HP (NYSE:HPQ) today announced that the network that forms the backbone
of its HP Halo studios now circumnavigates the globe via an alliance
with Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited, VSNL (NYSE:VSL), a leading provider
of international communication solutions.
The extension of the Halo Video Exchange Network (HVEN) enhances the
natural, personal connection experience by further reducing the
no-perceived latency standard of Halo. It also gives added business
continuity protection to Halo customers by enabling automatic re-routing
of Halo connections during earthquakes or other disasters that can
disrupt all forms of network traffic.
Additionally, HP introduced two new Halo Collaboration Studio editions
to offer customers access to the truly global network at dramatically
lower prices.
The HP Halo Collaboration Studio enables participants to see each other
in life-sized images projected on studio-quality displays. The studios
are connected via the HVEN, a dedicated fiber optic network created by
HP in partnership with many of the world’s
largest telecommunications providers for the express purpose of
transporting video.
The HP and VSNL alliance filled the last remaining gap in the network by
connecting India to Europe via the Middle East. This link marks the HVEN’s
complete circumnavigation of the globe and is similar to a “golden
spike”– the
ceremonial spike driven to mark the completion of the first U.S.
transcontinental railroad.
This network extension provided by VSNL improves upon the HVEN’s
leadership position as the lowest latency network on the planet. Such a
wide-reaching network makes the world flat for any company looking to
use video collaboration.
“Customers have told us that they want
seamless and simple global coverage for their immersive studios and that’s
what we have provided,” said Ken Crangle,
general manager, Halo Collaboration Studio Unit, HP. “No
other telepresence system can match HP Halo’s
worldwide reach.”
New editions offer global network at lower prices
Customers can enjoy the extended global coverage via new editions of the
HP Halo studios that offer lower base pricing and individual options
that customers can tailor to fit their needs.
The new HP Halo Collaboration Studio Professional Edition starts at a
base price of $329,000,(1) while delivering the
uncanny “just like being there”
experience that Halo offers. Multipoint capabilities and a dedicated
video collaboration screen are included in this edition, while available
options include a high-definition document camera for sharing critical
hard copy documents or handheld objects.
The HP Halo Collaboration Studio Executive Edition, with a base price of
$399,000,(1) includes the document camera along
with all of the studio component options that can be purchased
separately.
Later this year, through work with videoconferencing giant Tandberg, HP
expects to begin offering the capability to connect Tandberg systems
into Halo meetings. This capability will be available with all Halo
studio configurations.
High-quality conferencing and business continuity with a global
network
Connecting the HVEN around the globe brings additional customer
benefits. The HVEN “hub-and-spoke”
operating system automatically routes Halo transmissions along the
shortest distances – east or west –
to ensure no perceived latency between any points on Earth.
Additionally, improved circuit redundancy greatly reduces the HVEN’s
susceptibility to natural disasters such as earthquakes or tsunamis and,
in turn, greatly improves business continuity of global operations.
In addition, unlike competing telepresence solutions, HP Halo is the
only offering that includes network operations and management support,
diagnostics and calibration with a 24x7 concierge, an equipment warranty
and ongoing service and repair. Also included is a non-obsolescence
guarantee, which reduces technology risk by covering costs associated
with future upgrades, such as the multipoint feature.
The growing number of companies that has deployed HP Halo studios
include ABN AMRO Inc., Advanced Micro Devices, AIG Financial Products
Corp., BHP Billiton, DreamWorks, General Electric Commercial Finance,
Novartis and PepsiCo. HP Halo serves a wide array of industries
including pharmaceuticals, financial services and manufacturing.
Worldwide, HP Halo maintains a presence in 17 countries including
Australia, Canada, Chile, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India,
Ireland, Israel, Japan, The Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland,
the United Kingdom and the United States.
Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL), a part of the Tata Group, is the
leading provider of public international telecommunications services in
India. VSNL has a global presence including operations in India, the
United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa,
Singapore and Sri Lanka. Its range of service offerings include
wholesale voice, private leased circuits, IP VPN, Internet access,
hosting, mobile signaling and other IP services. VSNL offers a full
range of retail products in India to individual customers such as
high-speed broadband, dial-up Internet, Wi-Fi, and net telephony under
the Tata Indicom brand name. VSNL is listed on the major stock exchanges
in India and its American Depository Receipts are listed on the New York
Stock Exchange.
About HP
HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its
customers – from individual consumers to the
largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal
computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the
world’s largest IT companies, with revenue
totaling $94.1 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended Jan. 31, 2007.
More information about HP is available at www.hp.com.
Note to editors: More news from HP, including links to RSS feeds, is
available at www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/.
(1) Estimated U.S. street price. Actual price
may vary.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve
risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties
materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and
its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions.
All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements
that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not
limited to statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of
management for future operations; any statements concerning expected
development, performance or market share relating to products and
services; anticipated operational and financial results; any statements
of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying
any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the
achievement of expected results and other risks that are described from
time to time in HP’s Securities and Exchange
Commission reports, including but not limited to the risks described in
HP’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
fiscal quarter ended Jan. 31, 2007. HP assumes no obligation and does
not intend to update these forward-looking statements.
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