Last week Google and Mozilla posted "WebRTC: A conversation Between Chrome and Firefox," a clip of a high-definition video chat using WebRTC, a technology that could conceivably disrupt the video call industry and significantly improve communications for businesses and their customers. Many techies are rejoicing, but it's much too early to open the Champagne.
The beauty of WebRTC (or Web Real Time Communications) is that the code is built directly into the browser. There's no need to download a third-party extension, plug-in, or separate application. Users simply employ a standard browser to establish an audio or a video call. WebRTC uses high-definition audio and video, although the quality is dependent on the speed of the Internet connection. Also, calls are encrypted.
In addition, WebRTC makes it easy for developers to include calling capability within their applications. This opens the world of video calling between businesses and consumers. With video calling integrated into browsers, customer support representatives, for example, would be able to initiate calls with consumers experiencing problems with products, or answer any type of question.
Video calls would be a cinch to initiate, just about as easy as clicking on a link in a browser to open another web page. Consumers wouldn't be confused and enterprises wouldn't have to decide among multiple video calling options. Well, that's a goal, anyway.
Google and Mozilla are major proponents of WebRTC, and it just so happens that Mozilla's Firefox browser and Google's Chrome browser are two of the most popular in the world. In addition, Google offers Android for phones, so it's pretty much a given that WebRTC would be baked into Android's Chrome browser.
WebRTC is being developed and coordinated by the Worldwide Web Consortium and the Internet Engineering Task Force. So far, the protocol is integrated into the regular, stable version of Chrome and the developer version of Firefox. The final working draft of WebRTC specifications is scheduled for the third quarter of this year with the final standard slated for 2014.
As with all work on standards, WebRTC is fraught with challenges, especially from Microsoft. Although Firefox and Chrome are the second and third most popular browsers in the world, the top dog is Microsoft's Internet Explorer. Microsoft has said it supports WebRTC, but not the "main" version.
One area of disagreement is Microsoft supporting compatibility with a variety of codecs, while Google and Mozilla are rallying behind open-source, royalty-free codecs like Optus and VP8. Codecs are hardware and software that compress and decompress (encode and decode) data, such as audio and video.
Microsoft wants software developers to be able to choose the type of codec that works best with their applications, such as H.264. The company says the current WebRTC specs aren't up to the job of connecting a variety of devices, not just computer-to-computer browser connections. Also, Microsoft says WebRTC relies on SDP (Session Description Protocol), an open-format for streaming media communications that doesn't work well with non-SDP systems.
It just so happens that Microsoft has a little non-SDP video calling application of its own, Skype, for which it paid $8.5 billion in 2011. Although it makes sense to be cynical about Microsoft's motives, the company actually might have a point with its suggestions about improving WebRTC's compatibility and features.
While Microsoft, Google, and Mozilla have been very vocal about their positions, one computer giant has not: Apple. Apple has its own video call protocol for FaceTime. Steve Jobs said in 2010 that Apple would work to make FaceTime an open standard, but the company seems to have reneged on that. Apple adopts standards when it suits its corporate aims, so it's possible that WebRTC could eventually be embedded into the Safari browser.
Currently, it's premature to rejoice over the inevitability of One Video Calling Standard to Rule Them All.
@Alan – Video calls came into the picture when 3G was introduced sometime back, but the technology advanced yet Video calling did not evolve much. I wonder why?
Video call was a hit some time back then suddenly declines, most smartphone devices few months back had video calling inbuilt, but I don't see much of those devices now.
Alan, Although email, SMS, social medial are utilized more in communication than video, that is because there is no really high quality video communication tool at this point. As you noted it involves a stable network too. I would say, once we have the network and tool ready people will prefer quick video chat to other communication.
Really? I hadn't heard of anyone doing that. I do worry about my daughter's webcam getting hacked and taken over--not someone specifically targeting her, necessarily, but someone reaching out their electronic tentacles and grabbing control of hers because they can. For that reason, I remind her to consider that it's always on -- even though it's not -- and to act appropriately in front of her laptop if the screen's up and the power's on.
The ThinkerNet does not reflect the views of TechWeb. The ThinkerNet is an informal means of communication to members and visitors of the Internet Evolution site. Individual authors are chosen by Internet Evolution to blog. Neither Internet Evolution nor TechWeb assume responsibility for comments, claims, or opinions made by authors and ThinkerNet bloggers. They are no substitute for your own research and should not be relied upon for trading or any other purpose.
The apartment and house sharing service, Airbnb, now requires members to verify their identities by demonstrating a presence on the web, and by either scanning a government ID or entering detailed personal details. Other enterprises should take a close look at Airbnb's verification policies.
Enterprises must keep a close eye on the Marketplace Fairness Act, now before Congress, which would allow a nationwide sales tax on US online purchases. The bill's enactment will affect every business that operates or buys from an e-commerce website.
Samsung Electronics recently announced two Galaxy Mega branded phones with enormous screens -- 5.8 inches and 6.3 inches -- that could be useful for enterprises, especially those in vertical markets.
Virtual walls combine analog and digital elements -- paper posters and wireless transmissions -- that offer fascinating business and branding opportunities for enterprises. These walls are powerful tools because they merge the emotional experiences of the analog world with the intellectual experiences of the digital world.
While many retailers bemoan customers' use of showrooming, a handful of Internet-savvy companies are embracing this trend. From their perspective, the Internet is encouraging businesses to explore innovative ways to leverage online sales with brick-and-mortar or even engine-and-wheels locations.
Many enterprises view high-speed broadband connections as ubiquitous. Yet in about 20 percent of the country, businesses and their employees do not have access to even DSL connections. This shortcoming diminishes enterprises' ability to support their employees.
The decision could discourage innovators looking to the past, and require companies to build from the ground up, leading to a new generation of stagnation in the IT world.
A survey by JD Powers found that customer interest in product features is lessening as phones evolve. Rather than features, price is driving purchases, and that change could have a dramatic impact on how IT departments secure these devices.
A recent release of the popular TweetDeck app for Twitter power-users gives new life to software that had previously taken a wrong turn. Here's a quick walk-through of the new TweetDeck, to show you why it should be at the top of your Twitter toolkit.
Skype recently acquired GroupMe, a startup developing tools to make mobile communications simpler. The move underscores dramatic changes in that market, ones that will change how executives communicate.
Microsoft's buy of Skype could revitalize Phone 7, give Microsoft a social, gaming, and collaborative strategy, and spell the end for old-fashioned telco voice. It will also certainly give Google a headache in its Voice, Chat, and even Android strategy!
A Verizon/Google tablet deal not only shows that tablets are now driving the hardware/software bus, they're also capable of building new alliances between old foes.
When Reiter gets incensed over incompetent Verizon FiOS order-taking and support, he broadcasts it via Twitter. Did it do any good? How should your company offer Twitter support? Watch this for all the answers.
How do you recognize an Internet bubble when you see one? Saunders explains how all bubbles have four symptoms in common – and takes a swipe at Google and Twitter into the bargain.
The sky is falling! And in other news, Saunders explains why he’s predicting a second Internet bubble – this one based around the current craze for social media.
New York's Metropolitan Transit Authority is conducting a pilot test of digital kiosks to guide subway users to where they want to go more efficiently and at lower cost.
The whole Amazon.reader debate is a double-stupid. It's stupid to think that there's any e-book buyer who doesn't know Amazon's URL, and it was stupider to let ICANN launch the whole free-form TLD initiative to start with.
While NFC's original goal was to enhance mobile commerce applications, it is finding its way into a number of other uses, which is creating both opportunity as well as challenges for IT departments.
Enterprises would like to move to cloud computing but are hesitant because they are concerned about providers’ ability to secure company data. Here are some tips that help to ensure that if breaches occur, the business is not left holding the bag.
Edmunds separates customers into segments based on the info it collects on its site and from partners, and uses that to push out custom content, said Brian Baron, director of business analytics for Edmunds.com, at Predictive Analytics Innovation Summit.
The automotive website uses propensity modeling to target ads and customer registration forms, said Brian Baron, director of business analytics for Edmunds.com, at Predictive Analytics Innovation Summit.
Subsidized handsets, rather than locked handsets, should be the focus of regulators. We're not getting good deals, not fostering innovation, and weakening our power as buyers.
Expert Integrated Systems: Changing the Experience & Economics of IT In this e-book, we take an in-depth look at these expert integrated systems -- what they are, how they work, and how they have the potential to help CIOs achieve dramatic savings while restoring IT's role as business innovator. READ THIS eBOOK
your weekly update of news, analysis, and
opinion from Internet Evolution - FREE! REGISTER HERE
Wanted! Site Moderators Internet Evolution is looking for a handful of readers to help moderate the message boards on our site – as well as engaging in high-IQ conversation with the industry mavens on our thinkerNet blogosphere. The job comes with various perks, bags of kudos, and GIANT bragging rights. Interested?
To save this item to your list of favorite Internet Evolution content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
Email This
