SIP, La Societa Italiana per l’esercizio delle telecomunicazioni pA, Italtel SpA and Aethra SpA, are busy finalising details for the presentation of SIP’s videophone, which is set for early Oc-tober at the Italian computer show, SMAU. Initially, SIP has chosen telecommunications equipment manufacturers Italtel, where AT&T Co is the strategic partner and an investor, and Ancona-based Aethra to produce two videophone models for use on the existing telephone network and on ISDN networks. A spokeswoman adds, however, that they will very likely be joined by other manufacturers. Italtel’s non-ISDN model, which uses AT&T technology, is expected to have a 3 screen and transmit colour images over normal telephone cables. The video picture appears on the terminal at the push-button command of the user, rather than automatically. The biggest problem for commercialising non-ISDN videophones, and the reason SIP says it has delayed their debut, is the lack of a standard for transmitting video over phone lines. This prevents such videophones from various manufacturers from communicating with each other. SIP’s aim, between now and October, is to select the standard that will enable all non-ISDN videophones sold in Italy to communicate with each other, says the spokeswoman. Using an unspecified British technology, Aethra is charged with manufacturing videophones for ISDN environments, says the SIP spokeswoman. These terminals, she notes, have no problem communicating with each other, as the communication standard is set. The ISDN videophones are likely to resemble a workstation, with a personal computer-sized screen and keyboard, as well as a telephone, SIP says. A spokesman for Aethra said that the prices quoted for the two videophone models in the Italian journal Corriere della Sera last week were not accurate. The $1,300 quoted for the non-ISDN model could be too high, he said, adding that the journal probably quoted AT&T’s price. The $12,000 price tag cited for the ISDN model however, is probably too low. That’s more likely to be next year’s price. Initially, it could be as high as $19,000. Both the Aethra spokesman and SIP spokes woman noted that, until the debut at SMAU, all of the pricing and marketing strategies are under discussion and are subject to change.
