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Sony and GlowPoint Launch Free ‘Video’ Skype Rival

Breaching the final frontier in IP-based communications, Sony Electronics and Glowpoint, Inc. will be offering a new consumer version of Sony’s IVE service, or Instant Video Everywhere, powered by GlowPoint, featuring free, unlimited video and voice service for consumers worldwide.

Unlike other Internet-based communication applications currently available, the IVE service seamlessly combines the best elements of standard “Voice over IP” (VoIP) services with live, face-to-face feature-rich video-resulting in VoIP Plus, the next generation of IP-based communications. The IVE application can be downloaded for free at http://www.sonyive.com.

With the IVE (pronounced ‘Ivy’) service, consumers will no longer need to choose between traditional audio-only VoIP capabilities and desktop-based video communications. The IVE service offers a seamless experience that allows users to easily:

* Place and receive free, unlimited video and voice calls worldwide with any other IVE user anytime, anywhere.
* Place video and audio calls to cell phones, telephones, and any other traditional video or audio conferencing system.
* Communicate face-to-face beyond the home or the office from any broadband enabled location or “hotspot” - including coffee shops, hotels, airports, college dorms, and more.

Began with Video and Added the Best of Standard VoIP

Together, Sony and GlowPoint have already delivered millions of video usage minutes to thousands of users worldwide. The new IVE service now offers users the best of video and voice communications - including IVE “All You Can See and Say” Unlimited Calling Plans - shifting ear-to-ear conversations to face-to-face communications.

“With millions of Americans already using the Internet for voice-only communications, the demand already exists for something even better– the ability to talk online while seeing each other ‘face-to-face’,” said David Trachtenberg, chief executive officer at GlowPoint. “By continuing to innovate with Sony we are bringing a seamless communications experience to people around the world.”

No More “Islands of Video”

With the IVE service, customers are no longer limited to talking only to other video users on the same proprietary service. The IVE service’s patent-pending standards-based technology allows all IVE users to directly contact all other standards-based video users and even those who do not have video access or webcams. This solves the “islands of video” obstacle that previously restricted wide-scale use of video communications. Instead, the IVE service offers the ability to place free, unlimited ‘audio only’ video calls to anyone, anywhere in the world with no long distance charges or per call fees.

Telephone-Like Features, Reliability and Ease of Use

The IVE service replicates the traditional telephone experience, making IP-based video and voice communications as easy to use as placing a phone call. The IVE service’s patent-pending features include:

* Personal Video Numbers: IVE users each get their own personal video number with which they can easily place and receive video and audio calls.
* Multi-Person Calling: Users can include up to six people in an audio or video conversation.
* Video Call Mailbox: Video and voice callers can leave a video or voice message when an IVE user is not available. IVE users can also personalize their full-motion video outgoing messages.
* Live Video Operators: Users have “one-click” access to a Live Video Operator available for directory assistance, call transfer and more.
* MyIVE User Portal: Allows real-time online call detail, access to Video Call Mailbox messages, and more.
* “Lisa,” the IVE Video Call Assistant: With “Lisa,” a friendly face alerts you when your outgoing calls can not be completed because the person you’re trying to reach is unavailable or the number may not be correct.
* IVE Video Portal: Instant access to previews of feature motion pictures, special promotions for new Sony products, IVE service updates, video customer service and more.

Real World Applications

Translated into everyday applications, the IVE service means late-working or traveling parents can check in on their kids at home using real-time, high-quality video directly from their desktop. Grandparents and grandchildren living in different parts of the world can see and talk to each other. Online daters can see each other face-to-face before meeting in person. Online multi-player gamers can add full-motion video to communicate better between competitors and teammates. Teenagers can show each other what they are wearing to a big party and online poker players can literally “see” if someone is trying to bluff them or not.

“The launch of the IVE service as a free, unlimited use service is a communications watershed moment for consumers–an instantaneous, easy-to-use application that brings people together by literally putting them in the same room,” said Eric Murphy, vice president for integrated visual communications at Sony Electronics. “The IVE service is the result of a shared vision projecting how video will continually evolve as an integral tool that people use to communicate in their daily lives.”

The Sony IVE service, powered by GlowPoint, also offers rich, multi-function upgrades that are packaged into affordable flat-rate monthly services that range from less than $10 a month - or less than $0.35 a day - to $19.95 for advanced, professional grade users.

Add comment November 17th, 2005

Dilithium Crystal Trouble For Scotty’s Last Voyage

Despite the presence of the ashes of the world’s most famous space engineer (with apologies to Wernher Von Braun), a US rocket has been grounded until at least Feburary by engine trouble.

The private Falcon 1 rocket, run by Space Services, had been due to lift off with the mortal remains of 168 people on board, including those of James Doohan who played Scotty in Star Trek, but a last minute engine test caused scientists to delay the flight while they sort out a problem.

In stark contrast to Scotty, who would of course never dare give Kirk an estimate of three months to fix a problem with the Enterprise’s engines, present day engineers are hedging their bets and deciding to postpone until after the festive season.

However, as the exchange below between Scotty and Spock from the sixth Star Trek film shows, Scotty wasn’t averse to a bit of overestimation himself, so perhaps Space Services are just covering themselves.

“Ahh, Mr. Scott, I understand you’re having difficulty with the warp drive. How much time do you require for repair?” - Spock
“There’s nothing wrong with the bloody thing!” - Scotty
“Mr. Scott, if we return to Spacedock, the assassins will surely find a way to dispose of their incriminating footwear, and we will never see the captain, or Dr. McCoy, alive again” - Spock
“Could take weeks, sir” - Scotty

Add comment November 17th, 2005

Microsoft and CableLabs Strike Deal

Microsoft CableLabs have reached an agreement that will allow Microsoft and PC manufacturers to bring to market digital-cable-ready Windows Media Center-based PCs in time for Christmas 2005.

These Media Center PCs, capable of supporting a CableCARD module, will allow consumers to enjoy one-way cable programming, including premium high-definition cable content, on their personal computer and throughout the home on compliant network-connected devices, such as Xbox 360, while protecting cable operators’ investments in high-value content in a digital environment. Microsoft is working closely with CableLabs to document final approval of Windows Media Digital Rights Management (DRM) as a content protection technology for OpenCable products that receive one-way cable content under the terms of this agreement.

“This agreement is an important milestone for our customers who want access to high-definition digital cable content on their PCs and a major step toward enabling a solution for the delivery of that content,” said Joe Belfiore, corporate vice president of the Windows eHome Division at Microsoft.

“The cable industry is very interested in having the PC serve as another means to allow consumers to enjoy cable programming,” said Richard R. Green, president and CEO of CableLabs. “By working with Microsoft and the IT industry, we have come up with a solution to enable consumers to enjoy the wide range of entertainment options they want.”

“This agreement carefully balances the need to preserve the flexibility of the personal computer for consumers with the need for cable operators to be confident that the hardware and software shipped with compliant Media Center PCs will function like a CableCARD-enabled digital television,” said Glenn Britt, chairman of CableLabs and chairman and CEO of Time Warner Cable.

The agreement is the culmination of more than two years of extensive evaluation and technical reviews performed by the two entities under the CableLabs OpenCable process to develop specifications and test suites for the new solution.

The specified OpenCable architecture allows for multiple DRM systems to be used in the device and ensures content providers of protected delivery of content to the PC. Microsoft Windows Media Digital Rights Management is the first major DRM system to complete the due diligence necessary for approval by CableLabs.

The OpenCable project will continue to play an important role as the new agreement moves forward, allowing the cable industry to work closely with the consumer electronics and IT industries to innovate rapidly on the new specifications developed by Microsoft and CableLabs.

CableLabs will host interoperability events to enable vendors working on products based on these specifications to test products in CableLabs facilities and conduct more formalized certification testing. More information about the OpenCable project is available at http://www.opencable.com.

Add comment November 17th, 2005