Cupertino-based Siemens Components Inc and Integrated Information Technology Inc, in Santa Clara, have announced a joint development and marketing deal to provide a sub-$250 video-conferencing chip set. According to the companies, the chip set will support a range of compression standards including G.728, H.320 and MPEG/JPEG encode and decode. It combines video, audio and Integrated Services Digital Network communications in four integrated circuits, the idea being to enable manufacturers to put the full videoconferencing function on a single personal computer add-in board. The set combines the Integrated Information Technology 3100 Video Communications Processor with audio and Integrated Services Digital Network chips and from Siemens, including Siemens’ new PSB 7280 audio compression circuit. It is expected to cost less than $250 in volumes of 50,000 units and up, when combined with associated memory, compression software and other components. Siemens and Integrated Information Technology will offer OEM customers a single-board reference design out in the first quarter of next year. The reference design kit, containing the joint venture’s chip set, will need to be used with a camera and loudspeaker-microphone to produce video and audio communications. It will also accommodate collaborative computing, say the companies, by enabling personal computer users to share applications via an Integrated Services Digital Network line.
