Siemens AG has opened a new multimedia competence center in Berlin to test and demonstrate applications including video communication, teleworking, telelearning, and the integration of telephony and computer as well as Internet and intranet. The center, which is managed by Siemens’ sales organization for communications and networks, is perfectly suited to its location because Berlin and former eastern Germany both have the country’s most modern telecommunications infrastructure, the company said. Siemens will work on pilot projects together with internal and external partners, taking on responsibility for the complete project management as well as financing if requested. One focus, for example, is telematics, where Siemens has already made progress equipping the Berlin subway authorities with video surveillance systems based on broadband communications technology. The emergency booths and video surveillance equipment installed in a total of 64 subway stations is connected via a high-speed fibber optic network. In the event of an emergency, cameras transmit sound and video to multimedia personal computers located in the security center. Siemens has also designed a similar system for subways in Hamburg and Europe. Other projects in progress include a telemedicine pilot application for hospitals and doctors and a teleworking application that will link German government authorities working in the Berlin and Bonn, the country’s former capital
