
	Home	About	Interoperability	Activity Groups	Membership

IMTC FAQ

What is the IMTC?
What is the IMTC's function?
What is "Multimedia Conferencing"?
How large is the conferencing market?
What is the meaning of Rich Media?
Why are standards necessary?
On which standards does the IMTC focus?
What issues do the standards address?
What does the IMTC mean by interoperability?
Why are interoperability test events important?
What is the IMTC's relationship to other standards-development and implementation bodies such as the ITU?
Who belongs to the IMTC?
What about videoconferencing via mobiles?
I am interested in accessing the archived messages for a specific Activity Group mailing list. What is the procedure?
How do I access the Public FTP server?
How Can I Improve My User Experience When Accessing the Public FTP Server?
How Can I Get a Password to the IMTC Members Area?
How do I access the IMTC published Control Documents?

1. What is the IMTC?

The IMTC stands for the International Multimedia Telecommunications Consortium, Inc., a non-profit corporation comprising approximately 70 organizations around the globe. The IMTC's mission is to promote and facilitate the development and implementation of interoperable multimedia conferencing solutions based on open international standards -- particularly the multimedia conferencing standards adopted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), as well as other standards organizations. In addition, The IMTC is a reliable source of conferencing-related information for its members, other vendors, media and the public.

2. What is the IMTC's function?

The IMTC's key activities include: sponsoring and conducting interoperability test sessions between suppliers of standards-based conferencing products and services; providing a forum for technical exchange that will lead IMTC members to make additional submissions to standards bodies; and enhancing the interoperability and usability of multimedia conferencing products and services through industry-wide cooperation.

3. What is "Multimedia Conferencing"?

Multimedia conferencing revolutionizes vital, everyday tasks such as corporate management, training and communication between geographically-dispersed teams. This technology enables interactive, live sharing of audio, video and desktop applications during a conference session. Multiple users participating from geographically distant locations can collaborate on an application and share visual information while they discuss a project together. Internet voice and video and PSTN video increase productivity and reduce travel time and cost, while offering a personal mode of communication. Applications are wide-ranging and include investor relations, telemedicine, distance learning, technical design reviews, and other collaborative activities.

4. How large is the conferencing market?

According to industry reports the conferencing market is growing at a rapid rate of 37% per year and is expected to reach US$5.6 billion by the year 2007.

5. What is the meaning of Rich Media?

Rich Media includes all types of data streams used to enhance the users' experience when using communications devices. Rich Media data streams carry voice, video, and application data for end users to do things such as make conference calls, view live or streamed video, share application data with others, listen to voice mail or view video email, conduct instant messaging with colleagues, just to name a few examples.

6. Why are standards necessary?

Major vendors and service providers across the industry and around the world support international standards for conferencing, and look to the IMTC to work through the continuing evolution of and implementation issues surrounding these standards. Standards ensure that the multitude of products and services developed and distributed by different vendors work with each other in the same fashion as a telephone or fax machine. Adopting a common set of standards allows multimedia product and service vendors and suppliers to integrate into the existing communications world and ensure the usability of their products into the future. Compliance to standards minimizes market fragmentation and encourages prospective customers to use multimedia teleconferencing solutions over ISDN, on the Internet, corporate intranets, and the Public Switched Telephone Network.

7. On which standards does the IMTC focus?

The IMTC was initially concerned with four sets of communications protocols drafted and agreed upon by the International Telecommunication Union, an agency chartered by the United Nations. These families of protocols are H.320, H.323, H.324 and T.120. The H.320 standards for ISDN Videoconferencing were ratified in 1990. In 1995, the ITU Telecommunications Standardization Sector (ITU-TSS) ratified the core T.120 standards for Real Time Data Conferencing, the H.323 standard for Video (Audiovisual) communication on IP based Networks, and the H.324 standard for high quality video and audio compression over narrowband connections (PSTN, cellular mobile). Since 2000, the IMTC has become involved in Packet-Switched Streaming, based on the 3GPP Technical Specifications TS 26.233 and TS 26.234. Interworking between H.323 and SIP products has also come to the forefront.

8. What issues do the standards address?

The H.320 family of standards includes the H.261 video compression algorithm, and three audio codecs to address a range of applications. H.323 encompasses standards for videoconferencing and multimedia communications over IP-based networks. It extends videoconferencing to packet-switched networks like Ethernet and Token-Ring -- which do not guarantee quality of service (QOS). H.323 is based on the Real Time Protocol (RTP/RTCP) defined by the IETF, so it can also be applied to video over the Internet. The H.324 standards address high quality video and audio compression over high speed modem connections over narrowband networks such as the POTS network and cellular mobile networks. H.324 is the first standard to allow for video, data and voice to be transmitted over a single analog phone line. As a result, the 'videophones' being introduced by a number of companies will be able to connect to, and talk to, one another. Each of these standards applies to Multipoint and Point-to-Point applications. T.120 provides real time data conferencing standards that allow people at multiple locations to conduct a voice conference call and create and manipulate still images such as documents, spreadsheets, color graphics, and photographs. [/br] The H.320 standard series addresses videoconferencing over circuit switched networks, such as Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) or switched 5G. For additional information on standards and standards bodies, be sure to check out the list of "Resources" on this Web site.

9. What does the IMTC mean by interoperability?

Interoperability means that products and services (software and hardware) from different providers worldwide can work together in the same session. The IMTC advocates a uniform technology base that enables manufacturers to create a variety of compatible products, applications and services. When all products interoperate, end users can choose from any number of multimedia telecommunications products without regard to its manufacturer. The availability of interoperable products and services is the fundamental, essential element for the widespread adoption of multimedia telecommunications because end users' capital investments are protected and future compatibility is ensured.

10. Why are interoperability test events important?

Interoperability events provide an open, vendor-neutral environment for companies to test their products with those of other vendors according to an established test protocol. By testing products in the development stage, vendors can pinpoint areas where different interpretations of international telecommunications standards may exist, and ensure that commercially available products will be interoperable. The IMTC has sponsored more than 25 successful interoperability testing events throughout 2001, 2002 and 2003. These testing sessions bring together vendors of diverse multimedia products and services that strive to operate within and across network protocols, and are the key focus of the IMTC.

11. What is the IMTC's relationship to other standards-development and implementation bodies such as the ITU?

As a formal and approved liaison to ITU Study Groups 8, 15 and 16, the IMTC has played an important role in helping define, clarify, and encourage the rapid ratification of conferencing standards. In addition to the ITU, the IMTC maintains formal relationships with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the Digital Audio Visual Council (DAVIC), and the ISO/IEC JTCI/SC29 Group. More recently, the IMTC has worked with 3GPP, organizing interoperability sessions in order to check interoperability among different suppliers' Packet-Switched Streaming (PSS�) products for use in the mobile environment. The 3G-324M standard for symmetrical real-time communications over circuit-switched media has also been a topic of dicussion with both 3GPP and 3GPP2. IMTC Members are encouraged to participate in the proceedings of these organizations. However, the primary role of the IMTC is practical validation and promotion of interoperability based on the underlying standards.

12. Who belongs to the IMTC?

The IMTC comprises some 70 member organizations throughout the world -- all on the cutting edge of multimedia teleconferencing technology. The IMTC's membership includes a broad range of organizations involved in the development and supply of multimedia teleconferencing products and services globally. Membership is open to any and all interested parties, including Internet application developers and service providers, teleconferencing hardware and software suppliers, telecommunications service providers, end users, educational institutes, government agencies, and non-profit corporations. For more information on membership, a full list of current members, or to become a member of the IMTC, please visit the Membership section of this Web site.

13. What about videoconferencing via mobiles?

Videoconferencing via mobiles has been in use in Japan, based on camera-equipped FOMA terminals and making use of the 3G-324M protocol for transmission over circuit-switched media. The data rate is 64 kbps. However, the advent of 3G mobile networks is expected to significantly improve the quality of this service, making it one of the key attractions for 3G.

14. I am interested in accessing the archived messages for a specific Activity Group mailing list. What is the procedure?

First, go to the Activity Groups web page. This page contains a list of all Work Groups, Activity Groups and associated mailing lists.

Locate the mailing list that you want to access and click on the "join this list or access archives" link. This will take you to a form requesting your email address and password (note that most lists are not password protected, so you can leave that entry blank).
You must be a member of the mailing list to access the archives. If you are a member, proceed to step 3. Otherwise, please click on the "join imtc..." button. Please join the mailing list by filling out the form and saving the information. Then go to step 3.
On the "Enter Mailing List" page, please fill out your email address and password (if applicable). Then press the "Click here to enter imtc..." button. Next, click on the "Read Messages" button to view the mailing list archives.
Select the message you want to read and click the "view message" button. Note that you may view messages sorted by thread, subject, date and author. You may also search by keyword.

15. How do I access the Public FTP server?

You can find a link to the Public FTP server on the Resources page found in the Interoperability section of the IMTC website.

16. How Can I Improve My User Experience When Accessing the Public FTP Server?

If you are using Internet Explorer - to improve your user experience when accessing the Public FTP site, please take these steps.

In Internet Explorer, please go to Tools / Internet Options / Advanced Tab / Browsing Sub Header. UNCHECK the box of option # 18 �Show friendly HTTP error messages�.
Planning to Access Presentations?

When accessing presentations using the Public FTP, it is strongly advised that all presentations are downloaded and not opened for viewing from the FTP server directly. FTP servers are designed to move files back and forth and work best when used in that capacity. Therefore, please download the presentation to your computer and then view the presentation from your computer.

17. How Can I Get a Password to the IMTC Members Area?

If you need to obtain access to the IMTC member portal or you have forgotten your password, please complete our Password Request Form to request your login information: Enter your valid company-domain email address, and your unique User Name and Password will immediately be sent directly to you if you already have an existing account with IMTC. If you are a new user, your registration form will be processed in 24hrs and you will receive a confirmation from us containing your Passcode.

18. How do I access the IMTC published Control Documents?

You can find a link to the IMTC document directory on the Resources page in the Interoperability section.