Its moves to develop an open specification for personal computer-based personal conferencing notwithstanding, Intel Corp has introduced a pre-specification Personal Conferencing product family, called ProShare. According to a company spokesman, the iAPX-86 personal computer-based product line, which is said to enable users to work together on documents, spreadsheets and via videoconferencing on a one-to-one basis, will naturally fall into the spec as it develops. However, he admitted that the specification, which is due for release in mid-1994, may come up with some differences, meaning that Intel may have to modify ProShare’s architecture. ProShare Standard Edition software is said to enable users to mark up notebook pages via a set of pointers, markers and highlighters; share and manipulate document ‘snapshots’; change documents via remote Object Linking & Embedding; and save amended versions of these documents into the original applications. The ProShare Premier Edition, additionally features a function whereby two users can ‘share’ a software application, even if one user does not have the application on his own machine. ProShare software runs on any Windows-based Intel 80386, 80486 or Pentium processor-based personal computer, says the company. Last up in the range is the ProShare Video System 200, based on Indeo video technology. According to Intel, this features video and communications add-in boards, a monitor-top video camera, hands-free head-set with microphone, ProShare standard edition software and a graphical keypad for dialling and controlling personal conferencing calls. A 33MHz 80486 or Pentium processor-based system connected to ISDN service is required for full videoconferencing. According to the company source, these new products act at a low level of comms sophistication, while the specification will be addressing more complex issues, such as bridging and one-to-many or many-to-many connections: Intel says that it will not be changing the modem or ISDN standards on which ProShare communicates, so early adopters will not have to junk their kit in six months’ time. Asked why Intel has come to market so close to the specification being released, he said that the company had the products ready and that the market was ready. Of the other members of the personal computer conferencing group, he said that Intel had been talking to a variety of people within the group on a non-disclosure basis, none of which had raised objections to the move. ProShare Standard Edition is available now in the US for $100. The Premier Edition is selling at a price of $300 and will ship in the second quarter in the US, as will ProShare Video, listing for $2,500. The European availability and pricing have yet to be announced.
