FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Chicago, IL January 12, 1996
Visual Information Services Corp. (Nasdaq: VICP, Bulletin Board) an interactive TV developer headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and Escom AG, a leading computer manufacturer headquartered in Bersheim, Germany, have finalized an international license agreement to adapt, utilize, license, and distribute Amiga technologies within VIScorps interactive intelligent set-top TV appliance - Electronic Device (ED). The license authorizes VIScorp the right to use, re-license, and distribute the Amiga operating system, and compatible parts of current versions and future updates of the technologies where the Amiga products are used as, or as part of, interactive television devices.In 1995, Escom AG acquired all Commodore and Amiga licenses, patents and trademarks. Amiga is an acknowledged leader in the computer industry in the area of providing high quality graphics for monitors and television broadcasts through their sophisticated chip sets. The combination of the Amiga hardware/software technologies and intuitive operating system makes them a viable contender in the development of high speed delivery for complex graphic programming. The Amiga technology can import and adapt software to the set-top box with minimal changes.
By employing a sophisticated chip set, such as the Amiga technology, VIScorp will have the ability to provide a complex set-top appliance with multitasking functions to integrate affordably the TV set, phone line and network service providers. This ability has not yet been offered or available through existing systems, said Jerome Greenberg, VIScorps, Chairman of the Board. By utilizing our unique set-top appliance and incorporating the Amiga technology, VIScorp is able to provide a complete practical solution for interactive TV services, and now the ability to access the Internet through a standard TV set with pricing that makes sense for the average TV viewer.
The integration of the Amiga system with the VIScorp set-top appliance will allow access to the Internet, on-line services and voice chat programs through the TV set. As planned, ED will access any on-line services (e.g., CompuServe or AOL), local bulletin board services and any address on the Internets superhighway. Access can be through a TV remote, a computer keyboard, a touch-sensitive pen or the microphone in the ED. Additional plans will enable consumers to play games (e.g., individually, against a networked opponent), or enable home shopping, electronic banking, and enable a subscriber to gain access to information services through a TV set.
Contact: Jason Compton,
Communications Manager, Amiga Inquiries