Firms rally behind ITU simultaneous voice/data modem specification

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J. -- A group of leading chip, modem and computer firms
today committed to support a newly established unified international
standard for simultaneous voice and data transmissions over analog phone
lines. The pledge for standard-compliant future products follows the
approval of the so-called V.70 specification by a committee of the
International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

The endorsement of the Digital Simultaneous Voice and Data (DSVD) standard
by major industry players opens the door for new desktop applications like
collaborative computing, in which multiple users share white boards, ers
share white boards, computer screens and other desktop applications while
conducting two-way phone conversations.

The manufacturers supporting the new unified DSVD standard include Cirrus
Logic, Inc., Compaq Computer Corp., IBM, Intel Corporation, the
Microelectronics Group of Lucent Technologies (formerly AT&T
Microelectronics), Motorola, MultiTech Systems and Sierra Semiconductor.

The major milestone passed by DSVD in the formal standardization process
makes it the leading technology covered by an ITU standard for
transmitting voice and data simultaneously over V.34 modems.

In addition to collaborative computing, in which participants share data
while conversing, DSVD applications extend to such business uses as
integrated voice/electronic mail and remote technical support. In consumer
markets, DSVD supports interactive networked games and simultaneous
Internet data retrieval and voice calls over the same phone line.

"Standardization gives applications developers the incentive to commit
resources and make use of this new technology," said Lisa Pelgrim,
industry analyst at Dataquest. "The digitized voice aspect of DSVD will
make it an excellent solution for users in LAN environments where there is
a need to pass the voice on digitally."

DSVD modems require no specially-written applications yet they extend the
capabilities of today's V.34 products to link the PC with an ordinary
telephone line for greater productivity so that users can collaborate
while manipulating information on a screen and converse on the same phone
line.

What DSVD (V.70) modems can (and will) do

DSVD allows the simultaneous transmission of data and digitally encoded
voice signals over a single dial-up phone line. The voice quality is
essentially the same as that provided over present phone lines. DSVD
modems use for V.34 modulation (up to 33.6 kbit/sec), but may also use
V.32 bis modulation (14.4 kbit/sec).

The DSVD voice coder is a modified version of an existing specification and
is defined as G.729 Annex A. The DSVD voice/data multiplexing scheme is an
extension of the V.42 error correction protocol widely used in modems
today. DSVD also specifies fallbacks that enable DSVD modems to
communicate with standard data modems (i.e., V.34, V.32bis, V.32, and
V.22). DSVD modems reserve eight kbit/sec for voice transmissions. The
remaining bandwidth is available for data transmission.

Along with V.70, which specifies the system-level framework for DSVD, the
International Telecommunications (ITU) Study Group 14 also approved the
V.75 Recommendation, which specifies DSVD control procedures, and the V.76
Recommendation, which defines DSVD multiplexing procedures. V.70 specifies
G.729 Annex A, a voice coder determined in ITU Study Group 15, as the DSVD
voice coder. ITU-T Study Group 15 is expected to formally approve G.729
Annex A in May, 1996. The ITU also approved V.8bis as an element of V.70
to provide the start-up procedure that is particularly important to
simultaneous voice/data terminals.

Also under consideration are a voice detection capability that will enable
DSVD modems to utilize the full 33.6-kbit/sec V.34 bandwidth for data
transmission during periods of silence, and a wide-band voice coder that
will enable DSVD modems to transmit FM-quality music.

Note: This press release was issued in the U.S. Although Lucent
Technologies sells its products worldwide, specific products may not be
available in all regions at the same time, and pricing may vary by
region.

For more information, reporters may contact:

Connie Duncan - Cirrus Logic
510-226-2346
Hedy Baker - Compaq
713-514-0484
Kathleen Ryan - IBM
914-892-5582
Donna Loveland - Intel
503-264-6281
Trish Perry - Motorola
205-430-7080
Sam Gronner - Lucent Technologies
908-508-8226
samgronner@attmail.com
Paul Kraska - MultiTech Systems
612-785-3500
Ward Pitkin - Sierra Semiconductor
408-263-9300
 
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