ViPr Media Center Based on H.264 Standard Provides High Quality Group or Individual Video Conferencing at Lower Bandwidth PITTSBURGH, Dec. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Marconi Corporation plc (LONDON: MONI and Nasdaq: MRCIY) today announced the new ViPr(TM) Media Center, which is based on H.264 standards. The ViPr Media Center emphasizes group conferencing with a Session Initiation Protocol-(SIP) based video conferencing suite that delivers high-quality video telephony over a wide range of bandwidths and provides full interoperability with standard telephone systems and legacy video conferencing systems. Marconi will exhibit the new ViPr Media Center for the first time at AFCEA (Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association) TechNet Asia Pacific 2005 conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, on December 6-8, 2005. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051206/NYTU050 ) Marconi ViPr Media Center 4000 ViPr Media Center is a video telephony and multimedia system that seamlessly integrates high-quality, real-time video telephony with rich conferencing and presentation tools. This newest product family offering is available in configurations that work from the executive suite or command center to large conference halls. ViPr allows for natural conversations and highly productive meetings, saving costs in time and travel, and inspiring higher levels of communication responsiveness and more fully enhanced situational awareness than conventional video conferencing, while supporting up to 15 delegates on one conference. A Virtual Share package of optional collaboration tools allows ViPr conferees to share documents and applications, including electronic white boarding, text messaging, and file transfers via Microsoft NetMeeting. Other optional components enable conferees to view live broadcast TV, prerecorded video, or closed circuit TV (CCTV) during a ViPr call. "Marconi's ViPr Media Center offers the key features that video users expect including high-quality video, high-performance audio, and integrated data collaboration capabilities," reports Ira M. Weinstein, Senior Analyst at Wainhouse Research. "The addition of H.264 support to the product line decreases network bandwidth requirements, making video conferencing more cost- effective and accessible for enterprise organizations." ViPr Media Center is a multiparty video telephony platform that eliminates the Multi-point Control Unit (MCU), a costly device that many traditional video conferencing products require for multiparty calls. The MCU introduces delay that makes real-time video telephony impossible. Eliminating the MCU allows ViPr to deliver critical real-time communications such as remote hearings, where participants must see every gesture and hear every vocal nuance conveyed with digital accuracy. ViPr Media Center enables each individual user to customize their own preferences for their desktop interface, where as systems designed with an MCU deliver a "one-size fits all" audio and video interface format that cannot be personalized at the users discretion. "The ViPr family of products is already successfully deployed for U.S. Federal Government, telejustice, distance learning, telemedicine, and collaboration applications the world over," said Robert Wohlford, VP Strategic Marketing, Marconi. "With the new ViPr Media Center release, lower-bandwidth capabilities will enable a wider range of users to implement the high-quality video conferencing and rich media capabilities of ViPr." Availability The Marconi ViPr Media Center is available for immediate delivery. For pricing and sales information, call 1-866-MARCONI (1-866-627-2664). Notes to editors About H.264 H.264 is the most advanced video coding standard available today. It uses many new coding techniques not available in MPEG2, MPEG4 and H.263, and it considerably raises the bar and yields better picture quality while significantly lowering the bit rate, allowing lower overall system cost, reduced infrastructure requirements and enabling many new video applications. The new H.264 video compression standard is the first to be ratified by both the ISO/IEC and ITU-T. About ViPr Media Center 4000 ViPr Media Center 4000 Series personal systems endpoints for executive offices combine the most popular features (hold, transfer, speed dial, call forwarding, call forwarding) of an office telephone with real-time, face-to- face video for a true virtual presence experience. The 17-inch (diagonal) touch screen with graphical user interface displays full-motion, full-color video with 1280x768 (16:9) resolution and a wide viewing angle. As an available option, the screen may also function as a PC monitor to save desktop space. ViPr's high-fidelity audio system delivers crystal clear voice communications. An advanced stereo acoustic echo canceller (AEC) and noise reduction filters enable users to speak naturally, even in noisy settings. An integrated, hearing-aid compatible handset (or optional stereo headset) disables the microphone array and speakers for privacy. With ViPr, there is no delay or lost audio when multiple parties speak at once, facilitating highly interactive discussions with conferees interacting as if they were in the same room. About ViPr Media Center 5000 and 6000 To address various requirements for conference room-based systems, ViPr Media Centers for group conferencing are available in two endpoint configurations: the 5000 Series, a traditional, affordable 2U high codec "box" that is rack-mounted and can be operated with a wireless mouse or interfaced to a room-based control system; and the 6000 Series, a modified version of the 4000 Series personal system that can be installed in a conference room (or mounted into a conference table). The system is controlled with the ViPr touch screen or with a wireless mouse. ViPr Media Centers for groups offer the same full-motion, full-color video and clear-channel audio quality as the personal system, but they're designed for meeting rooms, classrooms, and conference halls. An enhanced call screen format displays two large, uncropped wide images -- while simultaneously displaying 14 thumbnail images -- so all far- end conferees are visible on screen. A complete group solution includes Marconi ViPr 5000 or 6000 Series Media Center endpoints, a ViPr Application Server, and various peripherals. About Marconi Corporation plc Marconi Corporation plc is a global telecommunications equipment, services and solutions company. The company's core business is the provision of innovative and reliable optical networks, broadband access technologies, data networks and related professional and support services. The company's customer base includes many of the world's largest telecommunications operators. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol MONI and on NASDAQ under the ticker MRCIY. Additional information about Marconi Corporation can be found at http://www.marconi.com/. All brands or product names are trademarks of their respective holders. This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to products, partners, customers, future growth and other matters. Please refer to the Form 10-K report filed by Marconi Corporation plc with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. Press and Industry Analyst inquiries: Colleen Rosander tel: 724-742-7794; email: Investor inquiries: Karen Keyes tel: +44 207 306 1345; email: AFCEA TechNet Asia Pacific 2005 December 6-8, 2005 Honolulu, HI Marconi Federal Booth #810 http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051206/NYTU050 http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Marconi Corporation plc CONTACT: Press and Industry Analyst inquiries, Colleen Rosander, +1-724-742-7794, , or Investor inquiries, Karen Keyes, +44-207-306-1345, Web site: http://www.marconi.com/

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