BMW And mPhase Announce First DSL-Powered Video Information Network; Manufacturing Plant Leverages Existing Telecom Infrastructure To Reduce Installation Costs
3 October 2000
BMW And mPhase Announce First DSL-Powered Video Information Network; Manufacturing Plant Leverages Existing Telecom Infrastructure To Reduce Installation Costs
NORWALK, Conn. & SPARTANBURG, S.C.--Oct. 3, 2000--mPhase Technologies, Inc. (OTC BB:XDSL), the leading designer of broadcast digital television and high-speed data solutions for the telecommunications industry, and BMW Manufacturing Corp., the exclusive US-based BMW auto manufacturer, today announced the successful rollout of a pioneering information delivery network which leverages the plant's existing copper telephone wire infrastructure to provide a DSL video service of up-to-the-minute news, marketing information and corporate communication to BMW's 3,700 employees. BMW is employing mPhase's Traverser(TM) technology for transmitting video over copper telephone wire, avoiding the additional expense of installing coaxial cable and significantly reducing BMW's project production costs."By leveraging mPhase's ability to utilize our existing infrastructure to build this communications network, we saved a substantial amount of time and money," said Carl Flesher, vice president of corporate communications at BMW Manufacturing Corp. "The mPhase solution provided a considerable cost savings that allowed us to complete the project quickly, and with minimal interference with plant operations. Because the initial response to this pilot program has been so positive, there are immediate plans to expand the number of monitors located throughout the plant."
The BMW Information Network will consist of over 100 television monitors located in high visibility locations throughout the plant, combined with content creation and aggregation software to coordinate the broadcast schedule.
BMW is able to create, aggregate and distribute video, graphics and text-based messages to their employees throughout the day. This first-of-its-kind information network, connected by telephone wire, provides employees with up-to-the-minute production news updates, BMW worldwide product news, as well as local news and weather.
"The mPhase solution provides a unique capability for manufacturing plants to provide next generation services to their employees while using their existing infrastructure," said Ronald A. Durando, president and CEO of mPhase Technologies. "The Traverser provides the industrial marketplace with a content delivery system without adding the expense of upgrading their existing wiring."
How it Works:
Live video feeds received by satellite, taped broadcast video and content created at the plant is sent to the mPhase Traverser head-end. Using patented technology, the mPhase Traverser then transforms the content into MPEG format and instantly distributes the programming to televisions throughout the plant. Unlike most closed circuit television networks built on coaxial cabling, the mPhase solution uses copper telephone wiring to transport television programming. Using full Rate Adaptive Digital Subscriber Line (RADSL) technology, mPhase is able to simultaneously deliver high-speed Internet, digital television and voice service over a single standard copper telephone wire.
"Upgrading network cabling in a large facility like a manufacturing plant is a difficult and expensive process," said Eric Rasmussen, senior consultant at Telechoice. "Companies that can offer advanced services that require little reworking of the existing network will be able to provide a solution that will be much more attractive to IT managers."
About BMW Manufacturing Corp.
BMW Manufacturing Corp. is a subsidiary of BMW AG in Munich. Its website address is www.bmwusfactory.com. In addition to the South Carolina manufacturing facility, BMW's North American subsidiaries include sales, marketing and financial services operations in the United States, Canada and throughout Latin America; an information technology consulting and systems integration firm in South Carolina; a production facility in Mexico; and a design firm in California.
About mPhase Technologies, Inc.
mPhase Technologies, Inc. (OTC BB: XDSL), develops solutions for cost-effectively and reliably transmitting broadcast (real time) digital television programming, high-speed Internet access and traditional telephone service over existing copper telephone lines. The company's flagship product, the Traverser Digital Video and Data Delivery System (DVDDS), uses Rate Adaptive Digital Subscriber Line (RADSL) technology to enable telephone companies to simultaneously transmit high-speed Internet access, up to 400 channels of digital television programming and traditional voice services using existing copper infrastructure. The comprehensive package offered by mPhase and mPhaseTV provides telephone companies with turnkey systems that couple technology with content, thereby enhancing their revenue opportunities. More information is available at www.mPhaseTech.com or www.mPhaseTV.net, or by calling 1.877.MPHASETV. Investors may obtain additional investor information and subscribe to investor services by referring to the Investor Information section on the mPhase Web site, by calling the mPhase Investor Hotline at 1.877.411.XDSL or by calling the Investor Relations Department at 1.203.854.1343.
Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations, but are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties.
The factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially from current expectations include the following: fluctuations in customer demand; the Company's ability to manage its growth; the risk of new product introductions and customer acceptance of new products; the rapid technological change which characterizes the Company's markets; the risks associated with competition; the risks associated with international sales as the Company expands its markets; and the ability of the Company to compete successfully in the future, as well as other risks identified in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to those appearing under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Prospectus.