Edward Birss Named to Top Interactive Digital Solutions Post

On October 25, 1994, AT&T Network Systems and Silicon Graphics, Inc. named Edward W. Birss president of Interactive Digital Solutions. Formed in June to develop and deliver large-scale, fully integrated, interactive video server solutions for telephone company networks and cable TV systems, Interactive Digital Solutions develops middleware and application frameworks and tightly integrates them with hardware from open systems suppliers to provide complete solutions for interactive services.

"We are extremely pleased to have Ed Birss leading Interactive Digital Solutions," said Dan Stanzione, president of AT&T Switching Systems and chairman of Interactive Digital Solutions. "His expertise in bringing operating system technology and application frameworks to market will be crucial to the success of this venture."

"Ed Birss brings a broad set of skills to the table," said Edward R. McCracken, chairman and chief executive officer of Silicon Graphics. "His ability to develop strategic vision, negotiate large and complex relationships, and understand intimately the requisite technology makes Ed the right choice for the job."

"Interactive Digital Solutions is well positioned to take advantage of the tremendous market opportunity in the interactive media marketplace," said Ed Birss. "I look forward to working on the challenges ahead and firmly establishing Interactive Digital Solutions as the leading provider of interactive media solutions."

Interactive Digital Solutions' start-up president James M. Barton will assume the title of chief technology officer and will continue to play an important role in technology development for the company. "Jim Barton is a true technical visionary, and as chief technology officer will continue to focus on the development of middleware and application frameworks to enable complete solutions," added Birss.

Birss worked for Apple Computer from 1980 to 1992, and as a senior vice president of product engineering operations managed an organization of more than 1,700 individuals. His organization was responsible for delivering the company's most successful products including the Apple II, Macintosh, Mac SE and Mac II families, and the A/UX operating system. In his last year at Apple Computer, Birss served as senior vice president and general manager in charge of object-based systems and was responsible for the negotiation of the Apple/IBM partnership which led to the formation of Taligent. From 1992 to 1994, Birss served as Taligent's chief operating officer.

Birss received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan, where he later earned a master of science degree in computer information and control engineering. He is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE ).

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Silicon Graphics, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of high-performance visual computing and data server systems. The company delivers interactive three-dimensional graphics, digital media and multiprocessing supercomputing technologies to technical and commercial environments through direct and indirect channels. Its subsidiary, MIPS Technologies, Inc., designs and licenses the industry's leading RISC processor technology for the computer systems and embedded control markets. Silicon Graphics has offices worldwide and headquarters in Mountain View, Calif.

AT&T Network Systems is one of the world's largest manufacturers and providers of network telecommunications equipment, offering communications service providers virtually everything they need to build and operate their networks. AT&T provides communications services, equipment and computer systems to consumers, businesses and communications companies around the world.