ICL Collaborates with Improv Systems Inc.to Develop Single Chip Solution for VOIP and MPEG-4 Platform

Improv Systems Inc. has recently licensed to the Computer and Communications Research Laboratories (ICL) of ITRI technologies relevant to the development of System on Chip (SoC) for Voice Over IP (VOIP) and Moving Picture Experts Group-4 (MPEG-4) platform. Once ICL has gained a solid foundation of the technologies, they will be transferred to domestic companies for new product development.

The General Director of ICL, Dr. Paul Lin, pointed out that Improv System is a leader in developing digital signal processing technology for communications and multimedia products. The Company has three R&D centers in the U.S. and ICL is collaborating with the headquarters located in Beverly, Massachusetts. This collaborative program will allow ICL to obtain key technologies to develop SoC solutions for VOIP. ICL and Improv will also extend their collaboration to developing a complete packet platform as an integrated SoC solution that will offer quality VOIP service by providing efficient and flexible interoperability with different types of home and office equipment.

ICL will first develop chipsets for SOHO gateway VOIP, MPEG-4 platform mobile multimedia devise, and work on IP design. According to market research firm Cahners-Instat, the production value of VOIP integrated circuits (IC) is worth US$600 million by 2005, while compound annual growth rate is 55.6%. In addition, combining Improv's MPEG-4 technology, ICL will also develop the emerging technology ¡VVideo over IP and its application on 3G mobile connectivity such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and mobile phones.

The President and CEO of Improv System, Mr. Ussery, is looking forward to working with ICL's outstanding R&D team in order to promote immediate applications of VOIP and MPEG-4 platform, as well as willing to assist ICL in transferring technologies to domestic companies.

For more information, please contact Mrs. Margaret Chen at Tel:+886-3-5917921; email: margaret@itri.org.tw.