In a timely move given that hardly anyone the other side of the Atlantic seems to want to travel at the moment, Peabody, Massachusetts-based PictureTel Corp has, as reported briefly (CI No 1,595) brought out a range of low-priced dial-up videoconferencing systems. The new System 4000 models cost two-thirds the price of existing systems, which PictureTel claims is the result of integrating the previously separate codec, video switcher, audio mixer, network terminal adaptors and audio-video interface unit into a personal computer-sized electronics module. The System 4000 range is based on Integrated Dynamic Echo Cancellation – which speaks for itself – and which is also available as a $5,000 upgrade to existing V-3100 systems. An optional package, including videorecorder interface and telephone add-on, is available for $10,000. System 4000 supports the CCITT px64 compression algorithm standard, as well as SG3 – PictureTel’s third-generation compression algorithm which produces audiovisual messages at data rates from 56Kbps to 768Kbps, and the company’s HVQ algorithm for dial-up networks. The System 4000 architecture connects via board-level interfaces to AT&T’s Accunet-56, V.35, RS-449, and is compatible with PABX equipment from AT&T Co, Northern Telecom Ltd, Rolm Corp and Siemens AG. The new products are available now, priced at $40,000 for a complete system, through PictureTel’s sales network, which includes DCE Video Communications in the UK.
