Desktop videoconferencing company C-C-C Group Ltd has acquired Nynex Media Communications Ltd for its Multimedia Communications software and will spend an initial ú100,000 on further developing the software which will become part of the FreeComms videoconferencing system to be launched next year. C-C-C transmits analogue television signals and video, text and graphics files over company’s existing shielded twisted pair networks using one network for television feeds and the other for multimedia files. It claims this enables it to provide cheaper videoconferencing at around ú1,500 to ú2,500 per head. Most videoconferencing firms use co-axial cable or asynchronous networks for videoconferencing. Companies needs to lay new cabling and install a totally different network which really pushs costs up, said John McDermott, the company’s technical director. FreeComms will be an amalagam of the company’s existing products which comprise FreeNet, a category 5 cabling network; FreeView, financial information services; FreeBand, full-motion TV/Video system; FreeDesk, remote keyboards, screen and mouse drivers; and FreeWall, its large flat-screen displays. FreeComms is compatible with both MS-DOS and Windows personal computers and Unix workstations fitted with C-C-C’s video board to receive television signals. Its main market is financial institutions where simultaneous access to business information channels, newswire services and videoconferencing is required. C-C-C said 90% of the dealing rooms in Manhattan use some or all of its products. Although privately-owned, the Farnborough, Hampshire-based firm with New York and Hong Kong offices, plans to go public within the next year.
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