• Autoscan
• Support for up to 10 cascaded Encounter 1000/3000 NetServers
• Support for IP over ATM conferencing
• Improved overall system performance
• Improved audio quality
• Improved user-friendly Interactive Voice Response System for audio conferencing
• Compatibility with the latest H.323 video endpoints
• Includes Encounter eCMS 2.0 (Web-based Conference Scheduler and Manager)
  • Support for the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 2000 Operating System
  • Support for LDAP-compliant directory as Encounter eCMS user and endpoint database
  •  Improved web-based interface
• Includes Encounter Gatekeeper 2.0 (H.323 Gatekeeper)
  • Support for the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 2000 Operating System
  • Support for multiple ConferenceNow! NetServers within an Encounter Gatekeeper zone

Encounter 3000 NetGate 2.0

• Dual Data Module (DDM) now supports rates of up to 768 kbps
• Support for network-side PRI
• Support for the same Gateway Indicator Prefix in NetGates deployed in a single zone
• Support for IP over ATM conferencing
• Improved overall system performance
• Compatibility with the latest H.323 video endpoints
• Includes Encounter Gatekeeper 2.0 (H.323 Gatekeeper)
  • Support for the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 2000 Operating System

Encounter 3000 NetServer 2.0

NEW:  Encounter eCMS and Encounter Gatekeeper (Included free with Encounter NetServer) support for the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 2000 Operating System.
Description
In distributed networks, Encounter eCMS and Encounter Gatekeeper are now certified to run on the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 2000 Operating System and Windows NT(R) 4.0 Operating System.

Benefit
* Many customers are upgrading their servers to the latest Microsoft Operating system.  This allows eCMS and Gatekeeper to run on the server OS our customers are choosing to deploy.

NEW: Encounter eCMS 2.0 (included free with Encounter NetServer) Support for LDAP Compliant Directory
Description
At install time, Encounter eCMS can be configured to acquire user and endpoint data directly from an existing LDAP-compliant directory. 

The Encounter 3000 2.0 LDAP implementation is certified with the Microsoft Active Directory(R) service directory.

Benefits
* Leverages enterprises' investment in Microsoft Exchange 2000 and Microsoft Active Directory
* Single point access for directory administration
* Facilitates implementation and maintenance of user and endpoint database within an enterprise
* Uses existing LDAP directory schema
* Not tied to one vendor's directory implementation - Ezenia! will continue to certify Encounter with other LDAP directories
* At install time, option to continue to use Encounter 3000 default directory

NEW: Improved Encounter eCMS Web-Based Interface (Included free with Encounter NetServer)
Description
Encounter eCMS 2.0 is completely rewritten and enhanced using HTML/XML

Benefits
* Faster!
* Page download
* Response time
* Form submission
* Navigation
* Easier to learn and use
* Easier to navigate
* Easier to schedule and manage conferences
* More intuitive and attractive look and feel
* More context-sensitive user interface
* Only shows the information and actions that are needed
* Streamlines the user experience based on whether the system is configured to use LDAP or not
* Context-sensitive online help
* New and expanded user guide
* Online help incorporates the entire user guide
* Better cross-browser compatibility
* Enhancements to conference management screens that enable easier and quicker troubleshooting and management

NEW:  Multiple ConferenceNow!Encounter 3000 NetServers with Single Gatekeeper (Included free with Encounter NetServer)
Description
Gatekeeper is able to manage multiple ConferenceNow! Encounter 3000 NetServers in its zone.

ConferenceNow! enables groups of people to meet instantly using the Encounter NetServer (no pre-scheduling of resources necessary through Encounter eCMS).

Using ConferenceNow! people are able to meet via IP, ISDN, room systems, desktops, and telephone.

Benefits
* Most face-to-face meetings and collaborations take place ad hoc.  Now, more conference resources can be deployed to help people work the way they really want to work.
* Enables system administrators to deploy multiple ConferenceNow! NetServers within a Gatekeeper's zone. 
* The Encounter Gatekeeper is now able to manage H.323 traffic for all ConferenceNow! Encounter 3000 NetServers in its zone.  This includes mixed environments of Encounter 3000 1.x and 2.0 NetServers to ease migration to 2.0
* ConferenceNow! NetServers now automatically register their resources with the Gatekeeper, thus making the system administrator's job easier.
* Easier one-click setup in the Gatekeeper

NEW:  Autoscan
Description
When enabled in a conference with Preferred Broadcaster, Autoscan cycles through all the participants in a conference.  It is available in both full screen and continuous presence conferences.
Autoscan allows the presenter (defined as the Preferred Broadcaster in Encounter eCMS) to see all of the participants in the conference even though they may not be speaking.  It does this by automatically switching the video source from one participant to another. 
Autoscan also allows all of the participants to see the presenter together with the other participants.  It does this by combining Continuous Presence with Autoscan features.  When there are more than 4 participants in the conference, including the presenter, Autoscan cycles through the participants. 
The amount of time to wait between showing a new participant can be customized through the Encounter NetServer user interface.  

The Autoscan feature is selectable per conference using eCMS.

Benefits
* Lecturers or presenters can have a more natural conferencing experience by viewing reactions of all sites as well as seeing who is in attendance.
* Participants can see who else is attending the conference.
* The Autoscan feature is smoothly integrated with voice activation so that participants still see the loudest speaker even in an Autoscan conference.
* Brings live classroom experience to Encounter-based distance learning
* Allows presenter to monitor audience and adapt accordingly.  For example, a presenter can see a participant indicate that they want to ask a question, and see how the class is responding.
* Reduces the sense of isolation and provides a sense of community that is often absent from distance learning.
* Better video quality vs. solutions that try to show all participants at once.

NEW:  Support for as many as 10 Encounter 3000/1000 NetServers 
Description
Customers can participate in cascaded conferences of as many as 10 Encounter 3000/1000 NetServers. 

Benefits
* Enables customers to participate in large collaborative conferences of as many as 462 participants. 
* Enables greater deployment flexibility
* Encounter 3000 NetServer resources can be distributed where network boundaries dictate, or closer to pockets of user communities, while ensuring communication among workers.

NEW:  Support for IP over ATM Conferencing 
Description
Using Encounter 3000 NetServer, customers can now participate in conferences in IP over ATM networks, in addition to the supported networks: IP, ISDN, and telephone.

Benefits
* Encounter 3000 NetServer can now bring together people in IP, ISDN, telephone, and IP over ATM networks.
* Enables greater deployment flexibility

Improved Overall Encounter 3000 NetServer Performance
Description
Encounter 3000 NetServer 2.0 has double the processor speed and six times the amount of memory. 

Benefits
* Improved video quality
* Improved Continuous Presence video quality
* Improved audio and video (lip) synchronization

Improved Encounter 3000 NetServer Audio Conferencing Quality
Description
Encounter 3000 NetServer 2.0 has improved audio quality and Interactive Voice Response for audio conferencing.

Benefits
* Improved audio quality among telephone and IP users.
* Improved Interactive Voice Response
* New additional prompts for users such as re-entering the conference alias or password when entered incorrectly.
* Additional prompts enable telephone users to enter the correct conference alias or password, thereby increasing successful connections to the conference.

Compatibility with the latest H.323 Video Endpoints
Description
Encounter 3000 NetServer 2.0 has improved compatibility with the latest offerings of H.323-compliant equipment.

Benefits
* First to interoperate with the FVC V-Gate 4000
* Guarantees successful deployment of Encounter in enterprises/universities where ATM networks are migrating to IP.
* Interoperability with the CISCO MCM (H.323 proxy)
* Guarantees successful deployment of Encounter solutions in enterprises where CISCO firewalls/proxies exist.
* Interoperability with the CISCO Gatekeeper
* Guarantees successful deployment in enterprises using this Gatekeeper
* Interoperability with new and latest revisions of H.323-compliant endpoints such as Sony.
* Ensures successful expansion of existing H.323 video networks with Encounter multipoint solutions.

Encounter 3000 NetGate 2.0

NEW:  Encounter Gatekeeper (Included free with Encounter NetGate) Support for the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 2000 Operating System
Description
In distributed networks, Encounter Gatekeeper can now be installed on the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 2000 Operating System or Windows NT(R) 4.0 Operating System.. 

Benefit
* Many customers are upgrading their servers to the latest Microsoft Operating System.  This allows Gatekeeper to run on the server OS' our customers are choosing to deploy.

NEW:  Dual Data Module (DDM) Supports Session Rates of Up to 768 kbps
Description
Encounter 3000 NetGate's DDM now supports session transfer rates of up to 768 kbps.
2 DDMs can be installed per Encounter chassis, providing as many as 4 ports per NetGate

Benefits
* Ability to make H.320 to H.323 connections at up to 768 kbps.
* Improved video and audio quality.
* Provides secure connection between NetGate and WAN endpoint.

NEW: Support for Network-Side PRI configurations
Description
Encounter 3000 NetGate now supports network-side configurations on PRI interfaces. 

Benefits
* Allows Encounter system administrators or installers to attach the Encounter 3000 Netgate directly to the Ezenia!(R) Series 2000 VideoServer MCS.
* Software-configurable for flexibility in upgrades and evolving network environments
* More secure than public switched network.

NEW:  Support for the Same Gateway Indicator Prefix in NetGate Deployed in a Single Zone
Description
Encounter Gatekeeper now accepts a pool of Encounter 3000 NetGates with the same Gateway Indicator in its zone.  This enables system administrators to deploy multiple NetGates, thereby increasing the number of ISDN connections within the zone.

Benefits
* Increased support of H.320 ports within a zone
* More efficient use of the Gateway Indicator (one GW indicator = one zone).  In previous releases, every Encounter 3000 NetGate within a zone had to be defined with its own Gateway Indicator Prefix.

NEW:  Support for IP Over ATM Conferencing 
Description
Using Encounter 3000 NetGate, customers can now communicate between H.320 systems and H.323 systems that are deployed in IP over ATM networks.

Benefits
* Encounter 3000 NetGate can now bring together people in ISDN networks and IP or IP over ATM networks.
* Enables greater deployment flexibility

Improved Overall Encounter 3000 NetGate Performance
Description
Encounter 3000 NetGate 2.0 has data, video, and audio processing enhancements.

Benefits
* Improved video quality
* Improved T.120 ISDN to IP connectivity, including connectivity to IP conferences via the Encounter NetServer.

Compatibility with the latest H.323 Video Endpoints
Description
Encounter 3000 NetServer 2.0 has improved compatibility with the latest offerings of H.323-compliant equipment.

Benefits
* First to interoperate with the FVC V-Gate 4000
* Guarantees successful deployment of Encounter in enterprises/universities where ATM networks are migrating to IP.
* Interoperability with the CISCO MCM (H.323 proxy)
* Guarantees successful deployment of Encounter solutions in enterprises where CISCO firewalls/proxies exist.
* Interoperability with the CISCO Gatekeeper
* Guarantees successful deployment in enterprises using this Gatekeeper
* Interoperability with new and latest revisions of H.323-compliant endpoints such as Sony.
* Ensures successful expansion of existing H.323 video networks with Encounter multipoint solutions.