Thomson (Euronext 18453; NYSE: TMS) today announced availability of the world’s first suite of wireless Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) devices – multiple play residential gateways and IP DECT phones - that integrate wideband audio functionality for an enhanced telephony experience.
The launch of this compelling functionality is in line with Thomson’s commitment to offer its network operator and service provider client base innovative IP solutions enabling them to deploy new services and tap fresh revenue streams. Through wideband audio, operators and service providers can gain that all-important competitive edge by offering their users a vastly improved telephony experience. Near-CD quality sound covering the full range of frequencies audible to most people is immediately perceived by the end user insofar as the quality of the voice connection is much higher than that provided by traditional PSTN telephony. Furthermore, with such high audio quality, applications other than voice are possible, such as listening to music just streamed.
“Wideband audio delivers superior voice quality both compared to regular PSTN and standard IP phone calls. Integrating this feature raises the bar not only in terms of the sophistication of broadband service delivery platforms but also for voice services across the board”, explained Bruno Fabre, vice president in charge of Telecom activities at Thomson. “We believe that in 2007 wideband audio will be implemented in 30% of the wireless VoIP devices dedicated to both the residential and enterprise markets.”
The Technology Behind the Innovation
VoIP software on many PCs already delivers wideband audio quality hence a real phone provided by an operator is expected to offer the same quality at the very least. Thomson is the first to offer this functionality on wireless devices which allow users to access VoIP services without the need for a PC. Thanks to its advanced expertise in VoIP and codec development as well as its radio and acoustic know-how, Thomson is the first to launch this feature via DECT and Bluetooth® technologies.
Underpinned by the G.722 codec, a signal conversion process governing the compression of voice or audio signals, the wideband audio feature is supported for H.323 (teleconferencing protocol as specified by the ITU), MGCP (Media Gateway Control Protocol) or SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and is available both in European DECT as well as US DECT 6.0 standards.
Availability: immediate worldwide. (for implementation by operators starting Q1 2006).
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Glossary of terms used in this release
Bluetooth is a short-range radio technology designed to simplify communications both among Internet devices and between devices and the Internet. It also aims to simplify data synchronization between Internet devices and other computers.
Codec, short for Coder-Decoder, is an analog-to-digital (A/D) and digital-to-analog (D/A) converter for translating the signals from the outside world to digital, and back again. Codecs can be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of both.
DECT or Digitally Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications is a digital portable phone standard that provides high quality and reliable wireless voice and data delivery
Protocol is an agreed-upon format for transmitting data between two devices.
PSTN or Public Switched Telephony Network, the conventional worldwide voice telephone network
Bluetooth is a registered trademark.
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Some of the statements contained in this press release, including statements by the management in relation to future expectations, represent “forward-looking statements” in the sense of the “Safe Harbor Statement” by the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These types of forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions on the part of the management and are subject to a range of factors and uncertainties which may lead to a considerable deviation of the results actually achieved from the expectations outlined either explicitly or implicitly in the forward-looking statements. This may be due to changes in global economic conditions, industry developments, a shift in the competitive situation or the passing of new legislation. More detailed information on the factors which may influence Thomson’s financial results can be found in the documentation submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
The launch of this compelling functionality is in line with Thomson’s commitment to offer its network operator and service provider client base innovative IP solutions enabling them to deploy new services and tap fresh revenue streams. Through wideband audio, operators and service providers can gain that all-important competitive edge by offering their users a vastly improved telephony experience. Near-CD quality sound covering the full range of frequencies audible to most people is immediately perceived by the end user insofar as the quality of the voice connection is much higher than that provided by traditional PSTN telephony. Furthermore, with such high audio quality, applications other than voice are possible, such as listening to music just streamed.
“Wideband audio delivers superior voice quality both compared to regular PSTN and standard IP phone calls. Integrating this feature raises the bar not only in terms of the sophistication of broadband service delivery platforms but also for voice services across the board”, explained Bruno Fabre, vice president in charge of Telecom activities at Thomson. “We believe that in 2007 wideband audio will be implemented in 30% of the wireless VoIP devices dedicated to both the residential and enterprise markets.”
The Technology Behind the Innovation
VoIP software on many PCs already delivers wideband audio quality hence a real phone provided by an operator is expected to offer the same quality at the very least. Thomson is the first to offer this functionality on wireless devices which allow users to access VoIP services without the need for a PC. Thanks to its advanced expertise in VoIP and codec development as well as its radio and acoustic know-how, Thomson is the first to launch this feature via DECT and Bluetooth® technologies.
Underpinned by the G.722 codec, a signal conversion process governing the compression of voice or audio signals, the wideband audio feature is supported for H.323 (teleconferencing protocol as specified by the ITU), MGCP (Media Gateway Control Protocol) or SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and is available both in European DECT as well as US DECT 6.0 standards.
Availability: immediate worldwide. (for implementation by operators starting Q1 2006).
***
Glossary of terms used in this release
Bluetooth is a short-range radio technology designed to simplify communications both among Internet devices and between devices and the Internet. It also aims to simplify data synchronization between Internet devices and other computers.
Codec, short for Coder-Decoder, is an analog-to-digital (A/D) and digital-to-analog (D/A) converter for translating the signals from the outside world to digital, and back again. Codecs can be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of both.
DECT or Digitally Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications is a digital portable phone standard that provides high quality and reliable wireless voice and data delivery
Protocol is an agreed-upon format for transmitting data between two devices.
PSTN or Public Switched Telephony Network, the conventional worldwide voice telephone network
Bluetooth is a registered trademark.
***
Some of the statements contained in this press release, including statements by the management in relation to future expectations, represent “forward-looking statements” in the sense of the “Safe Harbor Statement” by the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These types of forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions on the part of the management and are subject to a range of factors and uncertainties which may lead to a considerable deviation of the results actually achieved from the expectations outlined either explicitly or implicitly in the forward-looking statements. This may be due to changes in global economic conditions, industry developments, a shift in the competitive situation or the passing of new legislation. More detailed information on the factors which may influence Thomson’s financial results can be found in the documentation submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
