Competitively priced, high quality, videoconferencing facilities are now available via a PC or notebook computer. VistaCom 2.1 is a software based product that allows video calls to be made over the growing ISDN telecommunications network at low cost.

VistaCom 2.1 makes video calls simple. It can be installed at home or the office, and video calls are made using normal telephone numbers. All you need to make or receive a video call is for the PC and VistaCom software to be switched on.

There are four different models in the comprehensive 2.1 software range offered by Vista Communication Instruments, Inc. These span the video telephony needs of the individual to that of companies and service providers. The models can connect to existing videoconferencing systems worldwide, ISDN videophones, desktop and laptop VistaCom installations, plus conventional telephones and mobiles. VistaCom 2.1 can be used with all types of web-cams, video cameras, PCs and notebook devices in home and office environments.

"With 704 * 576 resolution VistaCom's video quality exceeds that of hardware based ISDN videoconferencing systems on the market. VistaCom 2.1 Video Service's ability to call four places simultaneously is only available with the very top of the line videoconferencing systems." says Tuomas Koljonen, President of Vista Communication Instruments.

The largest market for this software is the business video conferencing plus distance learning and training applications.

Koljonen points out that before there were no competitive, affordable ISDN video conferencing products on the market. Software packages relying on the Internet have a number of drawbacks, he says including "quality of service, latency i.e time delays, complicated addressing, as well as missing signalling and billing on the world wide-web. Even a fast internet access such as ADSL cannot compete against ISDN as suitable access method for two-way video telephony."

ISDN is a communications medium that has a vast and rapidly growing installed base. European ISDN networks doubled the number of installed lines over the last year alone.

Growing interest
The product comes at a time of growing interest in video telephony. Koljonen points out that although ISDN video conferencing has been available for a decade, the equipment has been expensive. The lowest cost hardware systems start at around Euro 1500. By contrast, VistaCom 2.1 Video Phone retails at Euro 89. The product is available through a network of distributors, web shops and system integrators.

Finland is leading the way in consumer video telephony, just as it did in mobile phones. New services including video call centres, entertainment, chat lines and remote translation services are appearing, thanks to VistaCom enabling affordable solutions. One Finnish local television station is launching interactive TV via ISDN video telephony.

Today VistaCom is the leading company worldwide to offer universal videophone and video conferencing software. In the past year alone, VistaCom sales in Finland matched the number of hardware videoconferencing systems that the rest of the videoconferencing industry has taken a decade to build. "Our ambition," says Koljonen, "is to build on our leading market position and to ensure that VistaCom Video Phone is installed in every PC and notebook in the world."

The company began in the mid-1980s and is believed to be the first company to manufacture a commercial videophone, followed by the introduction of the world's first video codec on PC card in 1991. It places emphasis on R&D having invested 100 man-years and Euro 10m into product development. In 1999, it introduced the first version of its Video Phone software.


For more information contact:
Tuomas Koljonen, President & CEO
Vista Communication Instruments, Inc.
Kaisaniemenkatu 13A
FIN-00100 Helsinki
FINLAND
Tel: +358 9 6226 2316
Mobile: +358 400 446 048
Video phone: +358 9 6226 23432
Video meeting: +358 9 6220 7261
Facsimile: +358 9 6225 610
Email: tuomas.koljonen@vistacom.fi

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