Cox Taps RoseTel for Videoconferencing
By Multi Channel News Staff -- Multichannel News, 11/28/2001 12:04:00 PM
Anaheim, Calif. -- In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and related travel bans, Cox Communications Inc. is stepping up marketing of business-to-business videoconferencing applications.
The MSO demonstrated the capability here Tuesday, enabling a board meeting of The California Channel by using switching technology by RoseTel System.
Dick Waterman, vice president of government affairs for Cox in Orange County, Calif., said the MSO has spent thousands of dollars for hardware from PictureTel Corp., another video vendor, but never used it more than once a year because it was 'so herky-jerky and expensive. The stability is better with RoseTel.'
Because the RoseTel technology utilizes standard inputs, Cox has been able to cannibalize the hardware it purchased for the other videoconferencing system and use it with the new technology.
'There are amazing things you can do with this technology,' Waterman added.
In Orange County, Broadcom Corp. and the Ocean Institute in Dana Point (a sea-life park) have bought services from Cox.
Schools have also used the technology, including a marine-technology class that accompanied, by video, a deep-sea diver.
Jon Dunning, senior business consultant for Cox Business Services, said the RoseTel system is more cost-effective to operate than competitive systems.
The full hardware suite is $6,600, plus $350 to $600 per month for a T-1 line and a per-minute charge of 85 cents. Competitive providers charge $1.50 to $3 per minute.
Cox is selling services to some of the Orange County schools for $350 per month for unlimited usage. Schools must buy, or solicit donations of, the suite hardware, Cox executives said.
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