Ittiam launches IP video phones

Ittiam Systems, the Bangalore-based technology product company focussing on digital signal processing (DSP) systems in media and communications, has announced the launch of IP video phones.

With integrated software and hardware solution, these phones are targeted at OEM (original equipment manufacturers) customers who are engaged in the manufacture of two video communications systems.

The company claims that this is the first single processor-based IP video phone and has been designed in such a way that it would be production-ready for OEMs that buy it.

Ittiam in an advanced stage of talks with four OEMs, which include three in Asia and one in the US.

Launching the phone, Srini Rajam, chairman and chief executive officer of Ittiam Systems, said, "We believe that the advances in the media processing technology and the availability of bandwidth are going to take video communication out of high-cost conference rooms to desktops at home and at offices. We have the right combination of media and communication expertise to make that happen."

The typical costs of existing video phones in the similar category costs in excess of $15,000 per unit and is manufactured from players like Cisco, Tandberg and Polycom.

The key differentiator for Ittiam would be the fact that their phones have the capability to be production-ready within a matter of 12 weeks, unlike others which take a much longer duration. Also, since Ittiam's focus is on personal video communication at work and home, the projected end-user cost is $300-400 per phone.

Within the next three years, the company is expecting at least 10 customers (OEMs) for this particular product. It also aims to have a 10 per cent market share for IP video phones by then.