Following the announcement from British Telecommunications Plc this week that its ISDN 2 integrated voice and data service is due to start full service in April (CI No 1,312), and a UKP23m deal with STC Plc to supply multiplexers for this network, STC’s computer division, ICL, yesterday launched its DeskTop Conferencing system for use over ISDN 2 and the existing Multiline IDA service. Initially running under OS/2, the system, which was announced in the US in April 1988 (CI No 940), allows a maximum of eight personal computer users to share screens and to amend data and graphics in real-time while simultaneously providing voice communications on the same line over the public network. ICL, which will be starting volume production by the start of next year, expects early demand to be for a complete DeskTop Conferencing package: typically this might include two Intel iAPX-86-based micros with added memory for OS/2, an AT or EISA interface card, feature telephone, all the software required, a light pen and mouse and will cost around UKP15,000. The ISDN components of the system are about UKP2,000 when bought as an add-on.
