VTEL CORP
S-3, 1999-05-04
RADIO & TV BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT
Previous: PEOPLES BENEFIT LIFE INSURANCE CO SEPARATE ACCOUNT V, 497J, 1999-05-04
Next: VTEL CORP, S-8, 1999-05-04







      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 4, 1999
                                                     Registration No. 333-_____

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-3

             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                VTEL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Delaware                                           74-2415696
(State or other jurisdiction of                          (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                         Identification Number
                    108 Wild Basin Road, Austin, Texas 78746
                                 (512) 437-2700
(Address,  including zip code,  and telephone  number,  including  area code, of
                   registrant's principal executive officers)

                                 RODNEY S. BOND
                             Chief Financial Officer
                                VTEL Corporation
                               108 Wild Basin Road
                               Austin, Texas 78746
                                 (512) 437-2700
                     (Name, address, including zip code, and
          telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                                    Copy to:

                                L. STEVEN LESHIN
                 Jenkens & Gilchrist, a Professional Corporation
                          1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 3200
                            Dallas, Texas 75202-2799
                                 (214) 855-4500
                              --------------------
         Approximate  date of  commencement  of proposed sale to the public:  At
such time or times after the effective  date of this  Registration  Statement as
the selling stockholder may determine.

         If the only securities being registered on this  Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment  plans, please check the following
box.      [ ]

         If any of the  securities  being  registered  on  this  Form  are to be
offered  on a  delayed  or  continuous  basis  pursuant  to Rule 415  under  the
Securities Act of 1933,  other than  securities  offered only in connection with
dividend or interest reimbursement plans, check the following box. |X|

         If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list  the  Securities  Act  registration  number  of the  earlier  effective
registration statement for the same offering. [ ]

         If this  form is a  post-effective  amendment  filed  pursuant  to Rule
462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities
Act registration number of the earlier effective  registration statement for the
same offering. [ ]

         If delivery of the  prospectus  is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box.    [ ]
                              --------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===========================================================================================================================
<S>                                           <C>            <C>                    <C>                 <C>
                                                                                         Proposed
                                                Amount          Proposed maximum          maximum           Amount of
         Title of each class of                 to be          offering price per   aggregate offering  registration fee*
       securities to be registered            registered             unit *               price*

Common stock, par value $.01 per share...     1,149,000               $5.34              $6,135,660          $1,706
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>

*   The proposed maximum  aggregate  offering price has been estimated solely to
    calculate  the  registration  fee under Rule 457(c) of the  Securities  Act,
    based upon the average of the  highest and lowest  price per share of common
    stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market  reported on April 30, 1999. The Registrant
    hereby  amends this  Registration  Statement on such date or dates as may be
    necessary to delay its effective date until the
Registrant shall file a further  amendment which  specifically  states that this
Registration  Statement  shall  thereafter  become  effective in accordance with
Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the  Registration  Statement
shall  become  effective  on such date as the  Commission,  acting  pursuant  to
Section said 8(a), may determine.
============================================================================================================================
</FN>
</TABLE>



<PAGE>



                                   PROSPECTUS

THE  INFORMATION IN THIS  PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED.  WE MAY
NOT SELL  THESE  SECURITIES  UNTIL THE  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  FILED  WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER
TO  SELL  THESE  SECURITIES  AND IT IS NOT  SOLICITING  AN  OFFER  TO BUY  THESE
SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.


                   Subject to Completion, dated May 4, 1999

                                VTEL CORPORATION
                             1,149,000 Common Shares
                            par value $.01 Per Share


                                   -----------


         YOU SHOULD READ THIS  PROSPECTUS AND ANY SUPPLEMENT  TO THIS PROSPECTUS
CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU INVEST, INCLUDING THE RISK FACTORS WHICH BEGIN ON PAGE 2 OF
THIS PROSPECTUS.

         o This  prospectus is part of a  registration  statement  that we filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Any statement that we make in this
prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent  statement made by
us in a  prospectus  supplement.  You should read both this  prospectus  and any
prospectus  supplement together with additional  information described under the
heading "Where You Can Find More Information."

         o Our common  stock is traded on the Nasdaq  National  Market under the
symbol  "VTEL." On April 30, 1999, the average of the high and low price for the
common stock was $5.34.

         o We issued  the common  stock  covered  by this  prospectus  to Vosaic
Company,  LLC, the selling stockholder,  as consideration for our acquisition of
substantially all of Vosaic's assets.

         o The shares of common stock offered by this  prospectus are being sold
by the selling stockholder. The selling stockholder may sell its common stock on
the Nasdaq National Market or in privately negotiated transactions,  whenever it
decides and at the price it sets.  The common stock may be sold at market price,
but the selling  stockholder has the right to sell its common stock at a premium
or discount to market price.

         o We will not receive any proceeds  from the sale of these  shares.  We
will pay all expenses of registration incurred in connection with this offering.
The selling stockholder will pay all selling and other expenses that it incurs.

                                 ---------------

         NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF
THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE.  ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY
IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.


                  The date of this prospectus is May 4, 1999.





<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                 TABLE OF CONTENTS
<S>                                                                                                              <C>
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION...............................................................................1
FORWARD - LOOKING STATEMENTS......................................................................................1
RISK FACTORS......................................................................................................2
ABOUT VTEL........................................................................................................5
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA...........................................................................................6
USE OF PROCEEDS...................................................................................................7
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION; SELLING STOCKHOLDER.........................................................................7
LEGAL MATTERS.....................................................................................................8
EXPERTS  .........................................................................................................8
</TABLE>


                       WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

         o Government  Filings.  We file annual,  quarterly and special reports,
proxy  statements  and  other  information  with the SEC.  Our SEC  filings  are
available   to  the  public  over  the   Internet  at  the  SEC's  web  site  at
http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC's
public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,  D.C. 20549, and at
the regional offices of the SEC located at 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New
York, New York 10048 and at Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street,
Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. You may obtain information on the operation
of the SEC's public  reference  room in  Washington,  D.C. by calling the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330.

         o Stock Market.  Shares of our  common  stock are  traded  as "National
Market  Securities" on the Nasdaq National  Market.  Material filed by us can be
inspected  at the offices of the National  Association  of  Securities  Dealers,
Inc., Reports Section, 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.

         o  Information   Incorporated  by  Reference.  The  SEC  allows  us  to
"incorporate by reference" the  information we file with them,  which means that
we  can  disclose  important  information  to  you by  referring  you  to  those
documents.  The  information  incorporated  by reference is an important part of
this  prospectus,  and  information  that  we  file  later  with  the  SEC  will
automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference
the  documents  listed  below and any  further  filings  made with the SEC under
Sections 13(a),  13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until
this offering has been completed:

         o Our Annual Reports on  Form 10-K and  Form 10-K/A for  the year ended
July 31, 1998;

         o Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended October 31,
1998 and January 31, 1999; and

         o The  description of our common stock contained in our Form 8-A, dated
March 31,  1992,  including  any  amendment  or report  filed for the purpose of
updating such description.

         You may  request a copy of these  filings  at no cost,  by  writing  or
telephoning us at the following address:

                  Rodney S. Bond
                  Chief Financial Officer
                  VTEL Corporation
                  108 Wild Basin Road
                  Austin, Texas 78746
                  (512) 437-2700

         You should rely only on the  information  incorporated  by reference or
provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized
anyone  else to provide  you with  different  information.  We are not making an
offer of these  securities  in any state where the offer is not  permitted.  You
should not assume that the  information  in this  prospectus  or any  prospectus
supplement  is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those
documents.




                                        1

<PAGE>



                          FORWARD - LOOKING STATEMENTS

         This  prospectus  contains  certain  forward-looking  statements  which
involve substantial risks and uncertainties.  These  forward-looking  statements
can generally be identified  because the context of the statement includes words
such as may, will, except, anticipate,  intend, estimate,  continue, believe, or
other   similar   words.   Similarly,   statements   that  describe  our  future
expectations,  objectives and goals or contain projections of our future results
of operations or financial condition are also  forward-looking  statements.  Our
future results,  performance or achievements  could differ materially from those
expressed or implied in these forward-looking  statements as a result of certain
factors,  including  those  listed  under the heading  "Risk  Factors" and other
cautionary statements in this prospectus.


                                  RISK FACTORS

         An investment in the common stock  involves a high degree of risk.  You
should  carefully   consider  and  evaluate  all  of  the  information  in  this
prospectus, including the risk factors set forth below, before investing.

         We May Experience Fluctuations in Quarterly Results.

         As of January 31, 1999, our accumulated  deficit was $190,537,000.  For
the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998,  we had net income of  $2,779,000.  For the
fiscal year ended July 31, 1997,  we had a net loss of  $52,054,000.  During the
first six months of fiscal 1999, we had a net loss of $14,607,000. While we have
initiated  programs that we believe will return us to  profitability,  we cannot
assure you that we will be able to do so. Historically, a significant percentage
of our sales have occurred in the last few weeks of the quarter.  By compressing
most of our shipments into a short period of time at the end of each quarter, we
incur overtime costs,  sharply  increase our inventory levels in anticipation of
this demand and deplete or exhaust  our  backlog of customer  orders.  Our sales
cycle is  difficult  to predict and manage.  It is  possible  that  management's
estimates  of  product  demand  will be  inaccurate  and as a  result  we  could
experience a rise in inventory  levels and a decline in expected  revenue levels
in any given quarter.

         Our management  estimates  future product revenue based on its analysis
of market  conditions  and reports  from its sales  force of customer  leads and
prospective  interest. We cannot rely upon backlog of customer product orders to
forecast future revenue levels. Because of the short cycle time between customer
orders and  shipments,  unanticipated  delays  from our  vendors  could  disrupt
shipments and adversely affect the results in a given quarter. This is primarily
due to our reliance on a limited  number of highly  specialized  suppliers.  The
above factors represent  uncertainties  which can have a material adverse effect
on our financial position and results of operations if not managed properly.

         We base our expense  levels in part, on our  expectations  as to future
revenue levels.  It is difficult to predict future revenue levels due in part to
our strategy of  distributing  our products  primarily  through  resellers.  Our
recent   experience   has  been  that  revenue  levels  have  fallen  below  our
expectations.  Because our expense levels are  relatively  fixed from quarter to
quarter,  our operating  results have been materially and adversely  affected in
recent  periods.  While we have reduced  operating  expenses to attempt to align
these expenses better with our recent revenue levels,  we cannot assure you that
we have  reduced  expenses  sufficiently  to enable us to return a profit on our
sales. In addition, future quarterly operating results may fluctuate as a result
of the following factors:

          o    price reductions;
 
          o    delays in the introduction of new products;

          o    delays in purchase decisions due to new product  announcements by
               us or our competitors;

          o    increased competition;

          o    failure to reduce product costs or maintain product quality;

          o    cancellations or delays of orders;

          o    interruptions or delays in supplies of key components;

          o    changes in reseller base, customer base, business or product mix;
               and o seasonal patterns of capital spending by customers.

          We May be Unable to Adequately  Respond to Rapid Changes in Technology
and Customer Preferences For Videoconferencing Products.

         The market  for our  products  is  characterized  by  rapidly  changing
technology,  evolving  industry  standards and frequent  product  introductions.
Increased functionality and better picture and audio quality at lower bandwidths
and at reduced prices are characterizations of new products. The introduction of
products  embodying new technology  and the emergence of new industry  standards
may render existing products obsolete and unmarketable.  A significant factor in
our ability to grow and to remain  competitive  is our  ability to  successfully
develop and  introduce on a timely basis new and enhanced  products  that embody
new  technology,  anticipate and  incorporate  evolving  industry  standards and



                                        2

<PAGE>
achieve levels of functionality and price acceptable to the market. In the past,
we have experienced delays in introducing some of our products, primarily due to
our failure to adequately anticipate the resources necessary for our development
efforts  and, in some cases,  our  decision to devote  development  resources to
other  activities.  While we believe we have made  improvements in each of these
areas,  we may  encounter  technical  or other  difficulties  that  could  delay
introduction of new products in the future. If we are unable,  for technological
or other reasons, to develop competitive products in a timely manner in response
to  changes  in the  industry,  our  business  and  operating  results  will  be
materially and adversely affected.

         Our Videoconferencing Business is Highly Competitive.

         Our  business  is  highly  competitive.  Our  competitors  include  the
following manufacturers:

        o         PictureTel Corporation;
        o         Polycom Corporation;
        o         Sony Corporation;
        o         Nippon Electric Corporation;
        o         Mitsubishi, Ltd.;
        o         Fujitsu, Ltd.;
        o         Panasonic, Ltd.;
        o         British Telecommunications plc.; and
        o         Tandberg

         Our existing competitors and many of our potential competitors are more
established, benefit from greater market recognition and have greater financial,
technological,  production and marketing resources than we do. These factors may
materially and adversely  affect our competitive  position and  accordingly,  we
cannot assure you that we will be able to compete successfully in the future. We
cannot assure you that we will have  sufficient  resources to make continued new
investments  in product  development  and sales and marketing or that we will be
able to make technological advances necessary to remain competitive.

         Some of our  competitors  have  devoted  significant  resources  to the
development and marketing of  person-toperson  visual  communications  products,
such as desktop videoconferencing  systems and videophones,  which may result in
increased  competition.  As additional  forms of conferencing  systems,  such as
desktop  videoconferencing  systems,  emerge,  manufacturers  and  suppliers  of
desktop  computer  systems  and  software  may elect to offer  videoconferencing
products, thereby increasing competition.

         While our Business  Plan now calls  for Extending Videoconferencing for
the Internet, This Strategy is New and May Not Succeed.

         Through  our  acquisition  of the  assets of Vosaic in March  1999,  we
acquired  software  technology  that permits  streaming  of video  through a web
browser on the world wide web. We intend to incorporate this technology into our
PC-based  videoconferencing  systems.  Once incorporated into our systems,  this
technology  will permit an individual  with nothing more than a PC with Internet
access to participate in Internet-based  videoconferencing  sessions.  This is a
new strategy for us, and we cannot assure you that this feature will be welcomed
by our  customers.  Because  we  have  made a  substantial  investment  in  this
technology,  we  could  fail to  realize  on this  investment  if this  business
strategy and new product functionality is not embraced by our customers.

         Competition For Personnel in the Videoconferencing Industry is Intense,
and We May be Unable to Attract and Retain Key Personnel for Our Business.

         Our  development  and  management  of our growth  and other  activities
depend on the efforts of key management and technical employees. Competition for
such personnel is intense. We use incentives, including competitive compensation
and stock  option  plans,  to attract and retain  well-qualified  employees.  We
cannot  assure  you,  however,  that we will  continue  to  attract  and  retain
personnel with the requisite  capabilities  and  experience.  The loss of one or
more of our key  management or technical  personnel  also could  materially  and
adversely affect us. We generally do not have employment agreements with our key
management  personnel or technical  employees.  Our future  success also depends
upon our ability to effectively attract,  retain, train, motivate and manage our
employees.  Failure to do so could  materially and adversely affect our business
and operating results.

         We May be Unable  to Successfully Implement  Our Expansion  and  Growth
Strategy.

         We acquired  Compression  Labs,  Incorporated in 1997. We also acquired
two  distributors  in Germany  and France in 1998,  and Vosaic  Company in March
1999.  These  acquisitions  have placed and may continue to place a  significant
strain on our management,  operational and financial resources.  The integration
of the  personnel and assets which were  acquired in these  acquisitions  and in
other  possible  future  acquisitions  could place  additional  strains on these
management, operational and financial

                                        3
<PAGE>


resources. These strains may adversely affect our future performance. Our future
performance  will  depend on our  ability  to  broaden  and  develop  our senior
management  and to  attract  and  retain  skilled  employees,  as well as on our
ability to manage our growth successfully.

         The Strategy We Use To Distribute Our Products and Our Reliance on Cer-
tain Types of Customers May Adversely Affect Our Business.

         We rely  substantially on third parties to distribute our products.  In
contrast,  many of our competitors sell their products primarily to end-users. A
reduction in the sales efforts by some of our current resellers or a termination
of their  relationships  with us could have a material and adverse effect on our
business and operating results. Some of these resellers also represent or may in
the future  represent  other lines of products,  some of which  compete with our
products.  We attempt  to  encourage  these  resellers  to focus on selling  our
products through marketing and support programs.  However,  there is a risk that
these  resellers  may give  higher  priority  to  products  of other  suppliers,
reducing  their efforts  devoted to selling our  products.  Ten of our resellers
accounted  for 57% and 53% of our  revenues  for the fiscal years ended July 31,
1998  and  1997.   Typically,   our  agreements   with  our  resellers   involve
non-exclusive  arrangements which may be canceled by either party at will and do
not require the  reseller to sell  minimum  amounts of our  products.  We cannot
assure you that our distribution  strategy will be successful or that we will be
able to retain our current  resellers  or identify  new  resellers in the future
that are acceptable to us.

         We focus a substantial  portion of our sales and  marketing  efforts on
generating sales to customers in education,  government, health care and general
business. Since 1993, we have devoted significant resources to generate sales of
our  products to these types of  customers.  A  reduction  or adverse  change in
patterns of capital spending by these types of customers due to general economic
conditions, fiscal policies of government,  possible reforms in health care laws
and other factors beyond our control may  substantially and adversely affect our
revenues and operating results.

Year 2000 Computer Problems Could Adversely Impact Future Operations and
Results.

         The  widespread  use of computer  programs that rely on two-digit  date
programs  to  perform  computations  and  decision-making  functions  may  cause
videoconferencing  systems  to  malfunction  in the  year  2000  and may lead to
significant  business  delays  in the U.S.  and  internationally.  The year 2000
problem has the potential to significantly impact the videoconferencing industry
since it involves the use of computers and is dependent on third-party suppliers
for  electronic  components.  In addition to potential  problems  from  computer
systems, potential problems could arise from equipment with embedded chips, such
as vaults,  elevators and other  non-videoconferencing  systems.  Not all of our
systems are fully year 2000  compliant due to the  incorporation  of third party
software  products  that are not fully  compliant  at this  time.  If we fail to
properly  recognize  and  address  the year 2000  problem  in our  systems,  our
business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially and
adversely affected.

         The year 2000  problem  also  affects  some of our major  suppliers  of
computers,  software,  and  other  equipment.  We have  discussed  the year 2000
problem  with some of these  suppliers,  but we  cannot  assure  you that  these
suppliers will resolve any or all year 2000  problems.  If our suppliers fail to
resolve year 2000 problems, our business could be materially disrupted.

         We expect to identify  and resolve  all year 2000  problems  that could
materially adversely affect our business  operations.  However, it is impossible
to determine with complete  certainty that all year 2000 problems  affecting us,
our suppliers or our customers have been identified or corrected.  The number of
devices  that could be affected  and the  interactions  among these  devices are
simply too numerous.  In addition,  no one can accurately  predict how many year
2000 problem-related failures will occur or the severity, duration, or financial
consequences  of these perhaps  inevitable  failures.  Moreover,  our failure to
adequately address year 2000 issues in our multi-media  conferencing systems and
PC software  applications could result in litigation,  which could be costly and
time-consuming to defend.

         We are a Defendant in Some Legal Proceedings.

         We  acquired  Compression  Labs,  Incorporated  in a  merger  that  was
completed May 23, 1997. At the time of the merger,  Compression Labs was engaged
in several legal  proceedings and disputes  relating to matters arising prior to
the merger. We cannot assure you that Compression Labs' legal proceedings can be
resolved  favorably  to  Compression  Labs or to us. If these legal  proceedings
continue for an extended  period of time, they could have an adverse effect upon
our working capital and management's ability to concentrate on its business.  An
unfavorable outcome in any one or several such legal proceedings could affect us
in a materially adverse way.

         In June 1997, Keytech, S.A. filed  suit against Compression Labs in the
United States  District  Court in Tampa,  Florida.  Keytech was a distributor of
satellite encoder and decoder products manufactured by a division of Compression
Labs which  Compression  Labs sold in June 1996.  Keytech has asserted  that the
equipment sold was defective and did not  conform to contract specifications and


                                        4
<PAGE>


express and implied warranties. Keytech has asserted damages of in excess of $20
million based on its allegations of breach of contract, breach of warranties and
fraud.  Compression Labs has filed an answer denying  liability and has asserted
cross-claims  against  Keytech for amounts due and unpaid for equipment  sold by
Compression Labs to Keytech.

         In November 1998, Philips  Electronics North America  Corporation filed
suit  against  Compression  Labs in the  Superior  Court in Santa Clara  County,
California.  Philips and Compression Labs had purportedly  entered into a series
of agreements for the purpose of jointly developing, manufacturing and marketing
consumer premises equipment.  Philips has alleged that Compression Labs breached
its obligations to Philips under these  purported  agreements and refused to pay
Philips more than $4.4 million in development costs and other amounts alleged to
be owed by  Compression  Labs under the parties'  agreements.  Philips  seeks an
award of damages  based on its  allegations  of breach of contract,  breach of a
covenant of good faith and fair  dealing and a claim of unfair  trade  practices
under the California Unfair  Competition Act. Pursuant to an exchange of letters
in February 1999,  the parties  agreed to non-binding  mediation of the dispute,
although as of the date of this prospectus,  this mediation had not occurred. If
the matter is not resolved through  mediation,  Compression Labs intends to file
an  answer  denying  liability  and will  assert  various  cross-claims  against
Philips.

         From time to time, we have received,  and continue to receive,  letters
and  demands  from other  companies  claiming  that  aspects  of our  technology
products  may  infringe  their patent  rights.  When we received  these kinds of
letters,  we  typically  investigate  the  validity  of  the  claim  and,  where
appropriate,  may enter into  licensing  agreements  for the  disputed  patented
technology  or we may dispute the claim.  We believe  this is typical of what is
experienced in other technology  corporations.  However,  it is possible that we
could be sued. It is expensive to defend patent litigation.  It is also possible
we could  have a patent  lawsuit.  These  factors  could  adversely  affect  our
business, financial condition and results of operations.

         Our Business  Would be  Disrupted if  We Experienced  a  Disruption  in
Supply.

         Substantially  all  of  our  electronic   components,   subsystems  and
assemblies  are made by outside  vendors.  Some of our  components are currently
available   only  from  sole  sources  and  embody  such  parties'   proprietary
technology.  If our supplies are  interrupted  or if we experience a significant
increase  in  price  of one or  more of  these  components  or if a  third-party
supplier fails to remain  competitive in functionality  or price,  these factors
could  have  a  materially  adverse  effect  on  our  business  and  results  of
operations.  We cannot assure you that we will not  experience  such problems in
the future.  Similarly,  if we are  required  to incur  excessive  rework  costs
associated  with  defective  components  or  process  errors,  this  also  could
adversely  affect our business and operating  results.  We do not have contracts
with many of our suppliers  ensuring  continued  availability  of key electronic
components.

         In addition,  from time to time we enter into development  arrangements
with other third parties to develop and  incorporate  new features and functions
into our products.  As such, we depend upon these third parties to fulfill their
respective  obligations  under these  development  arrangements.  If these third
parties failed to fulfil their obligation, this also could affect our results of
operations in a materially adverse way.

         Our Stock Price has been Subject to Significant Volatility

         The market price of our common  stock has been,  and in the future will
likely be, very  volatile.  The stock price has been  affected by the  following
factors, among others:

          o    the announcement of new products or technological  innovations by
               us and by our competitors;

          o    quarter-to-quarter   variations  in  our  anticipated  or  actual
               results of operations; and

          o    general conditions in high technology industries.

         The stock  market  occasionally  experiences  extreme  price and volume
fluctuations,  which  affects  the  market  prices  particularly  for many  high
technology  companies  like us, and which are often  unrelated to the  operating
performance of the specific companies.

                                   ABOUT VTEL

         We design, manufacture and market multi-media conferencing systems. Our
systems  integrate  traditional  video and audio  conferencing  with  additional
functions,   including  the  sharing  of  PC  software   applications   and  the
transmission of  high-resolution  images and facsimiles.  Through the use of our
multi-media  conferencing systems,  users are able to replicate more closely the
impact and  effectiveness of face-to-face  meetings.  Our Pen Pal GraphicsTM and
AppsViewTM user interfaces make our multi-media  conferencing systems simpler to
use.  Our  systems  are  built  upon  a  system   platform  which  is  based  on
industry-standard,  PC-compatible  open hardware and software  architecture.  By


                                        5

<PAGE>


leveraging  this open  architecture  design,  we are able to integrate  into the
videoconference  PC-compatible  hardware and software  applications  which allow
users to customize the systems to meet their unique needs.  The  PC-architecture
also provides a natural  pathway to connect our  videoconferencing  systems onto
local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs) thereby  leveraging the
rapidly  expanding  network  infrastructures  being  deployed  in  organizations
throughout  the  world.  Also   complementing  this  open  architecture  is  our
compliance with emerging  industry video  standards.  Our open  architecture and
compliance with data and  telecommunications  standards permit the incorporation
of new functions through software upgrades, thereby extending the useful life of
the user's investment.

         The cornerstone of our business strategy is to identify  customers that
can most benefit from the advanced  functionality  of  multi-media  conferencing
systems and to focus a substantial portion of our sales and marketing efforts on
these  customers,  including  end-users in the areas of  education,  government,
health care and general business.  We distribute our systems almost  exclusively
through third-party resellers which include major  telecommunications  providers
such as Ameritech Corporation, GTE Corporation, SBC Communications, Inc., Sprint
Corporation,   U.S.  West,  Inc.,  MCI  WorldCom,  Inc.  Corporation  and  other
value-added   resellers.   We  have  built  an  extensive  marketing  and  sales
organization to support our third-party  resellers.  This organization  provides
marketing  programs;  field support personnel  including sales managers,  system
engineers,  and business  development  managers;  and  personnel  with  industry
expertise to implement our targeted marketing strategy.  Since our inception, we
have sold over 30,000 conferencing systems and multipoint control units.

         In November 1995, we completed the  acquisition of certain assets and a
specified  work  force  of  the  Integrated   Communications  Systems  Group  of
Peirce-Phelps,  Inc. As part of Peirce-Phelps, ICS was a value-added reseller of
videoconferencing  systems,  and also  provided  integration,  installation  and
maintenance  services to certain  end-users.  The completion of the  acquisition
allows us to  significantly  enhance  our  ability  to  support  our  resellers'
abilities to offer systems integration, installation and end-user support to the
ultimate  purchaser of our  products,  thereby  allowing  the  resellers to more
effectively  provide an essential  part of the services that are integral to the
purchase of our products.

         On  May  23,  1997,  we  completed the acquisition of Compression Labs,
Incorporated  in exchange  for  approximately  8.4 million  shares of our common
stock.  At the time of the  acquisition,  Compression  Labs was a leader  in the
development, manufacture and marketing of digital visual communication systems.

         On March 9, 1999, we completed our  acquisition of the assets of Vosaic
Company,  LLC,  an Internet  video  software  and  technology  company.  In this
transaction,  we paid  $230,000 in cash to Vosaic,  paid costs  associated  with
relocating  certain of Vosaic's  employees to our development site in Sunnyvale,
California,  extinguished  $150,000 of debt due to us by Vosaic, agreed to issue
1,149,000  shares of our common  stock to Vosaic (a portion of which are held in
escrow pending achievement of some specified  milestones) and issued warrants to
purchase 125,000 shares of our common stock to former Vosaic employees.  We also
agreed to issue  warrants  to  purchase  225,000  shares of our common  stock to
Vosaic  following the timely  issuance of certain U.S.  patents.  The technology
that we acquired from Vosaic permits streaming of video through a web browser on
the world wide web. We intend to incorporate  this  technology into our PC-based
videoconferencing  systems  as well as offer  it on a stand  alone  basis.  Once
incorporated  into our systems,  this  technology will permit an individual with
nothing more than a PC with Internet  access to  participate  in  Internet-based
videoconferencing sessions.

         We were  organized  as a Delaware  corporation  and our common stock is
traded on the  Nasdaq  Stock  Market  under the  symbol  "VTEL."  Our  principal
executive  offices are located at 108 Wild Basin Road,  Austin,  Texas 78746 and
our telephone number is 512-437-2700.

                             SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

         The following table  sets forth consolidated  financial data as  of the
dates and for the periods  indicated  and reflects  the merger with  Compression
Labs on May 23,  1997 which was  accounted  for as a pooling of  interests.  The
selected consolidated  financial data for the years ended and as of December 31,
1993, 1994 and 1995 and July 31, 1997 and 1998 has been derived from our audited
consolidated  financial statements.  The consolidated  financial data as of July
31,  1995 and 1996 and for the seven  months  ended July 31, 1995 and 1996 as of
January 31, 1998 and 1999 and for the six months ended January 31, 1998 and 1999
has  been  derived  from  our  unaudited  supplemental   consolidated  financial
statements.   The  unaudited   consolidated  financial  statements  include  all
adjustments,  consisting  of normal  recurring  adjustments,  which we  consider
necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position as of such dates and
the results of operations and cash flows for such periods. Operating results for
six months ended January 31, 1999 are not necessarily  indicative of the results
that may be expected for the entire year ended July 31, 1999.

         This consolidated financial information gives retroactive effect to our
merger with  Compression  Labs that was  consummated  in May 1997, as if the two
companies had operated as a single company for all periods  presented.  However,
the two companies operated  independently prior to the merger and the historical
changes and trends in the financial condition and results of operations of these
two companies resulted from independent activities.


                                       6
<PAGE>



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           For the Years              For the Seven Months   For the Years       For the Six Months
                                         Ended December 31,               Ended July 31,     Ended July 31,       Ended January 31
                                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     1993      1994        1995       1995      1996        1997(1)    1998        1998       1999
                                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   (unaudited)                                        (unaudited)
                                                      (in thousands, except per share amounts)
<S>                                <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>    
Statement of Operations Data:
Revenues                           $126,547   $169,189   $191,074   $ 98,079   $ 96,962   $191,023   $179,684   $ 86,981   $ 74,570
Gross margin                         39,089     66,380     66,843     39,971     35,980     74,702     84,957     40,402     32,400
Net income (loss) from continuing
     operations                     (21,518)    (4,816)   (17,301)    (4,335)   (18,507)   (44,271)     2,779        388    (14,607)
Net income (loss)                   (12,817)       169    (53,843)    (3,811)   (18,507)   (52,054)     2,779        388    (14,607)

Net income (loss) per share
     from continuing opera-
     tions, basic and diluted      $  (1.51)  $  (0.27)  $  (0.90)  $  (0.24)  $  (0.87)     (2.10)      0.12       0.02      (0.63)
Net income (loss) per share,
     basic and diluted             $  (0.90)  $   0.01   $  (2.81)  $  (0.21)  $  (0.87)     (2.45)      0.12       0.02      (0.63)

Balance Sheet Data:
Working capital                    $ 85,335   $ 85,088   $ 93,330   $ 76,023   $ 77,091   $ 39,528   $ 41,503   $ 38,770   $ 34,055
Total assets                        170,469    178,086    223,061    182,082    175,092    131,135    129,289    118,374    130,254
Long-term liability                   1,020        494        985      1,278         --         --      3,848         --     20,530
Stockholders' equity                117,595    124,185    139,512    126,739    122,238     76,765     81,258     78,155     65,790
<FN>
- -------------------------
(1)  In connection with the merger with Compression Labs, we recorded merger, restructuring and other expenses of $29,397
     during the year ended July 31, 1997.
</FN>
</TABLE>
                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         The selling  stockholder  is selling all of the common stock covered by
this  prospectus  for its own  account.  Accordingly,  we will not  receive  any
proceeds  from the  resale  of such  common  stock.  We will  bear all  expenses
relating to this registration  except for brokerage or underwriting  commissions
and expenses, if any, which will be paid by the selling stockholder.

                    PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION; SELLING STOCKHOLDER

         This prospectus relates to 1,149,000 shares of common stock that may be
offered and sold from time to time by the selling  stockholder.  Set forth below
is information, as of the date hereof, regarding the beneficial ownership of the
shares by the selling stockholder.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           Number of Shares
                                            of Common Stock          Number of
                                             Beneficially            Shares of                  Common Stock
                                                Owned                 Common                 Beneficially Owned
                                               Prior to                Stock                        After
                                             Offering (1)             Offered                   Offering (2)
                                        -----------------------  -----------------        --------------------------
Selling Stockholder                                                                      Number             Percent
- -------------------                                                                      -----------   -------------
<S>                                                   <C>                <C>                     <C>             <C>    <C>    <C>
Vosaic Company, LLC (3)................               1,149,000          1,149,000               ---             ---
<FN>
- --------------------

*        Indicates less than 1%.

(1)      Unless otherwise  indicated,  to our knowledge,  Vosaic has sole voting
         and sole  investment  power with  respect to all shares of common stock
         beneficially   owned,   subject  to  community   property   laws  where
         applicable. This number represents those shares of common stock held by
         the selling stockholder, if any.

(2)      Assumes that all shares of common stock  offered  hereby by the selling
         stockholder are actually sold. Such presentation is based on 24,264,537
         shares of VTEL common stock outstanding as of March 9, 1999.

(3)      The address of Vosaic Company, LLC is 2320 Grand Canal Venice, CA 90291.
</FN>
</TABLE>

         The shares of common stock  beneficially  owned by Vosaic were acquired
in the transaction pursuant to which we acquired substantially all of the assets
of Vosaic effective March 9, 1999. In connection with the acquisition, we agreed
to file the Registration Statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

         The selling  stockholder  has not,  nor within the past three years has
the selling stockholder had, any position, office or other material relationship
with us or any of our predecessors or affiliates.

                                        7

<PAGE>

         We have been advised by the selling stockholder that it (or, subject to
applicable  law,  its  pledgees,  donees,  distributees,  transferees  or  other
successors in interest)  intends to sell all or a portion of the shares  offered
by  this  prospectus  from  time  to  time on the  Nasdaq  National  Market,  in
negotiated  transactions at fixed prices which may be changed,  at market prices
prevailing  at the time of sale or at prices  reasonably  related  thereto or at
negotiated prices, or by a combination of the foregoing methods of sale through:

          o    ordinary  brokerage  transactions  in which the  broker  solicits
               purchases;

          o    sales to one or more  brokers or dealers  as  principal,  and the
               resale by such brokers or dealers for their  account  pursuant to
               this prospectus, including resales to other brokers and dealers;

          o    block  trades in which the  broker  or  dealer  so  engaged  will
               attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a
               portion  of the block as  principal  in order to  facilitate  the
               transaction; or

          o    negotiated transactions with purchasers with a broker or dealer.

We are not aware as of the date of this prospectus of any agreements between the
selling  stockholder  and any  broker-dealers  with  respect  to the sale of the
shares  offered by this  prospectus.  In connection  with  distributions  of the
shares or otherwise, the selling stockholder may enter into hedging transactions
with broker-dealers. In connection with such transactions:

          o    broker-dealers may engage in short sales of the shares registered
               hereunder in the course of hedging the positions they assume with
               selling stockholder;

          o    the selling stockholder may sell shares of our common stock short
               and deliver the shares to close out such short positions;

          o    the   selling   stockholder   may  enter  into  option  or  other
               transactions  with  broker-dealers  which require the delivery to
               the broker-dealer of the shares registered  hereunder,  which the
               broker-dealer may resell pursuant to this prospectus; and

          o    the  selling   stockholder  may  pledge  the  shares   registered
               hereunder to a broker or dealer and upon a default, the broker or
               dealer may effect  sales of the pledged  shares  pursuant to this
               prospectus.

         The selling stockholder and any broker, dealer or other agent executing
sell  orders  on  behalf  of  the  selling  stockholder  may  be  deemed  to  be
"underwriters"  within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in
which event commissions received by any such broker,  dealer or agent and profit
on any  resale of the  shares  of  principal  may be  deemed to be  underwriting
commissions  under the Securities  Act. Such  commissions  received by a broker,
dealer or agent may be in excess of customary compensation.  The shares may also
be sold in accordance  with Section 4(1) of the  Securities  Act or Rule 144 and
Rule 145 under the Securities Act.

         Information  as to  whether  underwriters  who may be  selected  by the
selling stockholder, or any other broker-dealer, is acting as principal or agent
for the selling stockholder, the compensation to be received by underwriters who
may be selected  by the selling  stockholder,  or any  broker-dealer,  acting as
principal  or agent  for the  selling  stockholder  and the  compensation  to be
received by other broker-dealers,  will, to the extent required, be set forth in
a  supplement  to this  prospectus.  Any dealer or broker  participating  in any
distribution of the shares may be required to deliver a copy of this prospectus,
including the prospectus supplement,  if any, to any person who purchases any of
the shares from or through such dealer or broker.

         All expenses of  registration  incurred in connection with the offering
will be borne by us. All  selling  and other  expenses  incurred  by the selling
stockholder will be borne by the selling stockholder.

         The selling stockholder will be subject to applicable provisions of the
Exchange  Act  and the  rules  and  regulations  thereunder,  including  without
limitation,  Rule 102 under  Regulation M, which provisions may limit the timing
of purchases  and sales of any of the common  stock by the selling  stockholder.
Rule 102 under  Regulation  M  provides,  with  certain  exceptions,  that it is
unlawful for a selling  shareholder or its affiliated  purchaser to, directly or
indirectly,  bid for or  purchase  or attempt to induce any person to bid for or
purchase,  for an  account  in  which  the  selling  shareholder  or  affiliated
purchaser has a beneficial  interest in any  securities  that are the subject of
the distribution during the applicable restricted period under Regulation M. All
of the  foregoing  may affect the  marketability  of the common  stock.  We will
require  the selling  stockholder,  and its broker if  applicable,  to provide a
letter that acknowledges his compliance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act
before authorizing the transfer of the selling stockholder's shares.

                                        8
<PAGE>



         The selling  stockholder may offer all of the shares for sale. Further,
because it is possible that a significant  number of shares could be sold at the
same  time  hereunder,  such  sales,  or the  possibility  thereof,  may  have a
depressive effect on the market price of our common stock.

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

         The validity of the shares being offered  hereby will be passed upon by
Jenkens & Gilchrist, a Professional Corporation, Dallas, Texas.

                                     EXPERTS

         The financial statements of VTEL Corporation incorporated in this pros-
pectus by reference  to the annual  reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-K/A for the
year ended July 31, 1998 have been so  incorporated in reliance on the report of
PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP, independent  accountants,  on the authority of said
firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

        The consolidated  statement of operations, stockholders' equity and cash
flows of Compression  Labs,  Incorporated  for the year ended December 31, 1995,
incorporated  in this prospectus by reference to the annual reports on Form 10-K
and Form 10-K/A for the year ended July 31, 1998,  have been so  incorporated in
reliance  on the  report  of KPMG  LLP,  independent  accountants,  given on the
authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

                                        9
<PAGE>



                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

         The  following  table sets forth the  estimated  expenses in connection
with the distribution of the securities covered by this Registration  Statement.
All of the expenses will be borne by the Company except as otherwise indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>               <C>                                                                            <C>
                  SEC Registration Fee...........................................................................$1,706
                  Printing and Engraving Fees and Expenses.......................................................*
                  Legal Fees and Expenses .......................................................................*
                  Accounting Fees and Expenses...................................................................*
                  Transfer Agent and Registrar Fees..............................................................*
                  Miscellaneous..................................................................................*
                  Total..........................................................................................$1,706           *
<FN>

* To be provided by amendment.
</FN>
</TABLE>

Item 15.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers

         Section 145 of the Delaware  General  Corporation  Law ("Section  145")
permits indemnification of directors,  officers,  agents and controlling persons
of a corporation  under certain  conditions and subject to certain  limitations.
Article   Ninth  of  VTEL's   Fourth   Amended  and  Restated   Certificate   of
Incorporation,  as  amended,  provides  for the  indemnification  of  directors,
officers  and other  authorized  representatives  of VTEL to the maximum  extent
permitted  by the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law.  Section 145  empowers a
corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be
made a party to any threatened,  pending or complete action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal,  administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact
that he is or was a  director,  officer or agent of the  corporation  or another
enterprise  if  serving  at the  request of the  corporation.  Depending  on the
character of the  proceeding,  a  corporation  may  indemnify  against  expenses
(including  attorneys'  fees),  judgments,  fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually  and  reasonably  incurred  in  connection  with such  action,  suit or
proceeding  if the  person  indemnified  acted in good  faith and in a manner he
reasonably  believed  to be in or not  opposed  to,  the best  interests  of the
corporation,  and,  with respect to any criminal  action or  proceeding,  had no
reasonable  cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.  In the case of an action
by or in the  right of the  corporation,  no  indemnification  may be made  with
respect to any claim,  issue or matter as to which such  person  shall have been
adjudged to be liable to the corporation  unless and only to the extent that the
Court of Chancery  or the court in which such  action or suit was brought  shall
determine  that despite the court in which such action or suit was brought shall
determine that despite the  adjudication  of liability such person is fairly and
reasonably  entitled to indemnity for such  expenses  which the court shall deem
proper. Section 145 further provides that to the extent a director or officer of
a  corporation  has  been  successful  in the  defense  of any  action,  suit or
proceeding  referred  to above or in the  defense of any claim,  issue or matter
therein, he shall be indemnified  against expenses  (including  attorneys' fees)
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.

         Article  Ninth of VTEL's  Fourth  Amended and restated  Certificate  of
Incorporation,  as amended,  permits it to purchase  insurance  on behalf of any
such person  against any liability  asserted  against him and incurred by him in
any such  capacity,  or arising  out of his status as such,  whether or not VTEL
would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the foregoing
provision of the Certificate of Incorporation.


                                      II-1

<PAGE>



Item 16.  Exhibits

         The  following  documents  are filed as exhibits  to this  Registration
Statement,  including those exhibits incorporated herein by reference to a prior
filing of the Company under the  Securities Act or the Exchange Act as indicated
in parenthesis:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

EXHIBIT                                                                                                                   
NUMBER                   DESCRIPTION
<S>        <C>    <C>    <C> 
            3.1   ---    Fourth Amended Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference the Exhibit 3.1
                         to VTEL's quarterly report Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 1993).

            3.2   ---    Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as filed on May 27,
                         1997 with the Secretary of State of Delaware (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to VTEL's
                         Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended July 31, 1997.)

            3.3   ---    Bylaws of VTEL as adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company effective as of June 11,
                         1989 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to VTEL's Registration Statement on Form S-1,
                         File No. 33-45876, as amended).

            3.4   ---    Amendment to Bylaws of VTEL as adopted by the Board of Directors of VTEL effective as of
                         April 28, 1992 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 19.1 to VTEL's Quarterly Report on
                         Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 1992).

            3.5   ---    Amendment to the Bylaws of VTEL as adopted by the Board of Directors of VTEL effective as of
                         July 10, 1996 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to VTEL's Current Report on Form 8-K
                         dated July 10, 1996).

            4.1   ---    Specimen Certificate for the Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to VTEL's
                         Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 33-45876, as amended).

            4.2   ---    Rights Agreement dated as of July 10, 1996 between VTEL Corporation and First National Bank
                         of Boston, which includes the form of Certificate of Designations for Designating Series A
                         Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, the form of Rights Certificate, and the Summary of Rights to
                         Purchase Series A Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to VTEL's Current
                         Report on Form 8-K dated July 10, 1996).

           5.1*   ---    Opinion of Jenkens & Gilchrist, a Professional Corporation, regarding legality of shares being
                         registered.

          23.1*   ---    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP. 23.2* --- Consent of KPMG LLP.

          23.3*   ---    Consent of Jenkens & Gilchrist, a Professional Corporation (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereof).

          24.1    ---    Powers of attorney (included in the signature page of this Registration Statement).
<FN>

         -------

         * Filed herewith.

</FN>
</TABLE>

         (b)      Financial Statement Schedules:

                  Not Applicable.

Item 17.  Undertakings.

         The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

                  (1) To file,  during any  period in which  offers or sales are
         being made, a post-effective  amendment to this registration  statement
         to  include  any  material  information  with  respect  to the  plan of
         distribution not previously disclosed in the registration  statement or
         any material change to such information in the registration statement.


                                      II-2

<PAGE>



                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining  any liability  under
         the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
         deemed to be a new  registration  statement  relating to the securities
         offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
         be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                  (3) To remove from  registration by means of a  post-effective
         amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
         the termination of the offering.

         (b) The registrant  hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining
any liability  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  each filing of the Company's
annual  report  pursuant  to Section  13(a) or Section  15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable,  each filing of an employee benefit
plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) that is incorporated by reference in the  registration  statement shall be
deemed to be a new  registration  statement  relating to the securities  offered
therein,  and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (c)  Insofar  as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and  controlling
persons of the  registrants  pursuant to the provisions set forth in Item 15, or
otherwise,  the  registrants  have  been  advised  that  in the  opinion  of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Act and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the event that a
claim for indemnification  against such liabilities (other than the payment by a
registrant of expenses  incurred or paid by a director,  officer or  controlling
person of the  registrant  in the  successful  defense  of any  action,  suit or
proceeding)  is  asserted by such  director,  officer or  controlling  person in
connection with the securities being registered,  the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit  to a  court  of  appropriate  jurisdiction  the  question  whether  such
indemnification  by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.




                                      II-3

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all  requirements  for filing a Form S-3 and has duly caused  this  Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of Austin, State of Texas, on May 4, 1999.

                                     VTEL CORPORATION


                                     By:  /s/ Jerry Bensen                      
                                          ------------------------------
                                          Jerry Bensen
                                          Chief Executive Officer and President
                                          (Principal Executive Officer)

         Each  individual  whose signature  appears below hereby  designates and
appoints  Jerry S. Bensen,  Jr. and Rodney S. Bond, and each of them, any one of
whom may act without the joinder of the other,  as such person's true and lawful
attorney-in-fact  and  agents  (the  "Attorneys-in-Fact")  with  full  power  of
substitution  and  resubstitution,  for such person and in such  person's  name,
place  and  stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign any and all  amendments
(including  post-effective  amendments) to this  Registration  Statement,  which
amendments  may  make  such  changes  in  this  Registration  Statement  as  any
Attorney-in-Fact  deems appropriate,  and any registration statement relating to
the same offering filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933
and requests to accelerate the  effectiveness of such  registration  statements,
and to file each such amendment with all exhibits thereto,  and all documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
such  Attorneys-in-Fact  and each of them,  full power and  authority  to do and
perform each and every act and thing  requisite  and necessary to be done in and
about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or
could  do  in  person,   hereby   ratifying   and   confirming   all  that  such
Attorneys-in-Fact  or either of them, or their  substitute or  substitutes,  may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this  Registration  Statement has been signed below by the following  persons in
their capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                SIGNATURE                                       TITLE                                 DATE
                ---------                                       -----                                 ----
<S>                                        <C>                                                   <C> 

/s/ Jerry S. Benson, Jr.                   Chief Executive Officer, President and                May 4, 1999
- -----------------------------------------  Director
     Jerry S. Benson, Jr.                  (Principal Executive Officer)


/s/ Rodney S. Bond                         Chief Financial Officer, Vice President-              May 4, 1999
- -----------------------------------------  Finance and Secretary
     Rodney S. Bond                        (Principal Financial Officer and Principal
                                           Accounting Officer)

/s/ F.H. Dick Moeller                      Chairman of the Board of Directors                    May 4, 1999
- -------------------------------------------
     F.H. Dick Moeller

/s/ Gordon H. Mathews                      Director                                              May 4, 1999
- ----------------------------------------
     Gordon H. Mathews

/s/ Max D. Hopper                          Director                                              May 4, 1999
- -----------------------------------------
     Max D. Hopper

/s/ T. Gary Trimm                          Director                                              May 4, 1999
- -----------------------------------------
     T. Gary Trimm




<PAGE>



                SIGNATURE                                       TITLE                                 DATE
                ---------                                       -----                                 ----

/s/ Richard Snyder                         Director                                              May 4, 1999
- -----------------------------------------
     Richard Snyder

/s/ Eric L. Jones                          Director                                              May 4, 1999
- -------------------------------------------
     Eric L. Jones

</TABLE>


<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                   EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT                                                                                                                   
NUMBER                   DESCRIPTION
<S>        <C>    <C>    <C>   


            3.1   ---    Fourth Amended Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference the Exhibit 3.1
                         to VTEL's quarterly report Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 1993).

            3.2   ---    Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as filed on May 27,
                         1997 with the Secretary of State of Delaware (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to VTEL's
                         Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended July 31, 1997.)

            3.3   ---    Bylaws of VTEL as adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company effective as of June 11,
                         1989 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to VTEL's Registration Statement on Form S-1,
                         File No. 33-45876, as amended).

            3.4   ---    Amendment to Bylaws of VTEL as adopted by the Board of Directors of VTEL effective as of
                         April 28, 1992 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 19.1 to VTEL's Quarterly Report on
                         Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 1992).

            3.5   ---    Amendment to the Bylaws of VTEL as adopted by the Board of Directors of VTEL effective as of
                         July 10, 1996 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to VTEL's Current Report on Form 8-K
                         dated July 10, 1996).

            4.1   ---    Specimen Certificate for the Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to VTEL's
                         Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 33-45876, as amended).

            4.2   ---    Rights Agreement dated as of July 10, 1996 between VTEL Corporation and First National Bank
                         of Boston, which includes the form of Certificate of Designations for Designating Series A
                         Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, the form of Rights Certificate, and the Summary of Rights to
                         Purchase Series A Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to VTEL's Current
                         Report on Form 8-K dated July 10, 1996).

           5.1*   ---    Opinion of Jenkens & Gilchrist, a Professional Corporation, regarding legality of shares being
                         registered.

          23.1*   ---    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP. 23.2* --- Consent of KPMG LLP.

          23.3*   ---    Consent of Jenkens & Gilchrist, a Professional Corporation (to be included in Exhibit 5.1 hereof).

          24.1    ---    Powers of attorney (included in the signature page of this Registration Statement).

<FN>

- -------------------
*    Filed herewith.
</FN>
</TABLE>







                       [letterhead of Jenkens & Gilchrist]

                                 May 4, 1999



VTEL Corporation
108 Wild Basin Road
Austin, Texas 78746

         Re:      VTEL Corporation
                  Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         This  firm  has  acted  as  counsel  to VTEL  Corporation,  a  Delaware
corporation  (the  "Company"),   in  connection  with  the  preparation  of  the
Registration  Statement on Form S-3 (the  "Registration  Statement") to be filed
with the  Securities and  Exchange  Commission on or  about May 4,  1999,  under
the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the  "Securities  Act"),  relating to
1,149,000  shares (the "Shares") of the Company's  common stock, par value $0.01
per share (the "Common Stock") held by Vosaic Company, LLC.

         You have  requested  the  opinion of this firm with  respect to certain
legal aspects of the proposed offering. In connection  therewith,  this firm has
examined and relied upon the original, or copies identified to our satisfaction,
of (1) the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and the bylaws of the Company,
as amended; (2) minutes and records of the corporate  proceedings of the Company
with  respect  to the  issuance  of the  Shares  and  related  matters;  (3) the
Registration  Statement and exhibits  thereto;  and (4) such other documents and
instruments  as this  firm has  deemed  necessary  for the  expression  of these
opinions.  In making  the  foregoing  examinations,  this firm has  assumed  the
genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to
this  firm as  originals,  and  the  conformity  to  original  documents  of all
documents  submitted  to this firm as  certified or  photostatic  copies.  As to
various questions of fact material to this opinion letter, and as to the content
and form of the  Certificate of  Incorporation,  the bylaws,  minutes,  records,
resolutions  and other  documents  or  writings  of the  Company,  this firm has
relied, to the extent it deems reasonably  appropriate,  upon representations or
certificates of officers or directors of the Company and upon documents, records
and instruments furnished to this firm by the Company, without independent check
or verification of their accuracy.

         Based  upon our  examination,  consideration  of, and  reliance  on the
documents and other matters  described  above,  this firm is of the opinion that
the Shares are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.




<PAGE>


VTEL Corporation
May 4, 1999
Page 2



         The opinions  expressed in this Opinion  Letter  assume that the Shares
were duly authorized and validly issued by the Company.

         This firm hereby  consents to the filing of this  opinion  letter as an
exhibit to the Registration  Statement and to references to our firm included in
or made a part of the Registration  Statement. In giving this consent, this firm
does not admit that it comes  within the  category  of person  whose  consent is
required under Section 7 of the  Securities Act or the Rules and  Regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

                                                      Very truly yours,

                                                      JENKENS & GILCHRIST,
                                                      a Professional Corporation


                                                      By: /s/ L. Steven Leshin
                                                          ----------------------
                                                          L. Steven Leshin, Esq.









                           CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

     We hereby consent to the  incorporation by reference in the prospectus con-
stituting  part of this  Registration  Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated
September 22, 1998, which appears in VTEL  Corporation's  annual reports on Form
10-K and Form 10-K/A for the year ended July 31,  1998.  We also  consent to the
reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such prospectus.


PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP


/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
- ------------------------------

Austin, Texas
May 3, 1999







                           CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

     We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration  statement
on Form S-3 of VTEL  Corporation of our report dated March 13, 1996 with respect
to the  consolidated  statements of  operations,  stockholders'  equity and cash
flows of Compression  Labs,  Incorporated  for the year ended December 31, 1995,
which report  appears in the annual reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-K/A of VTEL
Corporation  for the year ended July 31, 1998.  We also consent to the reference
to us under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.

KPMG LLP


/s/ KPMG, LLP
- --------------------------

Mountain View, California
May 3, 1999






© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission