For too long, the small-medium enterprise (SME) market has effectively been squeezed out of business video conferencing with solutions that are either too expensive or too low in quality. Vidtel’s cloud video conferencing service is designed to change all that. To reach our target market, we are linking up with channel partners that already have SME relationships. We’re partnering with video equipment vendors, VoIP service providers, managed service providers and video VARs to re-sell Vidtel service.

Our channel program supports the sales of MeetMe, the any-to-any video conferencing service that provides SMEs with a flexible, cost-effective and high-quality middle ground.  With Vidtel’s MeetMe Video Conferencing Service, video conferencing vendors, AV integrators, VoIP providers and managed service providers can offer cost-efficient and predictably-priced hosted, any-to-any videoconferencing services that work with room-based systems and executive video systems using SIP and H.323 as well as desktop platforms, PCs, tablets and smartphones using Skype and Google Talk. MeetMe enables users to participate in multi-party, multi-vendor (e.g., Tandberg/Cisco, LifeSize, Polycom, InFocus, SONY, Google Talk and Skype) video conferences.

Vidtel’s channel program benefits video vendors, VoIP providers, managed service providers and VARs by providing additional sales opportunities with new and existing customers. Selling Vidtel MeetMe enables our partners to:

Expand the Customer Base

MeetMe is cost-efficient and eliminates one of small-medium enterprises (SMEs)’ biggest barriers to adoption: The steep upfront cost of video conferencing infrastructure. Vidtel’s cloud approach means that there are no upfront expenses on infrastructure, no maintenance expenses and no IT expertise needed. Companies that would have never considered business-grade video conferencing due to the lack of suitable products and services targeting the SME market can now get in the game.

Upsell to Existing Customer Base

VARs can upsell service to customers who already own room-based and executive video conferencing systems.  MeetMe’s compatibility with diverse video platforms and technologies means that customers can leverage their existing video investments by connecting with employees, business partners and customers that use what otherwise would be incompatible platforms.

Drive Complementary Sales

MeetMe’s device-, vendor- and platform-agnostic architecture, along with its cloud-based design and multiple pricing options, provide SMEs with a combination of flexibility, affordability and predictability that encourages wide-scale video conferencing deployments. The savings free up capital for investments in other areas, such as LAN/MAN upgrades and additional endpoints.

Vidtel’s MeetMe service is available in North America with expansion plans for Europe and Asia. To become a channel partner, contact channels@vidtel.com.

Telepresence, video conferencing, video chat…many different terms are floating around and as the technology is moving from the boardroom and consumer environment into the massive mainstream, more people are asking questions about what the different categories mean. Here’s an overview of video conferencing categories.

Overview

Telepresence, video telepresence, videoconference, video calls and video phone calls are all terms for real-time, two-way audio-video interactions at different locations but there are broadly two categories:

·Point-to-point video conferencing – two different locations

·Multi-point video conferencing – three or more separate locations

Point-to-Point Video Conferencing

Video conferencing or video calls between just two locations is called point-to-point video conferencing.  For connections between two endpoints, Vidtel offers Vidtel Connect.

Although a room-based (telepresence) system can certainly be used for point-to-point video conferencing, often web-based video communications software or desktop, “executive systems”, video phones or “media phones” are used.  Vidtel can support all types of these devices with Vidtel Connect.

Multi-Point Video Conferencing

For organizations with geographically dispersed branch offices and employees, video conferencing enables multiple locations to meet simultaneously.

Room-based (telepresence) video conference systems, video phones, and web-based video conferencing software are all used for multi-point video conferencing.  The Vidtel Meet Me Service supports video conferencing between all different types of systems.

Video Conferencing Equipment

Today video conferencing takes on many forms, from conference room-based systems to executive systems, video (media) phones, web-based or computer video conferencing software, tablets and video-enabled mobile phones.  Vidtel’s vision is to enable any-to-any video conferencing; that is, connecting from any type of video-enabled device whether from a Polycom VVX1500 Business Media Phone to a LifeSize Passport or a Google Talk user.

Room-Based Video Conferencing Systems

Room-based systems are housed in a conference room, sometimes dedicated only to video conferencing.  Generally these are used for multi-point video conferencing.

Cisco, LifeSize, Tandberg, HP and Sony produce telepresence systems, the highest-end videoconferencing systems.  Telepresence systems and service are characterized by:

• state-of-the art room designs
• high-definition video (30 frames per second or higher, 720 pixels)
• high-definition audio (far superior to standard PSTN audio)
• top-of-the line video cameras
• life-sized display images on 60+ inch screens
• high-end sound-systems and processors
• high-capacity bandwidth transmissions
• groupware, directory, unified communication systems and streaming/content management system integration
• integrated session recoding, including in some cases, shared data content
• $2,500-$500,000+ per room costs

Video conference room-based systems can include smaller screen systems and non-HD quality. On the other end of the spectrum,  “telepresence rooms” start at $100k per month. With this scenario, everything has to be managed from the bandwidth to lighting to the room furniture. Interoperability with other systems and networks is generally sub-standard.  Telepresence rooms  are super-premium experiences designed for a small and is “out-of-reach” of all but a select number of users at the very largest companies.

Wall Tablets

InFocus has created a new category of wall-sized tablets to be used in conference rooms. The Mondopad is retailing for just under $6,000 and features multi-touch collaboration and presentation applications, whiteboarding, the ability to share, view and control content remotely from PCs, tablets and smartphones. It allows for business-class, disruptively-priced cloud video conferencing through Vidtel.

Executive Video Conferencing Systems

Executive video conferencing systems generally refer to all hardware-based devices used by individuals on their desks and are typically around $3,000-$10,000 per endpoint.

Video phones or “media phones” also fall into this category, although the prices range from $300 to about $1500. Video phones are more apt to be used for both video and PSTN voice (i.e., regular telephone calling)..

Cisco/Tandberg, Polycom, Samsung/Radvision, LG/Lifesize, and Sony are the market leaders in executive systems or video phones.  Vidtel’s service works with all these vendors’ video conferencing equipment . These executive systems are characterized by:

• Integrated flat-panel screen, video camera, and microphone with phone interface
• Full-duplex (bi-directional) video and audio transmission capability
• High-quality video images from standard to high-definition
• Some enable groupware, directory, unified communication systems and streaming/content management system integration
• Some include integrated session recoding, including in some cases, shared data content
• $300 – $5,000 per device

Smartphones and Tablets

Video conferencing has been enabled in smartphones around the world for years and has recently become more widely available in the US through Android and iPhone4 devices.  Tablets will increasingly provide video conferencing. It was just announced that the iPad2 will incorporate Skype.

Web-Based Video Conferencing

Most video communication today involves a web cam and Internet connection.  Some variants remain free, including  Google and Microsoft, while others charge for multi-party conferences (Skype). Vidyo and Avistar are also web-based but not free.  WebEx and GoToMeeting are not free but include video in the subscription fees.

Vidtel’s aim is to incorporate the leading web-based video conferencing approaches into the Vidtel network for total interoperability between endpoints without any pre-configuration.

Web-based video conferencing involves:

• softphone” technology – either downloaded or browser-based software
• web cams
• microphones
• Internet connection
• $0 (hard to beat)

Personal video communication is most common with this technology, since it’s mostly free. Business organizations tend to seek a more reliable, high-quality experience and seek dedicated devices or HD quality for business transactions and meetings over video and are willing to pay something for better quality. ]]> http://www.vidtel.com/community/defining-todays-video-conferencing/feed/ 0 http://www.vidtel.com/community/video-outside-the-conference-room/ http://www.vidtel.com/community/video-outside-the-conference-room/#comments Wed, 11 Aug 2010 23:42:03 +0000 admin http://www.vidtel.com/community/?p=368 by Mariette Johnson Wharton, VP of Marketing

A report in July-August 2010 Channel Vision Magazine (circulated to nearly 20,000 channel partners and wholesale carriers selling voice, conferencing, IP and other network-based services), points to the growing demand for video conferencing outside of purpose-built room systems.

In the magazine’s “Beyond the Conference Room” report, Martin Vilaboy argues that video outside the conference room “gets really interesting only when sessions can be initiated across all types of endpoints, from telepresence flat screen to an iPad in a hotel room, and vendor brand names attaches to services and endpoints don’t make a difference.”  That, and it’s an easy to use, on-demand service. “Only at that point,” Vilaboy maintains, “does it truly become accessible for SMBs to routinely collaborate with partners, customers, mobile workers, suppliers, etc. At this point, for an SMB to achieve interoperability on its own, it would require tens of thousands of dollars in network investments and some degree of IT resources.”

Even though the major video conferencing vendors have made advances towards standards and cross capabilities, seamless connectivity still presents what Vilaboy terms “significant challenges” including firewall traversal and a “market landscape, from Google to Cisco, of proprietary platforms and technologies.”  In the report, Vidtel CEO Scott Wharton notes that even when standards are established, it can be hard or impossible to get them to work together since the SIP standard is an interpretive one, meaning interpreted differently by various vendors.  This is too much for the average SMB IT department and even the video VARs to handle so they tend to recommend that customers stay with one vendor’s brand and use it for internal use only.

The key to widespread SMB deployment of business-grade video conferencing will be a service provider solution “that can deliver affordable and robust hosted services”, Vilaboy reports.  Outside of a hosted solution, SMBs would have to invest in gateways, session border controllers, service bridging, and SIP proxy functionality.  Then, there are cases where SIP needs to be integrated with H.323, which is not a simple matter.

Ugh. Most SMBs don’t even know what those terms means, nor should they have to (we think).  As an alternative to SMBs undergoing this infrastructure investment, cloud-based service provider Vidtel put all this functionality in the cloud and offers a hosted service for a monthly fee.

Our approach seeks to have SIP, H.323 and proprietary video conferencing systems all work together.  The Vidtel network also has the capability of integrating with the PSTN so local phone numbers can be used for regular phone calling as well.  Multi-point is easy, too.  The bridging function hosted in Vidtel’s data center enables multi-party video conferencing.

Vidtel pursues a channel strategy to deliver service and has announced deals with hosted voice providers to integrate the Vidtel multi-party video conferencing service.  Vidtel’s SIP core enables the hosted voice providers to use SIP trunks for bridging to Vidtel. End-customers then dial into the bridge on-demand with a 10-digit number from their Polycom VVX1500, LifeSize Passport, Tandberg E20 or other standard device.

The Channel Magazine report begs the question of how long the lower quality and lack of support of software-based consumer-oriented video conferencing solutions will be tolerated by businesses. Research Now’s study demonstrates that audio quality is as important as the video experience. “With user expectations raised by the popularity of HD everything,” the report quotes Research Now, “video conferencing or video chat without HD voice and HD video usually results in poor user experiences.”

PC-based solutions are limited by processor speed, Wharton points out. It’s the same reason people prefer to watch movies on TV vs. on a handheld device – better processing capability provides better quality.

As video device prices are shrinking and hosted solutions become more available, HD video conferencing will come more into the hands of the SMB market. “Endpoint prices are starting to come down, ” Wharton is quoted, such as from LifeSize, Cisco/Tandberg, Sony and Polycom. “What’s not coming down is the complexity or the need for someone to manage things in the middle.”

All of this is good news for Vidtel.

Rich Tehrani, CEO of TMC, asks Scott Wharton, CEO of Vidtel, about Vidtel’s cloud-based video conferencing service. Scott discusses the vision of the company to provide HD video conferencing for small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs).

The Vidtel service enables SMEs to have business-grade video conferencing without investing in video conferencing infrastructure (e.g., session border controllers, gateways, SIP proxies).  Vidtel is device-agnostic, enabling any SIP device (e.g., Polycom, Cisco, Tandberg, LifeSize, Sony) to register to and connect with others over the Vidtel network.

Vidtel’s approach is to provide a hosted service, similar to a telephone monthly service fee, eliminating the need for customers to invest in additional IT support, servers, testing and interoperability.

To gain new customers, Vidtel is pursuing a channel strategy with video conferencing vendors, VoIP providers and and VARs.  Vidtel’s service allows VARs and VoIP providers to expand their hosted voice offerings to include hosted video.

In the case of the major video conferencing vendors, Vidtel helps solve the problem of these vendors’ niche focus on the large enterprise. Teaming up with Vidtel enables these manufacturers to address a much wider audience. Without a hosted service such as Vidtel, potential customers would be required to make substantial IT investments to accommodate HD video conferencing.

What’s next? Vidtel has already enabled interoperability between the major players’ equipment (Tandberg, Cisco, Polycom, LifeSize and Sony).  H.323 to SIP  interoperability is next.  Vidtel’s vision also includes gateways from SIP devices to proprietary standards (e.g., Skype, Google, Microsoft, Apple).

See Scott Wharton interviewed on TMCnet.