Dimension Data is making it possible for users of Windows-based PCs with an Internet or conventional telephone connection to converse without purchasing expensive speakerphones.
This is thanks to a joint initiative between Microsoft and PictureTel, the world leader in collaboration technology. Taking advantage of the rapidly growing demand for IP-based visual collaboration and audio conferencing, PictureTel licensed its voice conferencing technologies to Microsoft.
"PictureTel and Microsoft`s joint initiative enhances our IP-based solutions and multimedia communication offering," says Glynis Hyslop, managing director of Dimension Data`s Interactive Media division Videre.
"The convergence of the various technologies - voice, data, and video - will impact all business users moving forward and will further enhance the PC`s positioning as the total communications appliance," she says.
"The mainstream adoption of the Internet has radically changed the business communications landscape," says David Snow, PictureTel`s vice president, strategic initiatives. "Over the past two years, PictureTel has made a substantial investment in research and development to enable new world conferencing and collaboration paradigms."
PictureTel`s IDEC-IITM audio technology has been combined within the Microsoft DirectSound component architecture. "The IDEC-II technology and its selection by Microsoft further demonstrate our leadership position. Working with industry leaders such as Microsoft will allow us to raise the bar in enabling intuitive, natural content-rich communication for global customers," says Snow.
Under the agreement, PictureTel will license its IDEC-II technology to Microsoft, enabling hands-free, full-duplex audio capabilities for Windows-based PCs with DirectSound. Additionally, PictureTel will license the IDEC-II components to third parties to enable integration of this capability into other products, such as soundcards, VoIP devices, wireless telephones, and other multimedia devices.
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Dimension Data Holdings
Dimension Data is a leading global network and interactive integration services Group which provides communications network services and e-commerce solutions to enterprises, telecommunications service providers and new economy companies. Operating in over 30 countries on six continents, the Dimension Data Group is divided into the Network Services and Interactive Commerce (i-Commerce) divisions. The Group is one of the largest independent network and interactive integration services businesses world wide, offering customers truly global solutions.
The Group has achieved a compound annual growth rate of 106% in turnover and 38% in basic earnings per share in US dollars over the past three years.
IDEC-II Technology
PictureTel`s IDEC II technology integrates advanced acoustic echo cancellation, noise suppression, and automatic gain control. Several patents issued to PictureTel cover the technology. PictureTel`s patent portfolio includes a range of audio, video, and data collaboration technologies, and includes the Siren audio codec, which was recently designated as a standard by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) as G.722.1.
PictureTel
PictureTel Corporation is the world leader in developing, manufacturing, and marketing a full range of visual- and audio-collaboration and streaming-video solutions. The company`s systems meet customers` collaboration needs from the desktop to the boardroom. PictureTel also markets network conferencing servers and a comprehensive portfolio of enterprise-wide services.
Additional PictureTel information is available on the Internet at www.picturetel.com. PictureTel collaboration products and services eliminate the barrier of distance, enabling people to be Anywhere Now.