CorelVIDEO Brings Visual Communications to Your Desktop

Ottawa, Canada--Corel Corporation has begun shipping its new LAN-based
desktop videoconferencing system. CorelVIDEO provides full motion picture
quality within a local campus environment and a high quality connection to
the LAN, home or satellite office. The product uses a single pair of
existing unused category 5 UTP wires to transport audio and video signals
without impacting network traffic. 

Shipping now, CorelVIDEO carries a suggested list price of $499 US per
video desktop. CorelCAM, an ergonomically designed camera, may be
purchased at an additional price of $499 US. 

"CorelVIDEO sets a new threshold for affordability by offering top quality
desktop videoconferencing at a basic price that's under $500 per seat,"
said Dr. Michael Cowpland, president and chief executive officer of Corel
Corporation. "CorelVIDEO will help increase the effectiveness of all
communication within an office building or small campus. It promotes
workgroup awareness through document sharing and freeze-frame snapshots
and it provides a medium for company-wide distribution of promotional
videotapes or live news feeds." 

Key product features include the following: 

* Ease of Use: CorelVIDEO gives new users access to the desktop software
through a single window. 

* Directories: Multiple directories can be created by dragging and dropping
user's pictures into the appropriate directory. Simply double-click on the
picture of the person you want to call and CorelVIDEO places the call for
you. These directories can be viewed pictorially or textually and can also
hold additional information such as e-mail addresses. Users can also
modify their video phone picture to indicate to others that they are
temporarily away from the office or in a meeting. 

* Calling Features: CorelVIDEO supports traditional features such as do not
disturb, call forward, call waiting and on hold. Users can create their
own speed dials by dragging the pictures of frequently called people to
their monitor desktop. The product also allows for multiple calls and will
soon support multiparty calls for quick and easy conferencing without the
need for a boardroom. 

If a customer wishes to have access to outside calls, they simply add a
codec card and the communication card of their choice to the CorelVIDEO
switch and it becomes a shared resource for everyone on the system.
CorelVIDEO supports H.320 so that users may communicate with external
contacts who have an H.320 compliant video system. 

* Data Sharing: This feature helps promote workgroup awareness by allowing
users to collaborate on documents. Documents may be modified by multiple
users, even if only one participant has the software loaded. CorelVIDEO
utilizes Future Labs' TALKShow for its data conferencing solution. 

* Audio Cues: Users will hear a ringing sound when they are being called. 

* Freeze-Frame User Snapshots: Pictures are taken at predetermined
intervals so co-workers will quickly be able to determine if the person
they wish to talk to is on the phone, having a meeting or away from his or
her office. Users can personally manage the accessibility of these
snapshots. 

* Broadcast Capabilities: CorelVIDEO users can make or tune into live or
pre-recorded programs such as product demos or training sessions. 

Corel consulted with the Ontario Telepresence Project throughout the
development of CorelVIDEO. The Ontario Telepresence Project is a
provincially funded research group that has focused on the social and
technological implications of desktop video for the past three years.
Consequently, Corel was able to integrate much of this knowledge into the
product. 

A typical CorelVIDEO workstation requires the following hardware: 

* Switch: A standard PC with any number of Corel-supplied ISA bus line
cards serves as the CorelVIDEO switch. A single card can support up to 16
users. The minimum system requirements for the PC is a 486 66 with 16 MB
of RAM, 512 megs of hard drive space and 100 MB of free space. The
recommended system requirements are a Pentium 60, 32 MB of RAM, 512 megs
of hard drive space and 100 MB of free space. 

Eighty users may operate with a single PC serving as the central switch,
assuming that there are five available ISA slots with 16 users per line
card. Multiple PC's may be bunked together if companies have more than 80
users. This process of cascading and bunking CorelVIDEO switches together
allows for an unlimited number of users. 

Every user is connected to the wiring closet and the maximum distance
between the central switch, or another bunked switch, and any workstation
is 300 feet. (200 feet if the system is using CAT 3 cables). 

* CorelCAM (optional): An ergonomically designed camera that provides
eye-to-eye contact and features a built in dual lens for normal or wide
angle viewing, a built-in microphone and an audio video shutter for
privacy. Users may adjust the height of CorelCAM or mount the camera on a
tripod. 

* Speakers: Standard speakers are required. These are not necessary if the
person is using a TV for video display. 

* CorelCONSOLE: The CorelCONSOLE controls incoming and outgoing audio and
video between the workstation and the central switch. A stand is provided
for the CorelCONSOLE. 

* Video Overlay Card or separate TV: These devices are needed to display
the video. 

* LAN connection: A LAN connection that joins all CorelVIDEO workstations
and the CorelVIDEO switch is required. 

Corel Corporation

Incorporated in 1985, Corel Corporation is recognized internationally as an
award-winning developer and marketer of PC graphics and multimedia
software. CorelDRAW, Corel's industry-leading graphics software, is
available in over 17 languages and has won over 215 international awards
from major trade publications. Corel ships its products through a network
of more than 160 distributors in 60 countries worldwide and has an online
presence on the Internet at http://www.corel.com. Corel is traded on the
Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol: COS) and the NASDAQ--National Market
System (symbol: COSFF). 

Corel Corp
The Corel Building
1600 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1Z 9R7
613-728-8200,  fax 613-761-9176
 
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