First Virtual Communications Systems Integrator Wins Two-Year Contract for Next-Generation Mission Support Collaboration System for NASA’s Internation
AZ Technology to Use First Virtual Technology for Internet Voice Distribution System (IVoDS) Contract
First Virtual Communications , a leading provider of
integrated rich media communications solutions for IP and other
networks, today announced that AZ Technology, a leading provider of
First Virtual’s rich media communications solutions, has won a
two-year Small Business Innovative Research Program contract to
develop a “next-generation” mission support collaboration system for
NASA’s International Space Station.
“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work with the
development team at AZ Technology once again,” stated Gary McGuire,
director of federal sales for First Virtual Communications. “The
initial phase of the NASA IVoDs program was the first government
contract that utilized our web-based client and server technology
within their voice over IP solution. This second phase of the IVoDS
project will be another great example of how our technology gives our
certified resellers the toolset needed to build a collaboration
solution that meets the needs of their customers through a COTS
(Commercial Off the Shelf) product offering, which is a requirement
for government programs.”
Due to limited crew availability to support science and the large
number of experiments to be operated simultaneously, tele-science has
become critical for a successful International Space Station (ISS)
science program. Crew, operations personnel at NASA centers, and
researchers at universities and companies around the world must work
closely together to perform scientific experiments on-board ISS.
NASA has initiated the use of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
to supplement the existing mission voice communications system used by
researchers. The Internet Voice Distribution System (IVoDS) connects
researchers to mission support “loops” or conferences via Internet
Protocol (IP) networks such as the public Internet and the high-speed
Internet 2. Researchers use IVoDS software on personal computers to
talk with operations personnel at NASA centers. IVoDS also has the
capability to allow researchers to talk with the ISS crew during
experiment operations. IVoDS was developed by AZ Technology with its
subcontractors First Virtual Communications and the VoIP Group. IVoDS
utilizes the First Virtual Conference Server and the VoIP Group H.323
Gateway. IVoDS is currently undergoing field-testing with full
deployment expected in mid-2002.
“The next-generation system to be developed by AZTek, in
coordination with First Virtual, will take full advantage of the
digital world — the PC and the Internet — to qualitatively enhance
communications among ISS experiment operations personnel,” stated Jim
Chamberlain, AZ Technology, Inc. “In addition to the current voice
capability, we will investigate video and application-sharing
capabilities. Other research areas include multicast, optimization of
bandwidth, wireless devices, and security. First Virtual’s technology
continues to lead in both functionality and stability for use in
government deployment opportunities of this magnitude.”
About AZ Technology, Inc.
AZ Technology, Inc. (AZTek) develops, tailors, and integrates COTS
Internet Protocol (IP)-based collaboration tools. AZTek provides
products, services, and custom engineering for Voice-over-IP (VoIP),
distance learning, business-to-business, and operations-support
applications. AZTek can provide lead development and integration
capability as well as third-party evaluation including system design,
analysis, or support. Additional information about AZTek can be found
on the web at www.aztechnology.com.
About First Virtual Communications
First Virtual Communications is a world leader in providing
easy-to-use, integrated rich media communications solutions to
enterprises, service providers and portals. By enabling interactive
voice, video and data collaboration over IP-based networks, First
Virtual provides cost-effective, integrated end-to-end solutions for
large-scale deployments to enterprise desktops. It also enables best
of breed videoconferencing solutions to be extended through ISDN and
ATM networks. The company’s flagship product, Click to MeetTM,
provides a complete framework for delivering a new generation of
video-enabled web collaboration applications that address the
real-time communications needs of companies worldwide. Click to Meet
can be integrated seamlessly into popular enterprise messaging and
collaboration environments such as Microsoft Exchange/Outlook and
instant messaging. First Virtual serves its customers through a
worldwide network of resellers and partners. Additional information
about First Virtual Communications can be found on the web at
www.fvc.com.
