THIS RELEASE MOVED OVER PR NEWSWIRE ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1994 AT 11:31 AM, PST.
Contact:
Maureen O'Connell
Regis McKenna, Inc.
415-354-4492
Al Haun
Analog Devices, Inc.
617-461-3263
Christine Hirschland
Aox Inc.
617-884-1410
Apple, Aox, Analog Devices Announce Plans To Deploy GEOPort Across PC Architectures
- OEMs Signal Support For Desktop Media Communications Plug-and-Play Interface
- High-Speed, Real-Time Link To Enable Low Cost Audio, Video Conferencing, Telephony Capabilities Over Analog, Digital Lines - Cross Platform Architecture To Support Windows, OS/2, Macintosh, PowerPC
SAN JOSE, California--March 2, 1994--Apple Computer, Inc., Aox Inc. and Analog Devices, Inc. today announced their intention to provide cross platform, plug-and-play connectivity between personal computers and telephones on corporate desktops. Apple plans to open its GEOPort technology to the PC and telephony industries, thereby enabling desktop media communications from any computing device, running any operating system, to any analog or digital telephone line. Aox and Analog intend to play key roles in the deployment of GEOPort to both industries.
"In GEOPort, we believe we have developed a powerful building block for the information superhighway," said Steve Manser, vice president, Macintosh Desktop Systems, Apple Computer. "The combination of Aox's integration skills and Analog Devices' signal processing leadership provide an excellent channel to the installed base of corporate PCs. We look forward to working with partners throughout the PC, telephony, and silicon industries to take advantage of this cost effective way to link our different products and solutions."
IInteroperability between computing and telephony products is an essential element in the delivery of digital media and collaborative computing capabilities for business users. As a high-speed media communications interface, GEOPort can support voice, data, telephone control, audio and video over any analog (POTS) or digital (PBX or ISDN) telephone line to any desktop PC, workstation or notebook computer. Apple has been shipping GEOPort for Macintosh personal computers since August 1993, and will include the technology in future PowerPC-based machines.
In a move to quickly facilitate GEOPort access throughout the industry, Aox, a highly regarded integrator of digital media technologies, plans to license GEOPort from Apple. Once licensed, Aox will then provide cross platform GEOPort designs, development tools and certification services to PC, PBX, and integrated circuit manufacturers.
Aox has agreed to make initial GEOPort implementations available on digital signal processors (DSPs) from Analog Devices and for the PowerPC processor. Subsequent implementations will support other DSPs and other host processors such as the Intel x86. Industry standard software environments, such as Microsoft's Windows and OS/2, will also be supported. Analog will serve as a primary silicon channel to the computer industry by implementing the GEOPort hardware interface within its line of codecs and ADSP-2100 family of DSPs. These integrated circuits are in turn used industry-wide by sound card, modem and PC manufacturers. Thus, GEOPort will be plugged into the wave of multimedia and telecommunications demands now sweeping the computer industry.
"GEOPort is the high-speed, real-time link between PCs and telephones that will deliver the promise of media communications on the desktop," agreed Michael Aronson, president of Aox Inc. "Aox is pleased to make GEOPort available as a cross-platform solution for PC, PBX and IC manufacturers."
TThe GEOPort announcements were made at the Intermedia Conference held here this week, and at a special exhibition of information superhighway technologies hosted by Vice President Al Gore at the White House. Representatives from PC, PBX and multimedia companies have already begun to signal their support for the GEOPort initiative.
A major GEOPort advantage is its ability to support any telephone line, including digital T1 lines, which are more than 150 times faster than the serial interface found on most PCs. In addition, GEOPort has been designed to deliver isochronous, or real-time, media streams at very low cost. With the media bottleneck finally broken, computer and telephony suppliers will be able to offer their customers such features as:
- high-quality, multiple party video conferencing over the PBX - document sharing with workgroups for collaborative computing - fax/modem from any desktop PC, even if connected to a digital line, without the need for gateway services - integrated telephone dialing, answering, caller ID, voice and electronic messaging services from the desktop - high-speed transfer of images and documents from scanners, digital cameras or notebooks onto the desktop PC - connect new and future high-performance V.32bis or V.34 modems to any PC without a throughput bottleneck at the serial communications port
Analog Devices predicted that the availability of GEOPort will cause an explosion in the market for business audio, sound card, fax/modem and video functionality. "The cost of adding the silicon necessary to support GEOPort into a PC product will be insignificant at the systems level. With the tremendous benefits it will provide, virtually every desktop PC will be a target for GEOPort enabled upgrades," predicted John Croteau, director of strategy and planning, computers for Analog Devices.
New GEOPort enabled products from PBX and PC manufacturers are expected to be introduced to business users in 1994.
HHeadquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ:APPL) develops, manufactures and markets computers, server and personal interactive electronic systems for use in business, education, the home, science, engineering and government. A recognized pioneer and innovator in the personal computer industry, Apple does business in more than 120 countries.
FFounded in 1977, Aox Incorporated is an engineering company dedicated to providing OEMs and major resellers with technology and designs to bring innovative hardware and software products to market. Its areas of expertise include the development of system enhancement products and low-cost multimedia solutions, and the integration of DSP technology into PC systems and peripherals. A privately-held company, Aox is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.
AAnalog Devices, Inc. (NYSE:ADI), headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts, is a leading manufacturer of precision high- performance integrated circuits used in analog and digital signal processing applications. The company employs approximately 5,300 people worldwide and has manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts, California, North Carolina, Ireland, Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan
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Apple, the Apple logo, and Macintosh are registered trademarks and GEOPort is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. PowerPC is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation, used under license therefrom. END
