News for and about the Internet2 community

[Michelle Pollak <>]

INTERNET2 COMMONS OFFERS UNIVERSITIES SCALABLE, EASY-TO-USE VIDEO COLLABORATION SERVICE

 MULTI-SITE IP VIDEOCONFERENCING SOLUTION FOR ADVANCED COLLABORATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 6, 2003 – Internet2(R) today announced the
launch of the first videoconferencing service from the Internet2 Commons,
making group collaboration through videoconferencing as simple as
traditional phone conferencing.  Network technologies and H.323
video and audio standards combine to create an affordable and accessible
service for Internet2’s members and partners.

“The Internet2 Commons grew out of our members’ needs for effective tools
for face-to-face meetings,” said Ted Hanss, Director of Applications for
Internet2.  “Internet2 Commons subscribers can easily reserve
videoconferencing ports for time-sensitive meetings such as remote
research collaborations and regularly scheduled distance learning
classes.  They can also set-up multi-party videoconferences on the
spur-of-the-moment.”

Tyler Johnson, Telecom Systems Analyst at the University of North
Carolina added, “This latest videoconferencing service is a vital stride
in developing virtual collaboration environments, which can increase
efficiencies in higher education and research.  The affordable cost
and easily deployable technology of the Internet2 Commons makes it the
videoconferencing service of choice for the higher education
community.”

For subscribers, the Internet2 Commons provides the equipment, staffing,
and expertise to run this new H.323 service, which has been in
development for two years.  H.323 video and audio standards for
Internet Protocol-based communications allow various vendor endpoints to
seamlessly and compatibly connect to one another.

The Internet2 Commons Videoconferencing Service via H.323 is provided for
the Internet2 community in order to create a global, collaborative
environment.  The larger goal of the Internet2 Commons is to expand
IP-based collaboration opportunities for the Internet2 research and
education community, allowing members to work together more effectively
over advanced networks in support of research and education.  Visit
http://commons.internet2.edu/h323/
to participate in the Internet2 Commons videoconferencing service.

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About Internet2(R)
Led by more than 200 U.S. universities working with industry and government, Internet2 develops and deploys advanced network applications and technologies for research and higher education, accelerating the creation of tomorrow’s Internet.  Internet2 recreates the partnerships among academia, industry, and government that helped foster today’s Internet in its infancy.  For more information, visit: www.internet2.edu.

Contact:
Michelle Pollak, Internet2
+1-202-331-5345