Telepresence Industry Watch: Blog

Tandberg launches OCS integration for easy videoconferencing

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 09:15:27 GMT

February 1, 2008 (Computerworld) Videoconferencing device maker Tandberg in New York announced today that its products will interoperate with the Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, bringing users greater flexibility in setting up sessions.

Users of OCS can connect face-to-face with colleagues and others who are using Tandberg room-based and telepresence systems, Tandberg said in a statement today.

A user of OCS can click a name in his or her contact list and visually connect with any Tandberg MXP device that has been registered with that OCS server, Tandberg said. The Tandberg software upgrade that provides the new capability is available today free to those Tandberg customers with maintenance contracts.

Cisco, Scottish Centre for Telehealth, and NHS Scotland Launch First Cisco HealthPresence Trial

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 02:40:06 GMT

The Scottish Centre for Telehealth (SCT), Cisco® (NASDAQ: CSCO), and the National Health Service in Scotland today announce the launch of the world's first trial of Cisco's HealthPresence, an innovative patient care delivery concept using Cisco TelePresence technology.

The trial is taking place at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in Scotland to assess the efficacy of Cisco HealthPresence, as well as patient and caregiver satisfaction, when the system is used in a safe, highly secure environment. Upon a successful outcome of this program, further trials may be planned in Scotland and around the world.

Cisco HealthPresence combines state-of-the-art video, audio and call centre technology with medical information over a highly secure network to create a virtual face-to-face experience for patients and caregivers who may be miles apart. Cisco HealthPresence is a technical platform that interfaces with medical diagnostic equipment, such as stethoscopes and otoscopes, as well as a vital signs monitor that can measure blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate and pulse oximetry to capture the physiological condition of the patient. An attendant is available to operate the medical devices on behalf of the remotely located caregiver as well as to maintain the technology in good operating condition.

Telanetix Extends Telepresence Distribution Into Europe

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 02:31:17 GMT

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Telanetix Inc. , a leading IP solutions provider offering telepresence and VoIP services to the SMB and SME markets, announced the appointment of Imago Group, PLC as a distributor for its award winning line of Digital Presence(TM) products in the United Kingdom, France and Benelux.

The distribution agreement is the first expansion of Telanetix into Europe, and allows Imago to sell the full range of Telanetix Digital Presence products including two and four screen systems and products for custom configurations. Imago will also build two Telanetix demonstration locations in the region for customer presentations.

In-Stat Reports Elements in Place for Growth in Video Conferencing

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 02:25:03 GMT

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Strong efforts from major companies like Cisco, Microsoft, and IBM to promote media-rich productivity tools are boosting the prospects for video conferencing, reports In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com). The driving factors behind increased adoption and use are technology, bandwidth, and convergence, the high-tech market research firm says. According to a recent In-Stat survey of U.S. businesses, the decision to use or not use video conferencing is no longer based on uncertainty over the quality of the experience among those who have tried it lately. Furthermore, cost alone does not seem to be a hindrance of adoption or use.

“The shift to an IP environment that enables unified communications, presence, and mobile integration provides a technological environment where traditional video conferencing, as well as telepresence can become synergistic elements,” says David Lemelin, In-Stat analyst.

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

Current users of video conferencing are generally satisfied with their system and find value in the experience.
Past users are willing to reconsider video conferencing if the quality, usability, and cost are reasonable.
Video conferencing is beginning to resonate as a part of corporations’ commitments to “green” environmental issues, though this benefit can be leveraged more aggressively in the future.

Manufacturing Case Study: Using Telepresence For Long-Distance R&D

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:42:29 GMT

Jan. 25, 2008 -- Chipmaking heavyweight Qualcomm recently announced a trial telepresence program aimed at fostering deeper integration and increased communication between its San Diego headquarters and research facilities located in Campbell, Calif. and Bridgewater, N.J. The telepresence solution, which includes three installations of Teleris' VirtuaLive Modular, will be an addition to help engineers from the company's remote offices collaborate more effectively on research and design projects and ultimately improve productivity and efficiency.

"Research and development are cornerstones of Qualcomm's long history of technology innovation, and collaboration among our various remote locations has been an important part of our success." said Barbara Noerenberg, vice president of corporate R&D program management, Qualcomm.

According to the company, its VirtuaLive solution provides Qualcomm and many other global corporations with the latest telepresence technology and a broad set of room offerings that, together offer the most immersive and natural virtual meeting environment available on the market. By capturing and transmitting visual and auditory cues such as facial expressions, gestures and even side-comments, Teliris' technology faithfully replicates an in-person meeting experience. Teliris enables participants to collaborate as if they are working around the same table.

思科网真为网通提供奥运通信保障

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:31:43 GMT

思科网真为网通提供奥运通信保障开通仪式现场

　　新浪科技讯 1月24日消息，主题为“宽带奥运，网真携行”的“思科网真系统服务于中国网通29届奥运会通信保障系统开通仪式”今天在北京成功举行。双方的这一合作标志着思科网真这一领先的通信技术将首次服务于夏季奥运会。

　　在开通仪式上，思科最先进的网真技术与现有的中国网通奥运会通信保障系统相结合，充分利用思科网真能实现远程“面对面”沟通的特点，协助中国网通奥运指挥系统在北京网通大楼内实现对赛场网络的实时监控，进而为奥运固定通信系统的正常使用提供可靠保障。

　　为了助力中国网通 “宽带奥运”战略的顺利实施，思科公司今天还与中国网通签署了合作备忘录，为奥运通信保障系统提供一对思科网真系统以及相关服务。

　　中国网通集团高级副总裁、北京网通总经理赵继东表示：“宽带是网通服务北京2008奥运会的主题，也是网通对此次奥运会的承诺。思科网真的‘加盟’进一步完善了网通‘宽带奥运’的战略体系。我们将进一步实施这个战略，确保在2008年向全世界呈现奥运史上通信保障最成功的一届奥运会。”

　　思科公司全球副总裁、大中华区总裁林正刚说：“思科很荣幸与中国网通携手打造思科网真通信平台，并通过这个通信平台确保北京2008年夏季奥运会的成功举行。我们将通过全球最领先的技术和服务，协助中国网通完善并优化现有网络，在未来开创新的商业模式，开拓更广阔的‘蓝海’市场。”

　　据悉，双方合力打造的思科网真服务于中国网通奥运会通信保障系统的模式将为中国承办更多国际重大赛事提供技术支持和服务。至此，思科网真在中国已被应用于会议室、演播室以及指挥中心等解决方案。

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LifeSize Posts Record Sales, LifeSize® Express™ changing the rules in HD

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:30:09 GMT

Austin, Tex. – January 23, 2008 – LifeSize Communications, the global leader in high definition video communications, announced record revenue for both the fourth quarter and 2007. Revenue growth accelerated throughout the year and annual sales revenue nearly tripled year-over-year. Sales of all products in all regions were strong, with the newly-introduced LifeSize® Express™ creating excitement and generating high interest in the company’s products.

LifeSize Unveils LifeSize® PlanetWise™ and Announces Global Partnership with The Climate Group

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:27:09 GMT

Austin, Tex. and London – January 22, 2008 –LifeSize Communications, the global leader in high definition visual communications, today announced LifeSize® PlanetWise™, a comprehensive environmental initiative to promote green technologies that reduce pollution, improve the company’s environmental efficiency and provide pro-bono support to leading environmental non-governmental organizations.

“LifeSize believes in the power of high definition video to change the way we work and live,” said Craig Malloy, LifeSize CEO. “Video communication has a tremendous potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Each trip avoided by using video has a direct, measurable reduction in an organization’s carbon footprint. By reducing the need to travel, LifeSize can have a profound and positive impact on the environment.”

Major University Selects Telanetix to Provide Telepresence Systems to Four Medical Facilities

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:23:01 GMT

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Telanetix, Inc. , a leading IP solutions provider offering telepresence and VoIP services to the SMB and SME markets, announced the installation of its Digital Presence(TM) products in four medical facilities affiliated with a major university. The installation of the systems makes it possible for field specialists and consulting physicians to teach and be called upon for consultations remotely, in real-time with life-like interaction. The room-based solutions provided by Telanetix also incorporate data-sharing from a wide array of sources, such as x-rays and ultrasounds, allowing the University to utilize the full array of expertise on its staff, regardless of which location that staff member is stationed.

Digital Presence's ability to integrate with the customer's existing software allows the hospitals to share content in high definition and in real time. This includes everything from slide presentations to live radiology content. The systems have also allowed the University to open up new choices for students in the intern program by eliminating the travel requirements that previously served as an obstacle.

Verizon Business Rolls Out High-Definition Video Conferencing to Enhance Global Collaboration

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:20:57 GMT

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its ongoing effort to help organizations communicate more effectively around the globe, Verizon Business announced Thursday (Jan. 24) the rollout of video conferencing in high definition.

Verizon Video Conferencing with High Definition can vastly improve the video-conferencing experience by working together with Verizon Business' world-class public and Private IP network services to provide a clearer, crisper and higher-quality video picture for customers with high-definition-capable video equipment.

The service is immediately available for customers around the world, who are increasingly turning to video conferencing as an alternative to face-to-face meetings to boost productivity, hold the line on business travel costs, and help reduce carbon emissions associated with business travel.

Study: Why Europeans Will Aggressively Adopt Telepresence Services

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:10:05 GMT

Brockmann and Company the customer insight firm released its latest report, on the practices and experiences of conferencing users in European, Middle Eastern and African countries (EMEA). The report entitled "Conferencing in EMEA 2008" discusses statistics and practices for audio conferencing, web conferencing, desktop video conferencing, room video conferencing or telepresence. The report shows that users from EMEA prefer face-to-face meetings far more than the rest of the world.

Peter Brockmann, president of Brockmann and Company said, "Users from these countries are willing to pay only $71.92 to attend a video conference instead of traveling 40 miles (or 60 km) to attend a face-to-face meeting. The rest of the world would pay 40% more. This gap in value occurs because the costs of alternatives are lower - European inter-city travel is typically shorter and more pleasant and productive than in the USA, for example. Also because the costs of classic conferencing have been high."

These factors are expected to change as costs increase and the price of high definition equipment continues to fall. "Europeans like face-to-face meetings, and will appreciate the convenience of video conferencing as the costs of doing face-to-face increases in the coming years," added Brockmann.

Brockmann & Company have published over a dozen reports on the business conferencing experience including The Perfect Storm: Why Video Conferencing Will Dominate Business Communications. Interested users and IT analysts are invited to register and view the content now.

Cisco Systems, LifeSize Communications, RADVISION, TANDBERG and the CEO of Cisco Systems win Awards from Videoconferencing Insight Newsletter for their Achievements in 2007

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:45:26 GMT

Awards are for: Telepresence Company of the Year 2007 (Cisco), Videoconferencing Company of the Year 2007 (LifeSize), Unified Visual Communications Company of the Year 2007 (RADVISION), The Most Innovative Videoconferencing Technology of the Year 2007(TANDBERG) and Industry Leader of the Year 2007 (John Chambers, CEO Cisco). They were announced by online Specialist Newsletter Videoconferencing Insight at www.vcinsight.com on 9 January 2008.

思科网真面市一周年取得里程碑式成就

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 01:41:34 GMT

2008年1月10日——在思科®网真面市一周年之际，思科公司宣布这一营造“面对面”真实交流体验的突破性技术已经被成功应用于遍及40多个国家的100名客户。商业客户都希望通过部署思科网真来加速决策、增进交流和加快产品上市速度。

　　思科公司副总裁兼网真系统业务部总经理Charles Stucki 说：“思科网真是思科有史以来增长速度最快的新产品。由于企业希望在全球商业环境中获得竞争优势，因此，世界各国垂直行业对网真技术的需求都与日俱增。”

　　宝洁公司正在使用思科网真系统3000启动由40多个“视频协作工作室”（Video Collaboration Studios）组成的网络。宝洁公司战略项目总监Laurie L. Heltsley说：“我们现已启动了1/3的网络系统，根据最初反馈，视频协作工作室的用户普遍认同我们的观点：即这项突破性的全新协作技术具有转变传统工作和差旅习惯的潜能。它使我们能够真正做到足不出户便抵达目的地。”

　　思科还于上周公布了思科网真技术的另外两大突破：公司间的网真功能以及与基于标准的全部现有视频会议系统的互操作性。这些独特功能将虚拟的会议体验扩展到一家公司网络的范围之外，使企业通过简单的电话呼叫即可与客户、合作伙伴和供应商轻松连接。通过全新的互操作功能，企业将能够把基于标准的现有视频会议会话集成到思科网真系统3000或思科网真系统1000会议室中。

思科的Web2.0时代

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 01:31:24 GMT

11月1日，久违了的思科CEO钱伯斯出现在北京媒体的面前，这是他第六次访华，距离上次已有三年之久。

　　作为一家拥有23年历史的科技公司，思科早已从最初的路由器生厂商，逐渐发展成为能够提供全套网络和通信基础设施的公司。而思科的胃口远不止于此，它已不满足于作为“领先的网络和通信设备提供商”，而是希望成为“致力于改进人们联络、沟通和协作方式的互联网解决方案提供商”。如今的思科正在逐步走向前台，走向他们心中的最终消费者，走向思科的Web2.0时代。

　　Web2.0与协作

　　此次来华，素有“网络先生”之称的钱伯斯最常提到的两个词就是Web2.0和协作。在钱伯斯看来，在未来十年内，Web2.0与协作将是提高生产力的主要动力。Web 2.0是确保协作的技术，社交网络、Web服务、远程呈现、虚拟功能和统一通信，都是协作的组成部分。

　　“以人为本”，在Web 2.0时代，以协作的姿态，面向从企业、政府到家庭、个人的全体消费者，让思科的产品影响每一个人，这就是思科的未来之路。

　　思科中国区副总裁、北方区总经理张云杰在接受本刊记者采访时进一步解释说：“支撑Web2.0需要一个非常完整的平台，这一种平台的概念使得对网络的要求不是一个简单的连接，要具备最基本的四要素——语音、数据、视频和可移动性，并加入智能化，这样才能实现基于无限想象力之下的Web2.0的应用。”

　　而思科最大的转变在于充分认识到用户对市场的重要性。“大部分网络还没有做到以用户为驱动，但我们思科已经准备好了，而且在引领市场向这个方向走，对思科来说，用户才是主导市场的核心。”张云杰如是说。

　　为了应对这股“无处不在”的Web2.0浪潮，思科一直在做着准备，“我们有很多这方面的新技术：无线的技术、存储的技术、新一代的统一通讯、网真等都是典型的支持Web2.0平台的技术和产品。”张云杰介绍说。

　　去年推出的网真无疑是诠释思科Web2.0概念的最佳产品之一。

　　思科网真产品被《商业周刊》评为2006年最具创新精神产品。《商业周刊》给出的理由是：它将“传输真实、再现真实”的人本网络理念带入现实，让人们体验到真实人际沟通的力量。

　　而思科网真的魅力只有亲身体验才能充分感受到。当记者走进思科位于北京的网真会议室时，看到三台65寸大小的屏幕并排而立，配有超高清摄像机以及声音拾取和播放设备，通过专有的网络技术调制和传输，即使是远在地球另一端的与会者的表态和声音都可以实时出现在我们面前，这就是思科独有的网真系统。

　　我们在桌子旁就座，轻触一个按键，即可与思科香港公司的工作人员谈笑风生。我们与对方沟通时，不但可以看到对方生动的手势和表情，无延迟地听到对方清晰的声音，感受到如同面对面般的空间感，甚至可以观察到他手表上秒针的跳动。

　　张云杰对思科网真的竞争力充满自信：“网真这一个产品很容易被拿来跟会议电视比较，实际上两者是完全不同的，它讲究的是网络的真实，所以叫作网真。会议电视面对的是专业摄像，不能实现全真，而网真可以让你真实感觉到你在对面的效果。通讯里面很重要的一条，就是信息的有效传递。如果按照100%比例计算，信息有效传递中，肢体语言和氛围、环境、视觉占到60%多，语气占到20%多，文字只占10%多。可见，要有效沟通，肢体语言、视觉效果和表情占的比例最大，尤其是高层之间的沟通是不是有效都取决于此。”

　　今年8月，中国国内第一套思科网真会议系统解决方案落户上海电信；9月，中国首个“思科网真演播室”在中国人民大学完成；同一月，厦门市政府与思科公司签署备忘录，成为思科网真的用户。据张云杰介绍，除了政府、大企业是思科网真的主要用户外，许多顾问、咨询公司也对网真有强烈的需求。“这些公司的特点是人少、产值高，对于他们来说，跟客户交流和服务的真实性非常重要。使用网真在减少很多出差时间的同时，还有效地提高了沟通效率。”

　　由于网真产品去年刚刚推出，所以产量还不大，成本较高，一套思科网真的费用在25万美元以上，但其成本回报也相当快。“对于新产品思科都是自己先使用，我们安装了网真后，大约半年就回收了成本。”张云杰说。

　　而思科的最终目标是将网真系统推向个人消费者市场。按照其构想，两到三年后，思科将推出一款针对家庭的网真系统，价格也将降至1000美元左右。

The Human Productivity Lab Lauches Telepresence Options 2008 and New Website

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 07:27:58 GMT

Telepresence Options is the Lab's annual multi-media survey of Telepresence Systems, Telepresence Managed Service Providers, Telepresence Sub-Systems/Peripherals, and Inter-networking Telepresence.

The survey is a project of the Human Productivity Lab, an independent research firm and consultancy that follows the emerging telepresence industry. Telepresence Options is a follow up to the Lab's 2006/2007 paper on the technologies of telepresence and the emerging telepresence industry: Telepresence, Effective Visual Collaboration, and the Future of Global Business at the Speed of Light. The paper was and remains the most comprehensive and widely-read paper on the subject of telepresence conferencing.

Cisco to expand WebEx conferencing capabilities

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 07:54:35 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The next version of Cisco System's WebEx hosted online meeting service will greatly expand the capabilities of the on-demand product, according to a company executive.

Robert Lloyd, senior vice-president for Canada, the U.S. and Japan, said in an interview here Wednesday during the company's annual C-Scape conference for industry analysts that the features could range from presence, instant messaging, searchable content and voice collaboration.

He said some 2,000 members of his staff have been using a beta version of the software, parts of which will be released in the next quarter, for six weeks and already have dramatically changed their work habits.

"It transforming their job roles," he told a panel discussion earlier in the day.

"Our commercial teams, who look after medium-sized companies, do a lot of driving every year to meet their customers and rack up the miles. We have three employees who last year could have driven around the world twice...(Now) they've given eyeball cameras to their customers, putting them in constant (online) contact with their customers. Our specialists in security and other areas have changed their jobs: They have 'mike Fridays,' park themselves in their office Fridays, [go online] and say 'I'm here'" to field questions, he said.

Cisco bought WebEx earlier this year as a tool to spread its collaboration and video conferencing technologies. Lloyd is a eager enthusiast for video meetings, one of the themes that Cisco is pushing here. His 6,000-person division is one of the biggest internal users of the company's large-screen TelePresence conferencing system.

Enterprises Still Dicey About Telepresence

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 07:51:48 GMT

Telepresence is a new digital form of communication that offers a comprehensive and credible experience of being present at a distant site from one's own location. Further, multi-users can easily interact with each other in real-time via a high speed broadband connection for audio and video footage transmission on a large screen.

Telepresence advantages
For enterprises that have multiple offices and worksite based in distant locations, telepresence technology can help them in administrating and managing their offices easily.

Meetings and discussions can be held between various offices and branches of enterprises at the same time and more frequently. Such arrangements can facilitate enterperises in smoother and faster business operations with better internal communications within its offices.

By using this technology, the businesses executives and top managers can save lots of time and money that includes the travelling cost while moving from one office to the other, heavy telephone and mobile charges etc. It aids enterperises in cutting down its annual administrative cost.

Availability of Telepresence
At present, telepresence is in its initial phase and less popular too. Hence only some companies are providing telepresence solutions and systems. Same way, there are not too many enterprises that have deployed the telepresence system in their premise and offices.

Companies like Cisco, Avaya, HP, Polycom and few more are offering telepresence solutions and systems to enterprises, but at high cost.

Enterprises have two options for using telepresence technology; either they can install the whole sytem with a studio setup at its offices or they can hire a company's studio on timely basis for conducting meetings or discussions.

For instance, Cisco's TP 3000 costs around USD 300,000, while its TP 1000 costs about USD 80,000 per room and Hewlett- Packard system starts at USD 200,000.

At the moment, both options are expensive, keeping away the interested enterprises. However, if the enterprise has installed a network system for the same company offer the telepresence solution than the cost would be slightly low.

In case, an enterprise is operating on Cisco network than it would need spend less amount while installing Cisco's telepresence system.

Barriers in Telepresence: -
Some of the barriers in telepresence include expensive systems, wide bandwidth usage, low bandwidth availability, lack of interoperability with existing videoconferencing systems and other applications.

Dominance of cost factor
However, telepresence solutions are quite expensive. This cost factor is curtaining its popularity amongst the enterprises and its usage.In a larger prespective, the enterprises needs to review and count on its annual expenditure involved in managing various offices and travelling expense of executives in comparison with the deployment cost of telepresence technology and its advantages.

According to a Frost and Sullivan survey, the telepresence market is expected to rise at a compound annunal growth rate (CAGR) of 59.6% from 2007 to 2013. While the market earned USD 9.5 million revenues in 2006, it is predicted to be worth USD 250.8 million by end of 2013.

Cisco roadmap focuses on video, collaboration

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 07:48:09 GMT

Outlining its high-level plans, Cisco kicked off its C-Scape 2007 analyst conference in San Jose on Tuesday, demonstrating the importance of video and collaboration by bringing in industry experts and remote conference attendees via its TelePresence videoconferencing solution.

If you want a quick summation of where Cisco is going to focus in the next three to five years, the three magic words are TelePresence, collaboration and video. That's the troika that will bring all of Cisco's strategic planning, R&D and acquisitions together.

Of the three, Cisco has proclaimed video the killer app, and the company plans to introduce in 2008 its EOS (Entertainment Operating System), a hosted software platform that will integrate social networking, content distribution and content targeting into a unified operating environment.

Cisco TelePresence deployed by 100 customers in first year

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 02:28:44 GMT

Cisco released a press release today on their results after one full year in the TelePresence business. So how's it going? "Cisco TelePresence is the fastest-growing new product category in Cisco history," said Charles Stucki, vice president and general manager of Cisco TelePresence Systems business unit.

100 Customers
40 Countries
190 Global Cities
160 Internal TelePresence Systems at Cisco
242 Internal TelePresence Systems by July of 2008
40,000+ Internal Cisco TelePresence Meetings
$41 million + in avoided travel internally

思科网真论坛：全国化与中国企业选择(实录)

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 01:30:52 GMT

12月9日，网真对话中国企业应对全球化的现实选择在中国人民大学举行。本次会议是中国企业家领袖年会的份论坛。会议邀请逾100位中国企业领袖年会参会代表、国内知名商学院EMBA学院、思科客户、中国企业家杂志社长期合作伙伴、20家媒体参会。

Cost and awareness hinder telepresence in Asia

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 01:28:03 GMT

Telepresence setups are often high-cost implementations because of the cost of high-definition displays and additional peripheral costs such as the broadband infrastructure needed to support the amount of data from a typical conference session.

Shalini Verma, senior market analyst at IDC Asia-Pacific told ZDNet Asia in an interview that although large markets exist in the region for telepresence, "cost of implementation and maintenance is a barrier, along with broadband cost, which in some countries is very high."

Said Verma: "Markets such as Australia, New Zealand and China are large markets for video conferencing and will lead the adoption of telepresence, though at this stage we have not seen any major momentum."

Resistance to change may also present a barrier. "Cultural pre-conditioning [in the office] which necessitates face-to-face meetings will be a significant barrier," Verma said.

Tying it into a revenue-generating process may help convince management to sign off on a telepresence purchase. "Enterprises can justify the cost if it aids their sales process and they begin to see returns on investment," said Verma.

网络颠覆虚拟体验网真实现"面对面"交流

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 01:24:23 GMT

一批具有前瞻意识的运营商已经开始行动起来，利用网真系统提高工作效率，加强沟通协作。Regus是首次在公共场引入了网真服务的创新的工作场所解决方案供应商，他们利用网真系统使客户能够在全球选定的50个地点预订虚拟会议。AT&T、英国电信、德国电信、NTT 和 Verizon Business 等众多的全球知名电信运营商都已宣布开始引入网真会议室解决方案，并将其融合到他们的业务应用中。

处于经济腾飞期的中国，同样不乏创新技术的率先应用者。今年8月，上海电信率先将网真系统落户于其“信息生活体验馆”，一方面向市民展示技术进步带来的崭新体验；另一方面向高端企业客户推介这一新的宽带应用模式。同时，中国电信通过将在企业内部采用网真系统，降低成本，提高沟通效率，并为其企业客户提供示范。

事实证明对人类沟通的改善所作的努力都将是被市场最终接受的成功技术。如同电视对广播业的革命、电子邮件对传统信件的革命、IP网络对传统电信网络的革命一样，网真的“再现真实”和“实现真实”的理念，赋予网络全新的应用内涵，作为“人本网络”理念的精髓，将是网络通信走向一个崭新时代的开始，具有不可忽视的阶段性标志和象征性意义。就像100多年前的电话，30年前的互联网一样。今后数年，网真将引领一种潮流，它将为人们提供跨时空随时随地“见面”的感受和体验；它将为运营商提供崭新的服务平台和运营模式；它更会让商务人士开始更为高效灵活的管理和协作，从而摆脱因为不完美沟通体验所带来的“拖后腿”现象。

Nortel, Cisco enhance conferencing products

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:45:37 GMT

Two leading network infrastructure companies have announced conferencing products which they say will help save organizations money.

Nortel said Multimedia Conferencing 5.0, an upgrade to the previous version of the product, is now available to “cut costs dramatically” by eliminating the need to use a carrier or service provider to host conferencing.

At the same time Cisco Systems said it will soon deliver intercompany capabilities for its TelePresence video conferencing package through carriers and service providers.

Cisco Enables Intercompany Communications for Cisco TelePresence

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:42:30 GMT

Marking the one-year anniversary of Cisco TelePresence, the breakthrough technology for virtual, "in-person" communications, Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced that it is delivering intercompany capabilities for Cisco TelePresence and has successfully demonstrated the solution with BT through a secure connection across the BT Global Services network. This groundbreaking technological advancement will provide businesses with the flexibility and security to have "in-person" meetings with customers, partners and suppliers with the ease of a simple phone call.

Cisco has worked closely with key service providers, such as BT, throughout the development of the intercompany Cisco TelePresence architecture. Cisco TelePresence integrates advanced audio, ultra-high-definition video and interactive collaboration tools with the underlying network as the platform to deliver an immersive meeting experience. BT's existing Unifed Communication Video Collaboration solution is based on the Cisco TelePresence solution.

Steel Manufacturer POSCO Speeds Up Business Communications With Cisco TelePresence

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:47:40 GMT

Cisco® (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced that South Korea's POSCO, the world's fourth-largest steel maker, has selected Cisco TelePresence, the breakthrough technology for virtual, "in-person" communications, to improve collaboration and streamline its communication processes.

POSCO's choice of Cisco TelePresence represents not only the first deployment in Korea, but also the first use of Cisco TelePresence technology in the Asia Pacific enterprise manufacturing sector.

The first deployment includes three fully operational Cisco TelePresence System 3000 rooms connecting POSCO's Seoul office with the company's branches in Pohang and Gwang Yang. These systems will be used primarily for regular executive meetings to improve collaboration and increase decision-making efficiency. By communicating with each other across a virtual table in a conference room environment, the company hopes to reduce the costs and environmental impact of business travel while improving business productivity.

The Cisco TelePresence System 3000 consists of a three-panel, 65-inch plasma screen system complete with a specially designed table that seats six participants on one side or a "virtual table" for twelve. It supports life-size images, using ultra high-definition video (1080p) and spatial audio. The Cisco TelePresence System 3000 also includes codecs, cameras, a lighting array, microphones, and speakers, all of which have been specially tuned to optimize the experience.

New Venue and Dates Announced for Telepresence World 2008 London

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 05:34:59 GMT

Telepresence World 2008 London (http://www.telepresenceworld.com) will take place March 18 — 19, 2008, at the internationally acclaimed ExCel London Exhibition and Conference Centre in the UK’s capital city. Teliris, Cisco, and Hewlett-Packard join as Diamond Sponsors with many more to follow.

Steamboat Springs, CO, November 28, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Telepresence World Conference Organizer Hemisphere Expo Services, Inc, has announced plans for the next Telepresence World Conference event that will showcase the latest high-tech alternatives to traveling for face-to-face meetings. Telepresence World 2008 London (http://www.telepresenceworld.com) will take place March 18 — 19, 2008, at the internationally acclaimed ExCel London Exhibition and Conference Centre in the UK’s capital city.

Tandberg’s multipoint telepresence presents

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 05:31:16 GMT

With its heritage of videoconferencing, Tandberg has joined the telepresence club of Cisco and Hewlett-Packard (HP) with the launch of its Experia Adaptive telepresence system. And it's not a 'me too' system as it differentiates itself from its competitors because of its strong interoperability with standard-based video systems.

This means the Experia can communicate with many different systems whether they are other telepresence systems, videoconferencing systems or web cams. It has collaborated with HP to be able to deliver high definition (HD) telepresence to additional office environments through HP Halo Video Exchange Network (HVEN).

Teliris Telepresence Solutions Used by Qualcomm to Achieve Deeper Integration With Remote Research

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 01:51:06 GMT

NEW YORK, Nov. 27 (ANTARA/PRNewswire-AsiaNet) --

VirtuaLive(TM) Modular Systems Chosen to be Part of National Research and Design Projects

Teliris (http://www.teliris.com), the leading full-service provider of telepresence solutions, today announced that Qualcomm has selected Teliris' fourth generation telepresence solution for a trial program aimed at fostering deeper integration and increased communication between its San Diego headquarters and research facilities located in Campbell, Calif. and Bridgewater, N.J. The solution, which includes three installations of VirtuaLive(TM) Modular, will be an addition to help engineers from the company's remote offices collaborate more effectively on research and design projects and ultimately improve productivity and efficiency.

"Research and development are cornerstones of Qualcomm's long history of technology innovation, and collaboration among our various remote locations has been an important part of our success." said Barbara Noerenberg, vice president of corporate R&D program management, Qualcomm. "Teliris' telepresence solutions provide us with a new layer of communications that will help us bridge the geographic gaps and work more closely across our offices."

思科智能小区解决方案及网真技术助力高尔夫世界杯

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 02:51:30 GMT

2007 年11月21日，思科公司宣布正式成为2007年欧米茄观澜湖高尔夫世界杯的荣誉赞助商，并将于11月22日至25日赛事举行期间为观澜湖的相关设施、场地以及28支高尔夫球选手队伍提供先进的网络基础设施。这项赛事是国际高尔夫球坛中的一项重要盛事，被众多选手誉为“高尔夫奥林匹克”。

一场成功的高尔夫球赛事，需要稳定、高度安全及高速的网络技术基础支持和配合。思科为2007年欧米茄观澜湖高尔夫世界杯提供“量身定做”的解决方案，其中包括周全的顾问服务、网络设计以及全方位的技术支持。

观澜湖高尔夫球会的会所设施均备有思科灵活的基础架构，其中包括一个融合互联网IP网络，以及提供安全、全面控制网络的数据中心解决方案。思科还在本届世界杯的媒体中心内部署了安全可靠的无线解决方案，让媒体朋友和宾客可以随时随地上网。这套解决方案将会在比赛后延伸至会所、酒店及行政大楼。

此外，为迎接这项重要赛事，思科在观澜湖东莞及深圳会所部署了思科网真(TelePresence)解决方案。这项崭新的技术将为来自世界各地的贵宾、访客、媒体朋友及参赛者带来前所未有的会议及通信体验。

基于IP网络的思科网真能让身处世界不同角落的人士感受“面对面”的独特通信体验。思科网真是业内唯一具备超高清1080p视频画面、即插即用的协作工具及极富空间感的音响装置的网络应用平台。

中兴分销丽视高清视频通讯产品

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 02:48:26 GMT

LifeSize Communications, the global leader in high definition video communications, announced the signing of a new agreement with ZTE Corporation (000063.SZ (Shenzhen)/0763.HK (Hong Kong)), China’s leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions. Under the agreement, ZTE will offer LifeSize’s all-HD video communication product portfolio to ZTE’s national base of customers, resellers and distributors.

电脑商网消息－丽视高清LifeSize 11月16日与中兴通讯股份有限公司签订分销协议。根据协议，中兴将向其在中国的客户、经销商和代理商提供LifeSize的全高清视频通信系列产品，并将通过其广阔的分销网络提供LifeSize的高清晰度视频产品。

中兴通讯多媒体和终端产品部视频会议系统产品经理钱敏表示：“我们看到了高清晰度视频产品巨大的潜力。现在，中兴通讯可以为客户提供LifeSize性价比出色的解决方案。”

本次，丽视高清还推出了三款新产品——包括LifeSize Express、LifeSize Team MP及LifeSize Conference，这些产品都可以通过现有的宽带网络提供高清远程网真体验。

作为产品阵容加强后的首款产品，LifeSize Express可提供高清的点对点视频通讯能力及网真质量的高清影像，售价为134977元。

LifeSize Team MP是LifeSize的中等价位高清视频通讯解决方案，具备嵌入式高清多点会议功能。这款产品只需1Mbps带宽便能提供每秒30帧和1280×720分辨率的高清播放效果。

LifeSize Conference能提供创建和订制网真高清视频套装所必需的基础设备和解决方案，目前该产品的售价低于900000元。

HaiVision's MAKO-HD Brings Medical Grade High Definition Network Video Collaboration to MEDICA

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 03:26:27 GMT

November 19, 2007 -- HaiVision Systems Inc. (Montreal, Canada), the world leader in performance video encoding technology, today announces that at MEDICA in Dusseldorf (Nov. 14-17), two major medical market vendors used a bi-directional high definition network video connections between their respective stands using HaiVision's MAKO-HD network video technology. Collaborative demonstrations enabled the prospects of each manufacturer to remotely view the video from the high definition cameras of the other manufacturer. MEDICA is the world's largest annual medical trade exposition.

HaiVision's MAKO-HD leverages the most efficient H.264 video encoding and achieves astonishing end to end latency of just 70 milliseconds. The MAKO-HD supports high definition resolution up to 1080p.

Kaufman Bros., L.P. Selects Telanetix to Provide Telepresence Services to Offices Nationwide

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 03:22:46 GMT

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Telanetix Inc. , a leading IP solutions provider offering telepresence and VoIP services to the SMB and SME markets, won a contract to install its Digital Presence(TM) products in the three U.S.-based offices of Kaufman Bros., L.P. (KBRO), a leading national investment banking firm. Telanetix's telepresence installations will enable KBRO to communicate in real-time between its offices, as well as other sites -- including its clients and geographically dispersed banks -- using both the Digital Presence solution and legacy teleconferencing systems.

"The cost of the Telanetix systems is a fraction of our travel budget between our San Francisco and New York offices alone, but more importantly, the solution gives our executives and clients immediate access to all of the resources our firm offers, regardless of location, at a moment's notice," said Craig Kaufman, KBRO's Chairman and CEO. "Digital Presence is simple to use, accommodates all of our specialized data needs in real-time and in full resolution and enables meetings with many of our clients and employees in various locations simultaneously, even if they use non-Telanetix telepresence systems."

LifeSize 推出全新低价的视频通讯高清产品

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 07:16:43 GMT

2007年11月16日，丽视高清通讯有限公司（LifeSize Communications）今天全面加强旗下高清视频产品阵容，推出多款新产品，将改变视像通信业常规。三款新产品包括 LifeSize® Express™、LifeSize® Team MP™及 LifeSize® Conference™，连同原有的旗舰产品 LifeSize® Room™，让全球各地大小企业组织均可以经济的价格，体验高清视频通讯。

LifeSize的全高清视频系列产品是业内最广泛、最经济的高清产品系列，从简单的点到点视频系统到高度定制的多媒体展示、多媒体高清摄像视频系统。所有的LifeSize产品拥有顶尖的质量，可以通过现有的宽带网络提供身临其境的高清远程网真体验。

LifeSize创办人兼首席执行官Craig Malloy先生表示：“LifeSize 对视频通讯的承诺是致力以完善的高清视像产品阵容，提供逼真、实用、可靠及价格经济的网真体验。我们坚信视频通讯将改变人们的沟通方式，并很荣幸能以革命性的技术，帮助全球用户即使足不出户，依然可以尤如身临其境般地高效工作。”

作为产品阵容加强后的首款产品，LifeSize Express可提供高清的点对点视频通讯体验，价格远低于大部份标准清晰度系统。LifeSize Express体积小巧如无线路由器，提供网真质量的高清影像，售价低于140,000人民币。

Malloy自信地表示：“LifeSize Express能够改变视频会议行业的发展前景。在旗舰产品 LifeSize Room推出后的两年内，LifeSize Express是我们最重要的成就。我们兴奋的心情，溢于言表。”

全新LifeSize Team MP和LifeSize Room是LifeSize的中价位高清视频通讯解决方案，具备嵌入式高清多点会议功能，让客户享有更大灵活性，根据环境需要选择最适合应用的解决方案。正如所有的 LifeSize高清视频通讯产品，LifeSize Team MP 和 LifeSize Room 只需 1Mbps 带宽，便能提供每秒 30 帧和 1,280 x 720 分辨率的高清播放效果，而且在任何带宽都能提供更好的影音品质。LifeSize 产品完全符合业界标准，能与基于所有近7年内生产的视频会议系统相互操作。 LifeSize Team MP 售价低至202,477人民币，打破多点高清视频会议系统的价格壁垒。

LifeSize Conference 是 LifeSize 全新高清视频产品组合的压轴成员，能为组织、整合及影音顾问的提供创建和订制网真高清视频套装所必需的基础设备和解决方案。作为第一款特别为网真环境而设计的高清视频通讯产品，LifeSize Conference的售价低于900,000人民币。相比之下，惠普和思科同级系统的售价，一般都超过200,000美元。

LifeSize downsizes telepresence gear

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 02:07:40 GMT

LifeSize Communications is introducing a point-to-point telepresence system that costs $6,000, significantly less than its previously smallest system.

LifeSize Express consists of a codec, camera, remote control and microphone. Customers have to add a monitor and speakers. The company’s next largest system, LifeSize Team, costs $8,000. LifeSize Express is meant for small offices or home offices, a market for which there has been no lower-priced, high-definition alternative.

Cisco says it is coming out with a home telepresence system that costs $1,000, but not for two or three years.

LifeSize also is introducing a software version of its LifeSize Team system called Team Multipoint, which can display video of as many as four participants at once. LifeSize Team Multipoint costs $9,000.

The company is introducing a system called LifeSize Conference that shows participants on as many as three screens and can display a shared data screen. Pricing starts at $40,000.

LifeSize has upgraded its LifeSize Room single-screen conferencing system to display as many as four participants at once and to include as many as six participants overall. Rather than display four participants, the system can show just the participant who is talking.

Frost & Sullivan Names TANDBERG the Global Video Conferencing Company of the Year

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 01:35:27 GMT

NewswireToday - /newswire/ - New York, NY, United States, 11/08/2007 - TANDBERG® has been named recipient of the 2008 Frost & Sullivan Global Video Conferencing Company of the Year Award for its excellence in product innovation.

Leading Provider of High-Definition Videoconferencing Solutions Recognized for Excellence in Product Innovation.

TANDBERG®, a leading global provider of telepresence, high-definition videoconferencing and mobile video, has been named recipient of the 2008 Frost & Sullivan Global Video Conferencing Company of the Year Award for its excellence in product innovation as well as market execution that has accelerated the adoption of video conferencing.

Frost & Sullivan noted TANDBERG’s continued top-line growth and market leadership. Through the first nine months of 2007 (January to September), TANDBERG revenues reached $437.6 million, growing 51 percent year-over-year. In 2007, TANDBERG also increased its market share standing to become the number one provider of video conferencing endpoints and infrastructure products.

Polycom HDX Series Named Top-Ranked High Definition Video Conferencing Solution

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 01:16:36 GMT

PLEASANTON, Calif. and BOSTON, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- VON CONFERENCE & EXPO (booth 629) -- Polycom, Inc. , the world's leading provider of unified collaborative communications solutions, today announced the Polycom HDX platform was named the best high definition (HD) video conferencing solution by Wainhouse Research in a head-to-head comparison with competing systems from Tandberg and LifeSize. The Polycom HDX series received top marks in eight out of 10 categories, including video quality, audio quality, and multimedia performance, as well as HD and SD (standard definition) interoperability, camera quality and performance, user interface and content-sharing performance (H.239).

LifeSize rocks the HD conferencing world with affordable 720p solutions

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 02:03:41 GMT

LifeSize Communications was the first company to release an HD conferencing solution which I covered at Interop Las Vegas spring 2005. Now at Interop fall 2007 in New York, it appears that LifeSize has again rocked the video conferencing world by releasing 720p HD products at half the price of competing 720p solutions. The LifeSize Express sells for less than $6K and is cheaper than many standard definition video conferencing solutions. The new LifeSize Telepresence solution can be built for a quarter of the cost of competing Video Telepresence solutions.

Pictured to the left is the newest low-cost LifeSize Express 720p HD video conferencing solution. It will ship tomorrow on 10/23/2007 and it has an MSRP of $5,999 which is nearly half the price of competing 720p HD conferencing solutions on the market. The LifeSize Express has dual-input capability and it has HDMI input and output which carries audio. The 720p codec in this model is limited to 1.5 mbps. The $5,999 price comes with microphone, remote, and camera.

Pictured above is the back of the LifeSize Express. At this time the HDMI ports which carry digital audio and video capability don’t have HDCP compatibility which means you won’t be able to input commercial HD DVD or Blu-ray video in to the system since they require HDCP copy protection. At this point in time that wasn’t really a priority and no other product on the market has HDCP protection either nor do they have the convenience of HDMI ports.

Pictured left is the new LifeSize Team MP product which ships tomorrow on 10/23/2007. It has an MSRP of $8,999 and it adds 4-way continuous presence multipoint capability and supports up to 2.5 mbps. At under $9000 the Team MP is about the same price as some competing standard definition video conferencing solutions. Like the Express system it also supports a single camera and single display.

Pictured left is the LifeSize Room system which has been the flagship product for LifeSize for a year. It supports up to 6-way continuous presence multipoint, VAS (Voice Activated Switching), and up to 5 mbps. This model supports dual camera and dual screen. Seen in the picture is a LifeSize IP phone which is powered by standard RJ45 802.3af POE (Power Over Ethernet) port. The smaller microphones shown with the LifeSize Express and Team MP are analog microphones that go in to the microphone jack.

Pictured above is the new LifeSize Conference solution which is essentially a “Telepresence” solution without the display and furniture. The solution is essentially two LifeSize Team MPs and one LifeSize Room system bound together by a controller. It is extremely disruptive to the Telepresence market space because it sells for an MSRP of $39,999 when competing Telepresence solutions sell for $200K which includes the furniture and displays.

Since you can buy three 52″ flat panel LCD displays for $6K and some pretty nice custom furniture and video studio lighting for $14K which means you can build a LifeSize Telepresence solution for about $60K. As LifeSize CEO Craig Malloy explained it to me in a telephone conference today, you can build a house in Texas with the remaining $140K. In the picture above you’re probably looking at $2000 of furniture and wall mounts and I can’t see why you would need anything more than this other than a brightly lit room which produces a much better picture quality. This gets you the same video Telepresence quality of systems costing 4 times more money.