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.
