"Video islands," or enterprise locations with internal, isolated videoconferencing facilities, are causing interoperability challenges for IT. Within an island, communication and collaboration is easy, but it is difficult to communicate with people on other islands linked by the Internet.
Three types of solutions, each offering high-quality audio and video, have emerged so far to address the issue.
Enterprise conference room solutions based on H.323 and related protocols come with sophisticated near and far camera controls. Investment can range from $20,000 to more than $100,000 per room. The solutions work great within the enterprise but can be challenging to use between organizations due to firewall rules. Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) and Polycom Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCM) are two major vendors in this space.
Downloadable, user-friendly software-based person-to-person solutions by companies like Skype Ltd. and ooVoo have gained a large following by offering free calls worldwide. These solutions can traverse most firewalls (unless purposefully restricted).
Browser-based, user-friendly person-to-person solutions are available from players like Webex, GoToMeeting, AnyMeeting, and Google+. Cisco has rebranded Webex with social media features and called it Webex Social. A free Webex Basic is also available now.
The desire and need for interoperability among video islands is great. And when I met with several senior leaders recently, they all agreed on the following goals for enterprise videoconferencing equipment:
Communication with a wide range of systems and platforms
Easy communications through firewalls
Easy authentication
Easy-to-maintain features for contacts
Access to directory services
With these goals in mind, is video interoperability possible? Though the technology is in its nascent state, there are a few glimmers of hope. Cloud vendors are providing solutions to this problem by writing interfaces that serve as a bridge between islands.
Microsoft's Lync connects several types of video islands.
Vidtel has tested interoperability between Skype, Google, Polycom, and Cisco.
Each solution has its limitations. However, due to the market opportunities and high demand, we are likely to see more innovative solutions in this rapidly evolving marketplace.
will always win out over expensive and complicated, no matter how high the quality and how crappy the quality of the free and ubiquitous service.
That said, I've found I sometimes have to set up an auxilliary PC to run the videoconference even if my own camera isn't on; there just isn't enough bandwidth, or processing power, or something, to provide decent quality if I'm doing anything else on the computer -- even taking notes. And the problem I always have with WebEx and that ilk is I *still* need them to send me the slide deck so I can refer to it afterwards.
@taimur_tz - I do think interoperability solutions are desirable and good. The quality can vary a lot depending on the end-point capabilities as well. It is tough to argue for a single solution given the world-wide need to cater to variety in user preferences.
There are people from all walks of life interacting worldwide... and the need for the interoprability of different "Video Islands" is much necessary. The video conferancing tool used in France may be different from the tool used in South America or Singapore.
@Mansur: How good is the interoperability between two different video conference services like Skype and Cisco-based solutions? Do you think it's as good as a single platform?
"Ironically, I typically converse with the remote site using Skype to get the bugs ironed out."
@Michael: I think one of the reasons why Skype is a good choice is because it's so easy to handle and operate. It's almost like video conferencing on the cloud where there's minimal effort required to set it up in a company.
Thanks for your comments and insights everyone. Some companies have saved money on travel expenses but it is not a great substitute for an in person realtionship building or negotiations scenario. It does work well for many ad-hoc and standing meetings. I have used it extensively for a decade. It is time now for more interoperable solutions.
I have setup numerous systems and the high-end H.323 systems can be a major pain to get working correctly. Ironically, I typically converse with the remote site using Skype to get the bugs ironed out.
I would have to say that most systems do not pay for themselves. Typically the monitor is huge, so it ends up replacing the LCD projector in that particular conference room.
Several of the international companies are still traveling as much. Why, I can only guess.
I agree, kenton. I'm seeing it used more and more for team meetings, where teams are remotely spread, as well as for more formal, inter-company meetings.
Yes, it is. There are many reasons, but the reduction in travel for employees is probably the main driver. Companies that spent $50,000.00 or $100,000.00 to video conferece within their networks are now saying, "we've got this huge investment sitting there and we're paying thousands of dollars a month to fly people around. Why can't we just video conference?". There are other needs too including distance education partnerships, research collaboration, etc. With the increased use of H.323 there is also now the desire to integrate the $50,000.00 piece of hardware with WebEx or other software-based solutions for the desktop. Just because you can get equivalent quality using Skype and a $150 webcam doesn't mean companies are going to throw out their HD Polycom video conferencing system.
While I share your skepticism about intracompany video, DukeW, the entire field seems to be trundling ahead without us. Google+ has gotten kudos for its Hangouts and Skype seems to be facing sizeable competition. People seem to want videoconferencing, messaging, and phoning, and the fact that I do not particularly want it means very little. (All said with tongue firmly in cheek.)
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