OSLO and NEW YORK -- TANDBERG (OSLO: TAA.OL) today became the first provider of video communications to support a new standard for video quality across all video endpoints and video infrastructure, whether an integrated services digital network (ISDN) or Internet protocol (IP) network.

TANDBERG video endpoints have supported the new H.264 video quality standard since July. TANDBERG, the global provider of video communication systems and services, now introduces full support of the standard for the TANDBERG Gateway and the TANDBERG MCU (multipoint control unit).

The H.264 standard -- developed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with contributions from TANDBERG and other major companies including Nokia, Real Networks and Microsoft -- delivers twice the current video quality by offering a much more efficient means of compressing motion video. Increased video quality dramatically improves the user experience, resulting in higher utilization and lower Total Cost of Ownership.

The TANDBERG Gateway makes communicating between IP and ISDN networks transparent and reliable. With this announcement, enterprises can extend the benefits of H.264 video seamlessly to suppliers, partners and customers.

The TANDBERG MCU bridges multiple video and audio calls and with H.264 support, enables H.264 endpoints to receive the same high quality in a multi-point call as in a point-to-point call. In addition, popular MCU features such as continuous presence and transcoding also benefit from H.264 quality video. With continuous presence, all participants can be seen at the same time, and transcoding ensures that participants experience the highest level of quality on their own system despite varying bandwidths of other systems.

"Our introduction of H.264 across the product line exemplifies how TANDBERG makes our customers' use of video a 'real communication experience'," said Andrew Miller, chief executive officer and vice chairman of TANDBERG. "Video goes beyond e-mail and audio to provide the immediacy and emotion necessary for real communication. By providing H.264 quality on all our products, customers receive the best video experience possible."

All TANDBERG endpoints currently ship with H.264 support. The Gateway and MCU will ship with H.264 in late October. A software upgrade will also be available then.

H.264 will be demonstrated at the TANDBERG booth at ITU Telecom World 2003, Geneva (Hall 2, Booth 2040).

Tandberg