PC networks. iBVC now includes the abilty to conduct internet conference calls between companies with secure firewalls, exchange high resolution images, control the amount of bandwidth used in making a video conference call over local area networks, work with gateways from RadVision Inc and VideoServer Inc, access financial and other information via Touch Tone commands, and find other video conference system users through a call directory service. iBVC 4.0 begins shipping later this month and costs $2,000 for an audio/video board, ISDN adapter, camera, headset and microphone, echo cancellation and software. International language versions will also be available. Intel also has a PC-based conference room video conferencing system called TeamStation.
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