Las Vegas; Basking Ridge, N.J.; and Paris, January 5, 2011 – At the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is demonstrating two video communications services that take advantage of the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband Network.

• Augmented Reality Video Conferencing – Developed by the Georgia Institute of Technology through a sponsorship of the Alcatel-Lucent University Innovations Program, this is an experimental service allowing participants in a highly interactive videoconferencing experience to enjoy a more natural conversation. Utilizing the 4G LTE network, low-latency video processed by advanced computer vision algorithms creates an interactive communications experience as if the person is looking at other participants through a window rather than viewing a computer screen. Real-time data overlays augment the videoconference experience.
• Mobile Video Routing – Leverages prototype technology layer on top of the 4G LTE network to deliver scalable, fast video switching and distribution. Video routing can be incorporated into social networking applications to enable friends to quickly engage via video with one or many members and seamlessly switch between video streams. Video content from a wide range of sources (webcams, cell phone cameras, IP cameras) and a wide range of types (video communication, user-generated content, video surveillance) can be automatically routed to different viewers simultaneously based upon various attributes such as geographic location, time of day and points of interest.

“As the only infrastructure provider to be providing all three elements of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network – LTE Radio Access Network (RAN)/Enhanced Packet Core (EPC)/IP Multi-Media Subsystem (IMS), plus the mobile backhaul solution – we are committed to helping enhance the customer experience through innovative services such as those we are demonstrating here at CES 2011,” said Robert Vrij, president of Alcatel-Lucent’s Americas region. “Thanks to our close collaboration with Verizon Wireless on all things LTE, we are providing the platform for new services applications for today, as well as down the LTE road ahead.”

Alcatel-Lucent is one of the primary infrastructure providers for the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network. Launched in December 2010, the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network is the fastest, most advanced 4G network in the United States, providing speeds up to 10 times faster than Verizon Wireless’ 3G network. Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network currently reaches one-third of all Americans, with plans to expand the network to the company’s entire 3G coverage area over the next three years.

Alcatel-Lucent also is a founding partner in the Verizon Wireless LTE Innovation Center, established in 2008, which provides an environment for diverse companies to work together to develop innovative products that leverage 4G LTE technology.  

Since 2007, when Verizon Wireless jump-started the global 4G LTE ecosystem with its selection of LTE for its 4G technology, the company has developed deep partnerships to spearhead a broad LTE ecosystem, including the LTE Innovation Center in Waltham, Mass., and an LTE Applications Center, soon to open in the San Francisco area.

Melone concluded, “2011 will be a gang buster year, especially as we combine our growing 4G LTE network with our amazing lineup of 4G devices and applications that take advantage of high speed and low latency.”