PictureTel Wants To Capitalize On Spread of Broadband

PictureTel Corp. Wednesday unveiled a new initiative that will focus on getting businesses to shift to video conferencing.

The company, which makes a variety of videoconferencing solutions, dubbed the new campaign Visual Collaboration for the ‘Net. PictureTel said the initiative gives businesses with high-speed connections to easily conduct videoconferences, broadcasts and product briefings over the Internet. The system is driven by a Web-based interface.

Bruce Bond, PictureTel’s chairman and chief executive officer, said the system can be used for a variety of applications including distance learning and training, broadcasting corporate events, interactive customer meetings and Web hosting solutions.

“Our core strength in videoconferencing products and services, along with our streaming-video solutions, combine to form a powerful solution for businesses and organizations of all types and sizes,” he said.

The new system includes PictureTel’s Visual Collaboration Application Service, a Web-based video portal that supports collaborative conferencing, streaming and event broadcasting through a Web interface. The portal allows customers to schedule conferences, deliver briefings, view archived conferences and search for upcoming events.

PictureTel is partnering with a number of connectivity providers who will offer the solution to their customers. Partners include Enron Communications and Japan’s Nippon Telegraph and Telephone.

The company is also partnering with Intel Corp. to develop video conferencing products that will be marketed with personal computers. The devices are expected to debut next year.