FREMONT,
Calif. - August 19, 2002 - Vialta, Inc. (OTC Bulletin
Board: VLTA), developer of unique and innovative home
entertainment and communications products, today launched
Beamer?Videophone, the first Phone Video Station (PVS)?
Beamer videophone instantly adds color motion video to
phone calls, enabling users to see the person they are
speaking with. Beamer videophone is compatible with any
home phone over any standard (analog) phone line at no
additional cost compared to a regular phone call.
Created and developed entirely in house by Vialta's
engineering and design teams, Beamer videophone serves
to enhance the way people communicate using their telephones.
Beamer videophone does not require any additional equipment
or wiring, and there are no additional monthly fees
or service plans associated with the product - consumers
simply use their existing home phones and phone service.
Beamer videophone is as easy to use as your phone. It
represents the first release in a new category of consumer
products - the Phone Video Station.
"Think of all the times you've placed a call and wanted
to see the person on the other end of the line. We've
made that possible with Beamer videophone, a product
that is simple enough for anyone to use, " said Didier
Pietri, president and chief executive of Vialta. "Now
all you have to do is pick up the phone, dial your friend
or family member and really see what you've been missing."
How Beamer Videophone Works
It takes just a few minutes to have Beamer videophone
up and running. Simply plug the phone line into Beamer
and Beamer into the phone, then call another Beamer
owner and hit "start." Video is then sent to the other
party at up to 15 frames per second. As a protective
feature for the other party, the unit displays a message
on the screen until the called party presses the start
button and transmits video back to the caller.
Additionally, during a Beamer videophone phone call
you can use the snapshot feature to send a high-resolution
still-image to the other party. The snapshot feature
doubles as a privacy mode and temporarily halts any
new video transmission for as long as desired.
Beamer videophone has three viewing options: The "Self"
view allows users to view just themselves; the "Other
Party" view shows just the person the caller is speaking
to; and the "Combo" view displays both parties on the
call.
Beamer Videophone's Stylish Design
Vialta's internal design studio has taken Beamer from
conceptualization through prototype development, resulting
in a sleek, ultra-slim design that is an ideal marriage
of form and function. The muted two-tone color scheme
and purity of line give Beamer videophone a modern yet
understated persona that fits any home environment.
Pricing and Availability
Beamer BM-80 videophone will roll out nationally in
mid-August and is expected to be available in Best Buy,
Comp USA, and Fry's Electronics by mid-September. Beamer
videophone is also available online at www.vialta.com.
Beamer's MSRP for the dual pack, which contains two
individually packed units, is $499.99. The MSRP for
a single unit is $299.99.
About Vialta
Vialta, Inc. develops, designs and markets unique and
innovative home entertainment and communications products.
Vialta was formed in April 1999 and is publicly traded
on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol "VLTA.OB."
The company is headquartered in Fremont, California
with offices in Los Angeles, CA, Toronto, Canada and
Hong Kong. More information about Vialta can be found
at www.vialta.com.
The matters discussed in this news release include
certain forward-looking statements that involve risks
and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ
materially from those indicated, including, but not
limited to, the timely introduction and market acceptance
of Vialta's new products, the impact of competitive
products, pricing pressures, general economic conditions,
and the other risks detailed from time to time in the
SEC reports of Vialta, including Vialta's Annual Report
on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q. The forward-looking statements contained herein
are made only as of the date of this press release,
and the company undertakes no obligation to publicly
update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent
events or circumstances.