Motorola Inc has announced a joint development program to develop videoconferencing capabilities for Frame Relay networks. Motorola Inc’s Information Systems Group will work with videoconferencing specialists Austin, Texas-based VTEL Corp. The project aims to add video conferencing capabilities to Motorola’s Network Access devices, including the MP Multimedia Periphery Router and its low-end Vanguard series. Video support will be through a software upgrade on the MP router and the addition of access cards on Vanguards, which will enable the transport of VTEL’s proprietary HDLC video streams, with H.320 desktop video support to follow. Motorola claims this will enable companies to remove video conference dedicated high bandwidth leased lines and technology, and instead use a common frame relay technology to carry voice, data, and video conferencing signals concurrently. The VTEL/Motorola package uses 384Kbps for optimum video quality and VTEL’s AT261 video compression algorithm. The VTEL conferencing suite costs $11,000. Motorola is also pledging to support the recent FRF.11 standard for voice over Frame Relay. Motorola already offers video over IP with RemoteVu, designed for security surveillance and remote monitoring markets, that transfers video at 2.4Kbps. RemoteVu is a daughter card upgrade to the MP Router and Vanguard, while client systems require a video card for Windows 95 compatible personal computers, both cards are priced at $900. The system supports Frame Relay, X.25, and IP protocols.
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