Unified Conferencing provides voice, video and web conferencing on a single platform with common features and interfaces. It allows flexible conferencing options regardless of participant location or device. Benefits include more robust and productive meetings, easier support, and superior return on investment from consolidating infrastructure. Polycom Unified Conferencing implements this with its Multipoint Gateway Controller technology which transcodes different media to allow seamless conferences across networks and endpoints.
Microsoft India - Unified Communications The Compelling Case for Conferencing...Microsoft Private Cloud
This paper outlines some of the business benefits realized by companies who have deployed conferencing and collaboration solutions. It provides market data on the growth of unified communications (UC) and collaboration systems as well as end user feedback on which groups receive the most benefit from these solutions.
Unified Conferencing is a complete conferencing solution that integrates video, voice, and web collaboration capabilities. It allows users to easily schedule, modify, or cancel conferences using an intuitive interface. Participants have control over media choices, content sharing, and roles during the conference for a highly productive meeting experience. The solution leverages different network infrastructures and provides features such as video and audio conferencing, content sharing, and integration with other applications and networks.
This white paper compares the unified communications solutions of Cisco and ShoreTel. It finds that ShoreTel offers numerous advantages over Cisco solutions, including more streamlined deployment and management from a single interface, easier scalability to support growth, and significantly lower total cost of ownership. Customer satisfaction metrics also show higher ratings for ShoreTel. While Cisco solutions require complex, multi-server architectures, expensive training, and high costs of management and upgrades over time, ShoreTel provides an integrated, easy-to-use solution that allows organizations to realize the benefits of unified communications without the high costs and complexity of Cisco's offerings.
- Lenovo's ThinkVantage tools provide IT managers with opportunities to save time, reduce costs, improve security and deliver a better experience across the entire PC lifecycle from deployment to disposal.
- Customers report significant dollar savings through improved efficiency and reduced need for additional resources due to tools like Image Ultra Builder and Systems Migration Assistant.
- ThinkVantage offers a unique integrated hardware and software PC management solution that covers the entire lifecycle, helping improve productivity and user satisfaction.
Understanding Video Conferencing Understanding Video ...Videoguy
Video conferencing has improved dramatically in recent years due to advances in technology and infrastructure. It allows face-to-face meetings without travel, improving productivity and work-life balance while reducing costs and carbon emissions. This guide discusses determining the right video conferencing solution, best practices for meetings, and managed video conferencing services. It aims to help readers understand how to effectively implement and use video conferencing.
Unified Communications:
Comparing Cisco and
ShoreTel Solutions
Side-by-side comparison is conclusive: unlike Cisco, ShoreTel’s
all-in-one UC solution is designed to deliver lower total cost
of ownership (TCO).
This white paper discusses key considerations for designing and maximizing a video architecture. It addresses evaluating user requirements, migrating from legacy systems to IP-based environments, and selecting a scalable, standards-based solution for growth. The paper outlines components of a typical video architecture, including infrastructure, endpoints, management systems and applications. It emphasizes choosing a reliable, scalable and easy to use solution to improve productivity and collaboration through video communication.
Microsoft India - Unified Communications The Compelling Case for Conferencing...Microsoft Private Cloud
This paper outlines some of the business benefits realized by companies who have deployed conferencing and collaboration solutions. It provides market data on the growth of unified communications (UC) and collaboration systems as well as end user feedback on which groups receive the most benefit from these solutions.
Unified Conferencing is a complete conferencing solution that integrates video, voice, and web collaboration capabilities. It allows users to easily schedule, modify, or cancel conferences using an intuitive interface. Participants have control over media choices, content sharing, and roles during the conference for a highly productive meeting experience. The solution leverages different network infrastructures and provides features such as video and audio conferencing, content sharing, and integration with other applications and networks.
This white paper compares the unified communications solutions of Cisco and ShoreTel. It finds that ShoreTel offers numerous advantages over Cisco solutions, including more streamlined deployment and management from a single interface, easier scalability to support growth, and significantly lower total cost of ownership. Customer satisfaction metrics also show higher ratings for ShoreTel. While Cisco solutions require complex, multi-server architectures, expensive training, and high costs of management and upgrades over time, ShoreTel provides an integrated, easy-to-use solution that allows organizations to realize the benefits of unified communications without the high costs and complexity of Cisco's offerings.
- Lenovo's ThinkVantage tools provide IT managers with opportunities to save time, reduce costs, improve security and deliver a better experience across the entire PC lifecycle from deployment to disposal.
- Customers report significant dollar savings through improved efficiency and reduced need for additional resources due to tools like Image Ultra Builder and Systems Migration Assistant.
- ThinkVantage offers a unique integrated hardware and software PC management solution that covers the entire lifecycle, helping improve productivity and user satisfaction.
Understanding Video Conferencing Understanding Video ...Videoguy
Video conferencing has improved dramatically in recent years due to advances in technology and infrastructure. It allows face-to-face meetings without travel, improving productivity and work-life balance while reducing costs and carbon emissions. This guide discusses determining the right video conferencing solution, best practices for meetings, and managed video conferencing services. It aims to help readers understand how to effectively implement and use video conferencing.
Unified Communications:
Comparing Cisco and
ShoreTel Solutions
Side-by-side comparison is conclusive: unlike Cisco, ShoreTel’s
all-in-one UC solution is designed to deliver lower total cost
of ownership (TCO).
This white paper discusses key considerations for designing and maximizing a video architecture. It addresses evaluating user requirements, migrating from legacy systems to IP-based environments, and selecting a scalable, standards-based solution for growth. The paper outlines components of a typical video architecture, including infrastructure, endpoints, management systems and applications. It emphasizes choosing a reliable, scalable and easy to use solution to improve productivity and collaboration through video communication.
Digital Fuel IT Financial Management -Bus applications costvisibility_0911yisbat
IT Cost Management provides full visibility into the total costs of enterprise applications, including software licenses, maintenance fees, infrastructure costs, and more. This visibility allows organizations to (1) identify applications that could deliver significant cost savings through reduced service levels or outsourcing, (2) end maintenance for applications with high costs and low usage, and (3) eliminate inefficiencies in underlying infrastructure costs. IT Cost Management brings structure and transparency to application costs to help IT and business teams make smarter spending decisions aligned with business goals.
Siemens established ShareNet in 1998 as a knowledge management system to facilitate knowledge sharing among its employees globally. ShareNet allowed employees to connect, share expertise, and find solutions to problems. It helped Siemens win contracts and saved millions. However, as the telecom industry declined, Siemens faced cost pressures and had to justify ShareNet's value. While usage grew, only a small percentage contributed actively. The document analyzes ShareNet's costs and benefits, finding that the revenues from new projects outweigh costs, and recommends alternatives like rewarding contributions to encourage more active participation and justify ongoing costs.
This document provides an overview of the unified communications and collaboration market, including definitions, market size and trends, solution areas, and Cisco's UC portfolio. It discusses how UC solutions integrate multiple communication methods to allow distributed groups and individuals to collaborate. The global UC market is estimated to be $20.8 billion in 2016, with major growth drivers being mobility, cloud/virtualization, and social business. Cisco is a leading provider of UC solutions and its strengths include an integrated suite, interoperability across devices, and large installed base. However, its solutions are also noted as complex to manage. Microsoft Lync offers a full UC suite that well connects with other Microsoft products like Office and Exchange.
This document outlines the CARDIAC project which aims to advise the European Commission on research priorities in accessible and assistive information and communication technologies (ICT). The project will use a structured dialogic design process involving stakeholders to develop roadmaps on technology transfer, inclusive human-machine interaction, and network-based applications. Key activities include workshops and events to gather input which will be clustered and voted on to create the roadmaps defining short and long-term research priorities. The overall goal is to increase available products and services to improve integration and inclusion of people with disabilities.
Evaluation of BlueJeans Network by Wainhouse ResearchBlueJeans Network
Wainhouse put the Blue Jeans service under the microscope and wrote up their objective feedback. Check out their report to learn why they gave Blue Jeans "a rousing thumbs-up."
Example Synopsis Prep Sheet (Www.Leadgenr8.Com)Fiaz27
This document provides an overview of a video conferencing campaign for a client. It describes the client's business, existing vendor relationships, and the value proposition of video conferencing in allowing remote collaboration and reducing travel costs. The campaign will involve qualifying prospects, presenting the benefits of upgrading their video conferencing systems, and setting up demonstrations of solutions from technology partners like Polycom and Cisco. The goal is to help clients define strategies to improve adoption of video conferencing and collaboration technologies.
Tech Connect is a leading Global Business Collaboration solution provider company headquartered in Delhi (Noida) with operations in 11 cities across India and having overseas presence in Hong Kong and Singapore. The company offers all kinds of Professional Audio Visual equipments having specialization in Business Collaboration & Audio-Visual solutions.
Tech Connect delivers tailor made integrated communication solutions for Board - Rooms / Conference Rooms, Training facilities, Customer Experience Centers, Network Operating Centers (NOC).
Tech Connect has been ranked amongst the top three best performing AV companies in India.
Our Clients - RBS, Airtel, Adobe, Coca Cola, Larsen & Toubro, Genpact, TCS, etc.
Our Associates - Kramer, Crestron, CISCO, Polycom, Harman, Biamp, etc.
Network Planning Worksheets for Video ConferencingVideoguy
This document provides guidance for organizations planning to implement a videoconferencing network. It discusses the benefits of videoconferencing such as reducing travel costs and improving collaboration. The document also outlines important considerations for the network infrastructure including determining bandwidth needs, selecting endpoint devices, choosing a bridging solution for multi-party calls, and ensuring executive support and that solutions meet user requirements. Worksheets are provided to help organizations assess their specific endpoint and bandwidth requirements.
ioko selected BMC Remedy Service Desk to replace its outdated HP service desk and underpin improvements to its IT service management infrastructure (iSMI). BMC Remedy met ioko's requirements for improved global service quality, zero downtime maintenance, mid-tier deployment, and ITIL compliance better than the alternative, HP SM7. The implementation was successful with only a small team from ioko and support from BMC consultants. BMC Remedy allows for improved incident response times and transparency into maintenance and service costs.
ITM Platform - Company and Product Overview v jun2012 en 1.0ITM Platform
ITM Platform is the core concept holding four products (and others to come)
1) Project Management: Advanced, collaborative and easy-to-use
2) Program Management: Strategic planning and business alignment
3) Global IT Management: the solution covering 80% of IT processes
4) Corporate Portfolio: Business analysis on multiple instances
This document provides an overview and guide to video conferencing. It defines video conferencing as a live connection between people in separate locations involving audio and often video and text. It lists 5 key reasons to consider video conferencing, including efficient communication, time and cost savings, and the ability to be in two places at once. The document discusses considerations for video conferencing applications, benefits for different industries, factors for identifying the right solution, standards, quality, technology, ease of use and value.
Virtualizing SMBs Canalys Executive SummaryArrow ECS UK
This document summarizes key findings from research on virtualization adoption among small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). The research found that virtualization demand is accelerating, with twice as many SMBs expected to have over 80% of their IT environments virtualized by 2014. Larger SMBs are adopting virtualization faster and moving towards full virtualization and cloud-based IT services. While cost savings remain the main driver for SMB virtualization, ensuring business continuity and improving hardware utilization are also important factors. The majority of SMBs see virtualization and cloud computing as connected technologies.
UC2 International Deployment, Baltimore Society of Communications Technology ...Agustin Argelich Casals
This document discusses the risks and lessons learned from deploying a unified communications and collaboration (UC2) platform internationally across multiple countries for a large multinational company. The company has over 18,000 employees across 28 countries with 56 main sites. When deploying the UC2 platform on a global scale, questions around dedicated vs shared infrastructure, ownership, administration, and maintenance must be addressed. Lessons from the case study highlight that cost containment, governance, security, and reducing complexity are important factors for a successful global deployment.
This document provides an overview and instructions for using the Speereo Voice Translator software. It includes sections on installation, copyright and registration, the translator features, how to use the translator, program setup, the included travel guide, online weather forecasts, updating languages and guides, online flight schedules and status, a currency calculator, and troubleshooting. The document serves as a user manual for the voice translation software.
This document provides an overview of unified conferencing, which allows for voice, video, and web collaboration on a single platform. Unified conferencing provides a single conference experience for participants regardless of media type. The benefits include more flexible and productive meetings that improve return on investment. Polycom unified conferencing addresses these challenges with a single platform that supports multiple networks and provides rich features and management interfaces.
This document discusses including automatic speech recognition, text to speech, and voice compression technologies as standard libraries within operating platforms. It argues that including these technologies can help platforms by increasing the number and quality of applications, lowering costs for developers, and attracting more developers to support the platform long-term. The CEO of Speereo Software proposes licensing their speech recognition technologies directly to platform owners.
Unified Conferencing provides voice, video, and web conferencing on a single platform with a common set of features and interfaces. It allows flexible conferencing options regardless of participant location or device. Benefits include more robust and productive meetings, easier conference support, and superior return on investment from eliminating duplicate voice and video systems. Polycom provides a unified conferencing solution built on its Multipoint Gateway Controller technology that seamlessly bridges different network and device types.
Speereo Software UK develops voice recognition applications including Speereo Voice Translator and Speereo Voice Organizer. The Voice Translator provides phrase translations between 16 languages and includes travel guides, currency conversion, and flight information. The Voice Organizer allows contact management, reminders, and notes through voice commands instead of a screen interface. Both apps aim to reduce reliance on screens and allow fully voice-controlled interaction. Speereo offers customized speech recognition engines and interfaces to other companies.
Unified Conferencing provides voice, video and web conferencing on a single platform with common features and interfaces. It allows flexible conferencing options regardless of participant location or device. Benefits include more robust and productive meetings, easier support, and superior return on investment from consolidating infrastructure. Polycom's Unified Conferencing solution implements this with its Multipoint Gateway Controller technology which seamlessly connects different conferencing media and networks through automatic transcoding.
Unified Conferencing provides voice, video, and web conferencing on a single platform with a common set of features and interfaces. It allows flexible conferencing options regardless of participant location or device. Benefits include more robust and productive meetings, easier conference support, and superior return on investment from eliminating duplicate voice and video systems. Polycom provides a unified conferencing solution built on its Multipoint Gateway Controller technology that seamlessly bridges different network and device types.
This paper proposes an adaptive energy management policy for wireless video streaming between a battery-powered client and server. It models the energy consumption of the server and client based on factors like CPU frequency, transmission power, and channel bandwidth. The paper formulates an optimization problem to assign optimal energy to each video frame. This maximizes system lifetime while meeting a minimum video quality requirement. Experimental results show the proposed policy increases overall system lifetime by 20% on average.
Deployment Of Multi-Network Video And Voice Conferencing On A ...Videoguy
- The document discusses the Polycom Multipoint Gateway Controller (MGC), a unified conferencing bridge that can support multiple network types, standards, and media on a single platform.
- The MGC uses transcoding to bridge conferences across different networks and endpoint capabilities. It allows for seamless voice and video conferences over ISDN, IP, PSTN, and wireless networks.
- Key benefits of the MGC include lower costs through shared hardware resources, easy maintenance through front-accessible and hot-swappable modules, and simplified support for migrating to new network protocols over time.
Digital Fuel IT Financial Management -Bus applications costvisibility_0911yisbat
IT Cost Management provides full visibility into the total costs of enterprise applications, including software licenses, maintenance fees, infrastructure costs, and more. This visibility allows organizations to (1) identify applications that could deliver significant cost savings through reduced service levels or outsourcing, (2) end maintenance for applications with high costs and low usage, and (3) eliminate inefficiencies in underlying infrastructure costs. IT Cost Management brings structure and transparency to application costs to help IT and business teams make smarter spending decisions aligned with business goals.
Siemens established ShareNet in 1998 as a knowledge management system to facilitate knowledge sharing among its employees globally. ShareNet allowed employees to connect, share expertise, and find solutions to problems. It helped Siemens win contracts and saved millions. However, as the telecom industry declined, Siemens faced cost pressures and had to justify ShareNet's value. While usage grew, only a small percentage contributed actively. The document analyzes ShareNet's costs and benefits, finding that the revenues from new projects outweigh costs, and recommends alternatives like rewarding contributions to encourage more active participation and justify ongoing costs.
This document provides an overview of the unified communications and collaboration market, including definitions, market size and trends, solution areas, and Cisco's UC portfolio. It discusses how UC solutions integrate multiple communication methods to allow distributed groups and individuals to collaborate. The global UC market is estimated to be $20.8 billion in 2016, with major growth drivers being mobility, cloud/virtualization, and social business. Cisco is a leading provider of UC solutions and its strengths include an integrated suite, interoperability across devices, and large installed base. However, its solutions are also noted as complex to manage. Microsoft Lync offers a full UC suite that well connects with other Microsoft products like Office and Exchange.
This document outlines the CARDIAC project which aims to advise the European Commission on research priorities in accessible and assistive information and communication technologies (ICT). The project will use a structured dialogic design process involving stakeholders to develop roadmaps on technology transfer, inclusive human-machine interaction, and network-based applications. Key activities include workshops and events to gather input which will be clustered and voted on to create the roadmaps defining short and long-term research priorities. The overall goal is to increase available products and services to improve integration and inclusion of people with disabilities.
Evaluation of BlueJeans Network by Wainhouse ResearchBlueJeans Network
Wainhouse put the Blue Jeans service under the microscope and wrote up their objective feedback. Check out their report to learn why they gave Blue Jeans "a rousing thumbs-up."
Example Synopsis Prep Sheet (Www.Leadgenr8.Com)Fiaz27
This document provides an overview of a video conferencing campaign for a client. It describes the client's business, existing vendor relationships, and the value proposition of video conferencing in allowing remote collaboration and reducing travel costs. The campaign will involve qualifying prospects, presenting the benefits of upgrading their video conferencing systems, and setting up demonstrations of solutions from technology partners like Polycom and Cisco. The goal is to help clients define strategies to improve adoption of video conferencing and collaboration technologies.
Tech Connect is a leading Global Business Collaboration solution provider company headquartered in Delhi (Noida) with operations in 11 cities across India and having overseas presence in Hong Kong and Singapore. The company offers all kinds of Professional Audio Visual equipments having specialization in Business Collaboration & Audio-Visual solutions.
Tech Connect delivers tailor made integrated communication solutions for Board - Rooms / Conference Rooms, Training facilities, Customer Experience Centers, Network Operating Centers (NOC).
Tech Connect has been ranked amongst the top three best performing AV companies in India.
Our Clients - RBS, Airtel, Adobe, Coca Cola, Larsen & Toubro, Genpact, TCS, etc.
Our Associates - Kramer, Crestron, CISCO, Polycom, Harman, Biamp, etc.
Network Planning Worksheets for Video ConferencingVideoguy
This document provides guidance for organizations planning to implement a videoconferencing network. It discusses the benefits of videoconferencing such as reducing travel costs and improving collaboration. The document also outlines important considerations for the network infrastructure including determining bandwidth needs, selecting endpoint devices, choosing a bridging solution for multi-party calls, and ensuring executive support and that solutions meet user requirements. Worksheets are provided to help organizations assess their specific endpoint and bandwidth requirements.
ioko selected BMC Remedy Service Desk to replace its outdated HP service desk and underpin improvements to its IT service management infrastructure (iSMI). BMC Remedy met ioko's requirements for improved global service quality, zero downtime maintenance, mid-tier deployment, and ITIL compliance better than the alternative, HP SM7. The implementation was successful with only a small team from ioko and support from BMC consultants. BMC Remedy allows for improved incident response times and transparency into maintenance and service costs.
ITM Platform - Company and Product Overview v jun2012 en 1.0ITM Platform
ITM Platform is the core concept holding four products (and others to come)
1) Project Management: Advanced, collaborative and easy-to-use
2) Program Management: Strategic planning and business alignment
3) Global IT Management: the solution covering 80% of IT processes
4) Corporate Portfolio: Business analysis on multiple instances
This document provides an overview and guide to video conferencing. It defines video conferencing as a live connection between people in separate locations involving audio and often video and text. It lists 5 key reasons to consider video conferencing, including efficient communication, time and cost savings, and the ability to be in two places at once. The document discusses considerations for video conferencing applications, benefits for different industries, factors for identifying the right solution, standards, quality, technology, ease of use and value.
Virtualizing SMBs Canalys Executive SummaryArrow ECS UK
This document summarizes key findings from research on virtualization adoption among small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). The research found that virtualization demand is accelerating, with twice as many SMBs expected to have over 80% of their IT environments virtualized by 2014. Larger SMBs are adopting virtualization faster and moving towards full virtualization and cloud-based IT services. While cost savings remain the main driver for SMB virtualization, ensuring business continuity and improving hardware utilization are also important factors. The majority of SMBs see virtualization and cloud computing as connected technologies.
UC2 International Deployment, Baltimore Society of Communications Technology ...Agustin Argelich Casals
This document discusses the risks and lessons learned from deploying a unified communications and collaboration (UC2) platform internationally across multiple countries for a large multinational company. The company has over 18,000 employees across 28 countries with 56 main sites. When deploying the UC2 platform on a global scale, questions around dedicated vs shared infrastructure, ownership, administration, and maintenance must be addressed. Lessons from the case study highlight that cost containment, governance, security, and reducing complexity are important factors for a successful global deployment.
This document provides an overview and instructions for using the Speereo Voice Translator software. It includes sections on installation, copyright and registration, the translator features, how to use the translator, program setup, the included travel guide, online weather forecasts, updating languages and guides, online flight schedules and status, a currency calculator, and troubleshooting. The document serves as a user manual for the voice translation software.
This document provides an overview of unified conferencing, which allows for voice, video, and web collaboration on a single platform. Unified conferencing provides a single conference experience for participants regardless of media type. The benefits include more flexible and productive meetings that improve return on investment. Polycom unified conferencing addresses these challenges with a single platform that supports multiple networks and provides rich features and management interfaces.
This document discusses including automatic speech recognition, text to speech, and voice compression technologies as standard libraries within operating platforms. It argues that including these technologies can help platforms by increasing the number and quality of applications, lowering costs for developers, and attracting more developers to support the platform long-term. The CEO of Speereo Software proposes licensing their speech recognition technologies directly to platform owners.
Unified Conferencing provides voice, video, and web conferencing on a single platform with a common set of features and interfaces. It allows flexible conferencing options regardless of participant location or device. Benefits include more robust and productive meetings, easier conference support, and superior return on investment from eliminating duplicate voice and video systems. Polycom provides a unified conferencing solution built on its Multipoint Gateway Controller technology that seamlessly bridges different network and device types.
Speereo Software UK develops voice recognition applications including Speereo Voice Translator and Speereo Voice Organizer. The Voice Translator provides phrase translations between 16 languages and includes travel guides, currency conversion, and flight information. The Voice Organizer allows contact management, reminders, and notes through voice commands instead of a screen interface. Both apps aim to reduce reliance on screens and allow fully voice-controlled interaction. Speereo offers customized speech recognition engines and interfaces to other companies.
Unified Conferencing provides voice, video and web conferencing on a single platform with common features and interfaces. It allows flexible conferencing options regardless of participant location or device. Benefits include more robust and productive meetings, easier support, and superior return on investment from consolidating infrastructure. Polycom's Unified Conferencing solution implements this with its Multipoint Gateway Controller technology which seamlessly connects different conferencing media and networks through automatic transcoding.
Unified Conferencing provides voice, video, and web conferencing on a single platform with a common set of features and interfaces. It allows flexible conferencing options regardless of participant location or device. Benefits include more robust and productive meetings, easier conference support, and superior return on investment from eliminating duplicate voice and video systems. Polycom provides a unified conferencing solution built on its Multipoint Gateway Controller technology that seamlessly bridges different network and device types.
This paper proposes an adaptive energy management policy for wireless video streaming between a battery-powered client and server. It models the energy consumption of the server and client based on factors like CPU frequency, transmission power, and channel bandwidth. The paper formulates an optimization problem to assign optimal energy to each video frame. This maximizes system lifetime while meeting a minimum video quality requirement. Experimental results show the proposed policy increases overall system lifetime by 20% on average.
Deployment Of Multi-Network Video And Voice Conferencing On A ...Videoguy
- The document discusses the Polycom Multipoint Gateway Controller (MGC), a unified conferencing bridge that can support multiple network types, standards, and media on a single platform.
- The MGC uses transcoding to bridge conferences across different networks and endpoint capabilities. It allows for seamless voice and video conferences over ISDN, IP, PSTN, and wireless networks.
- Key benefits of the MGC include lower costs through shared hardware resources, easy maintenance through front-accessible and hot-swappable modules, and simplified support for migrating to new network protocols over time.
Deployment Of Multi-Network Video And Voice Conferencing On A ...Videoguy
- The document discusses the Polycom Multipoint Gateway Controller (MGC), a unified conferencing bridge that can support multiple network types, standards, and media on a single platform.
- The MGC uses transcoding to bridge conferences across different networks and endpoint capabilities. It allows for seamless voice and video conferences over ISDN, IP, PSTN, and wireless networks.
- Key benefits of the MGC include lower costs through shared hardware resources, easy maintenance through front-accessible and hot-swappable modules, and simplified support for migrating to new network protocols over time.
Deployment Of Multi-Network Video And Voice Conferencing On A ...Videoguy
The document discusses deploying multi-network video and voice conferencing on a single platform using Polycom's Multipoint Gateway Controller (MGC) unified conferencing bridge. The MGC allows for seamless bridging of conferences across different networks and endpoints. It supports multiple networks like ISDN and IP, standards like H.320 and H.323, and features rich multipoint and gateway conferencing. The MGC also provides shared hardware and software resources, lowering costs. Configuring an MGC involves determining requirements for network interfaces, audio and video resources, and selecting appropriate MGC hardware modules to meet those requirements.
All wave AV Systems Pvt. Ltd.
All-wave AV is an audio-visual system integrator based in Mumbai, India. Our AV Solutions for Design, Supply, Installation, and Maintenance for bid-build and design-build projects are available across Pan-India with a 24/7 support desk with a toll-free number (18002100198) that provides remote coordination from our Prime support team as well as onsite support from our field engineers and technicians.
We are Design as well as Brand agnostics which provides high end Audio-visual solutions for Corporate Boardrooms, Meeting rooms, Training rooms, Auditoriums, House of worship etc. We have presence in Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai and Delhi NCR.
All-wave AV Headquarter is located in Fort, Mumbai-400001.
All-wave Global Services (GS) Center- NOC (Network Operating Center) and Concept Center are located in Mahalaxmi, Mumbai, India, 400011.
All-wave AV Logistic and warehouse is at Lower Parel, Mumbai- 400013.
If you are looking for AV (Audio Visual) solutions, we invite you to contact us at social@allwaveav.com or call us on 9372374450.
We ensure that you will find value in everything we do by putting together the best team of AV consultants, Design/Support engineers, and technicians for your project and providing you with simplified & seamless AV (Audio Visual) Solutions.
Ending the Multipoint Videoconferencing CompromiseVideoguy
This document discusses universal connection and encoding (UCE) capabilities for multipoint
videoconferencing. UCE allows a video bridge to connect to any compatible endpoint, accept their audio,
video, and content, mix the signals to create an optimal layout for each site, and encode the layouts for
transmission. This provides multipoint performance on par with point-to-point calls by eliminating
connection and quality compromises. UCE bridges can connect systems at any speed or protocol, use any
resolution, and support all features. This delivers a superior meeting experience compared to bridges
requiring connection or feature compromises.
we explore that what exactly is Video conferencing and what are the top features that make it an indispensable tool in various spheres.
https://www.bluechipgulf.ae/video-conferencing-and-top-features-of-it/
Online Video Collaboration for Manufacturing Industry - Full ReportAbhizar Bootwala
Large companies with project teams spread over several countries and multiple time zones are increasingly turning to videoconferencing to connect geographically dispersed groups. Companies are realizing that flying employees from one location to the next not only chalks up travel costs, but also decreases productivity and leads to team exhaustion.
Of course, videoconferencing isn’t a complete replacement for face-to-face meetings. Companies that are leading the way in videoconferencing report those periodic in-person visits are still necessary and they caution that videoconferencing is most effective if team members already have an existing relationship. There’s no doubt personal videoconferencing tools can enhance remote employees’ communication and productivity. Video ties together disparate and often isolated workers by letting physical, visual nuances shine through.
The document discusses various topics related to unified communications and collaboration technologies. It examines the challenges of choosing a unified communications solution for an organization. While the vision of a single unified user interface is appealing, in reality compatibility issues between different vendors' platforms still exist. Cloud-based solutions are helping to address these challenges by providing reliable access to content and applications from any location. The article also outlines different options for an organization's unified communications solution, such as keeping it internal, outsourcing, using a hosting solution, or a hybrid approach. Ultimately, the best solution depends on an organization's specific needs and strategy for adoption and integration of new technologies.
The document discusses the business case for videoconferencing. It outlines both soft benefits like faster decision making and competitive advantage, as well as hard quantifiable benefits like travel cost savings. It provides three real world examples of how videoconferencing can help businesses: reducing time-to-market through improved collaboration, enhancing the recruiting process, and realizing direct travel cost savings. The key message is that videoconferencing improves productivity and allows businesses to compete more effectively in today's global economy.
The document discusses the business case for using videoconferencing to improve collaboration and productivity. It outlines both soft benefits, like faster decision making and higher impact meetings, and hard quantifiable benefits like travel cost savings. Real-world examples show how videoconferencing can reduce time-to-market, lower recruiting costs, and generate substantial savings from reduced business travel. Implementing videoconferencing solutions allows companies to work more efficiently and gain a competitive advantage over those that do not adopt these collaboration tools.
The document discusses unified communications and the challenges of implementing a unified communications solution for an enterprise. It notes that while unified communications have been advancing, many enterprises remain resistant to adopting these solutions. It also discusses the various options for an enterprise's unified communications infrastructure, including keeping it internal, outsourcing, using a hosting solution, cloud computing, or a hybrid approach. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of choosing a solution that meets the specific needs and realities of an organization and its users.
1) Microsoft RoundTable from TELUS is an audio/video conferencing device that provides a 360-degree panoramic view of conference rooms to give remote participants an immersive experience.
2) It uses 5 high-resolution cameras and 6 directional microphones to automatically focus on the current speaker and filter out background noise.
3) TELUS offers Microsoft RoundTable as well as a full suite of conferencing solutions and has over 16 years of experience designing, installing, and supporting conferencing systems.
At Ben FZE, we know that time-to-market is critical and therefore, complement the technical aspects of our high-performance products with world-class expertise and exceptional customer service. We work closely with our customers to ensure that the cost and time of development is as low as possible. Because communications networks are so mission critical, our best of the breed solutions that goes into networking equipment live up to high standards of reliability, availability and serviceability."For questions that match your specific needs, access the link below" Our Solutions
O N N -- D D E E M M A A N N D D C C O O N N F F E E R R E E ...Videoguy
On-demand video conferencing allows for ad-hoc collaboration that is easy to use and cost effective. It allows employees to meet without scheduling in advance, enabling collaboration exactly when needed with whoever is needed. This helps organizations lower costs while increasing productivity by supporting remote workers, speeding up decision making, and enabling new business opportunities through faster customer interactions. On-demand conferencing eliminates the need to reserve technology in advance and can be either ad-hoc or scheduled in calendars.
This document discusses Cisco Telepresence and its project members. Cisco is an American company that designs and sells networking equipment and provides various services. Telepresence allows linking physically separated rooms to resemble a single conference room regardless of location. It provides 1080p video and spatial audio. Benefits include cost savings, productivity gains, and building strong relationships from reduced travel. Telepresence can decentralize work and allow global organizations without physical offices in remote locations. Consistency in lighting and seating between rooms is important for interaction. It could also be useful for demonstrating products to customers.
The document provides an 8-step guide to understanding the possibilities of video conferencing. It discusses how video conferencing can change the way people communicate by saving costs and improving productivity. It encourages readers to imagine how their organization could use video conferencing across different departments like executives, sales, HR, R&D, and more. The guide also discusses calculating return on investment and outlines the essential video components and elements of an end-to-end video conferencing solution.
This document discusses a case study on implementing virtual meetings and video conferencing in organizations. It examines whether business travel will be necessary in the future or become outdated due to virtual options. It also compares telepresence and video conferencing, noting telepresence provides a more "in-person" experience but at a much higher cost. The document evaluates how video conferencing provides value to businesses through improved communication and considers if it constitutes smart management. It also discusses factors a small business should consider when deciding whether to implement video conferencing.
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This document provides an overview of multipoint conferencing options, including built-in MCUs, managed systems, and multipoint service providers. Built-in MCUs offer basic functionality for ad hoc calls but have limitations regarding size and quality. Managed systems provide more advanced features but require dedicated resources. Multipoint service providers offer full functionality as a outsourced service, providing support and professional services. The document concludes by offering questions to help determine an organization's conferencing needs and best option.
Microsoft PowerPoint - WirelessCluster_PresVideoguy
This document analyzes delays in unicast video streaming over IEEE 802.11 WLAN networks. It describes conducting an experiment using a testbed with a Darwin Streaming Server and WLAN probe to capture packets. The analysis found that video bitrate variations, packetization scheme, bandwidth load, and frame-based nature of video all impacted mean delay. Bursts of packets from video frames caused per-packet delay to increase in a sawtooth pattern. Increasing uplink load was also found to affect delay variations.
Proxy Cache Management for Fine-Grained Scalable Video StreamingVideoguy
This document proposes a novel video caching framework that uses MPEG-4 Fine-Grained Scalable (FGS) video with post-encoding rate control to achieve low-cost and fine-grained rate adaptation. The framework allows clients to have heterogeneous bandwidths and enables adaptive control of backbone bandwidth consumption. It examines issues in caching FGS videos, such as determining the optimal portion to cache (in terms of length and rate) and optimal streaming rate to clients. Simulation results show it significantly reduces transmission costs compared to non-adaptive caching while providing flexible utility to heterogeneous clients with low computational overhead.
The document compares Microsoft Windows Media and the Adobe Flash Platform for streaming media. It discusses key differences like user experience, workflows, and playback reach. Flash offers more flexibility in creative expression, richer interactions, and wider device playback than Windows Media. It also has a 98% install base, making it easier for viewers to watch streams without extra software. The document outlines workflows for experience design, programming, broadcasting, production, and more using Flash tools versus Microsoft alternatives.
Free-riding Resilient Video Streaming in Peer-to-Peer NetworksVideoguy
This document summarizes a PhD thesis about free-riding resilient video streaming in peer-to-peer networks. The thesis contains research on two approaches: tree-based live streaming and swarm-based video-on-demand. For tree-based live streaming, the thesis presents the Orchard algorithm for constructing and maintaining trees to distribute video in a peer-to-peer network. It analyzes attacks on Orchard like free-riding and evaluates Orchard's performance under different conditions through experiments. For swarm-based video-on-demand, the thesis introduces the Give-to-Get approach for distributing video files and compares it to other peer-to-peer protocols. It evaluates Give-to-Get's performance in experiments
BT has developed Fastnets technology to improve video streaming. It avoids start-up delays and picture freezing during congestion. Fastnets streams multiple encoded versions of the video at different data rates and seamlessly switches between them based on available bandwidth to maintain quality without pausing. This allows for near-instant start times and reduces bandwidth usage by up to 30%. Fastnets provides a high-quality video streaming solution for both mobile and IPTV applications.
This document summarizes recent research on video streaming over Bluetooth networks. It discusses three key areas: intermediate protocols, quality of service (QoS) control, and media compression. For intermediate protocols, it evaluates streaming via HCI, L2CAP, and IP layers and their tradeoffs. For QoS control, it describes how error control mechanisms like link layer FEC, retransmission, and error concealment can improve video quality over Bluetooth. It also discusses congestion control. For media compression, it notes the importance of compression to achieve efficiency over limited Bluetooth bandwidths.
The document discusses video streaming, including definitions and concepts. It covers topics such as the difference between streaming and downloading, common streaming categories like live and on-demand, protocols used for streaming like RTSP and RTP, and the development process for creating streaming video including content planning, capturing, editing, encoding, and integrating with servers.
Inlet Technologies offers a live video streaming solution called Spinnaker that uses Intel Xeon processors with quad-core technology. Spinnaker can encode live video streams into multiple formats and resolutions simultaneously. This allows content to be delivered optimally to various devices. Spinnaker is a flexible, scalable solution that can increase broadcast capacity cost-effectively while maintaining high video quality.
Considerations for Creating Streamed Video Content over 3G ...Videoguy
The document discusses considerations for creating video content that can be streamed over mobile networks with restricted bandwidth like 3G-324M. It covers topics like video basics, codecs, profiles and levels, video streaming techniques, guidelines for authoring mobile-friendly content, and tools for analyzing video streams. The goal is to help content creators optimize video quality for low-bandwidth mobile viewing.
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This document summarizes recent advances in channel-adaptive video streaming. It reviews adaptive media playout at the client to reduce latency, rate-distortion optimized packet scheduling to determine the best packet to send, and channel-adaptive packet dependency control to improve error robustness and reduce latency. It also discusses challenges for wireless video streaming and different wireless streaming architectures.
Impact of FEC Overhead on Scalable Video StreamingVideoguy
The document discusses the impact of forward error correction (FEC) overhead on scalable video streaming. It aims to address uncertainty about the benefits of FEC and provide insight into how FEC overhead affects scalable video performance. The motivation section explains that FEC is often used for streaming to overcome packet loss without retransmission. However, previous studies have reported conflicting results on the benefits of FEC. The background section provides details on media-independent FEC schemes.
The document proposes a cost-effective solution for video streaming and rich media applications using Vela's RapidAccess video server combined with iQstor's iQ1200 SATA storage system. The integrated encoding, decoding and video serving capabilities of RapidAccess are paired with the scalable storage and virtualization features of the iQ1200 SATA storage array to provide a robust yet affordable infrastructure for applications such as video on demand, corporate training and distance learning.
This document provides information on streaming video into Second Life, including:
- The basic prerequisites for streaming video include being the landowner, using QuickTime format videos, and having the video hosted on a web server.
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XStream Live 2 is a live video encoding and streaming software that allows users to broadcast high quality HD video at low bitrates. It supports various video formats and streaming servers. The software provides high quality H.264 encoding with proprietary technology. It is designed for live event streaming, IPTV, and other video distribution uses.
The document provides instructions for setting up a homemade videoconference streaming solution using Windows Media software. The solution involves installing Windows Media Encoder and Administrator on a server and configuring the software to receive a video stream from a videoconferencing terminal. The streaming server then broadcasts the stream in real-time to clients who can view it using media player software. The solution provides a low-cost way to stream videoconferences but has limitations such as only supporting one conference stream at a time.
This document describes iStream Live 2 software for live streaming video to iPhones and iPads. It allows streaming of SD or HD video over HTTP from a variety of video sources. Key features include support for all major CDNs, encoding of H.264 video and AAC audio for high quality at low bitrates, and integration with existing Windows streaming systems. It provides better quality streaming than other encoders at lower bandwidth requirements.
Glow: Video streaming training guide - FirefoxVideoguy
This document provides a guide to using Glow video streaming. It includes tutorials on setting up video streaming by adding the Video Streaming Management web part, uploading video clips, viewing clips, editing clip information, and deleting clips. The guide also discusses how video streaming can be used to support learning and teaching, such as adding videos to lessons.
The document discusses video and streaming capabilities in Nokia phones. It provides information on video and audio coding formats supported by Nokia phones, including H.263, MPEG-4, RealVideo 7/8, AMR, AMR-WB, and RealAudio. It also describes the video and streaming capabilities of specific Nokia phone models like the 6600, 3650, and 6220, including supported players and recorders. Tools for creating video and streaming content are also mentioned.
1. Unified Conferencing: Why Unified Conferencing? What is it? What are the benefits? How to implement it.
Unified Conferencing: Why Unified Conferencing?
What is it?
What are the benefits?
How to implement it.
Technical White Paper
Document Overview
This document provides an overview of
the issues, capabilities and benefits to be
expected from a single platform solution
for voice, video and unified conferencing.
What can be expected in a unified
conference experience, and the benefits of
having this capability is also provided.
Polycom Unified Conferencing addresses
these challenges with revolutionary, truly
converged conferencing on one MGC
platform.
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2. Unified Conferencing: Why Unified Conferencing? What is it? What are the benefits? How to implement it.
Table Of Contents
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................... 3
WHY UNIFIED CONFERENCING? .................................................................. 4
Separated Conferencing Architecture Creates Multiple Barriers ............................................... 4
Meetings At A Distance Need To Do More............................................................................... 6
WHAT IS IT ?.................................................................................................... 6
One Platform .............................................................................................................................. 6
One Conference, One Conference Experience ........................................................................... 7
Conference Entry Queue ........................................................................................................ 7
Conference Management........................................................................................................ 7
Presentation Of Content And Collaboration........................................................................... 8
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF UNIFIED CONFERENCING ? ..................... 8
Flexible Meeting Options, Anytime, AnyPlace ......................................................................... 8
More Robust, Productive Meetings............................................................................................ 8
More Productive Conference Support ........................................................................................ 9
Superior Return On Investment.................................................................................................. 9
HOW TO IMPLEMENT IT. ................................................................................ 9
Polycom Unified Conferencing Built On MGC Technology..................................................... 9
Supports Multiple Networks..................................................................................................... 10
Ease Of System And Conference Support................................................................................ 11
Feature Rich.............................................................................................................................. 11
Flexible Deployment Options................................................................................................... 13
Superior Return On Investment................................................................................................ 13
THE POLYCOM OFFICE................................................................................ 13
SUMMARY: POLYCOM UNIFIED CONFERENCING BENEFITS................. 14
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3. Unified Conferencing: Why Unified Conferencing? What is it? What are the benefits? How to implement it.
Introduction
With ever-increasing deployments of voice and video bridging infrastructure, as well as Web
collaboration, end users are demanding much more than “plain vanilla” conferencing services.
End users now want the ability to:
Integrate voice, video and web collaboration into the same conference
Have simple, intuitive user interfaces
Have ad hoc conference service support, regardless of communications media
Networks today are delivering:
An ever-expanding range of network technologies
An increasing range of endpoints with different communications media and network
connectivity
Decisions to invest in infrastructure and conferencing technologies are getting more complex,
with a wide array of equipment, software, and network choices, and uncertainty about where
these technologies and their end users are headed. As a result, support personnel require help
in making these decisions, as well as alternatives that minimize the risk of the investment
decisions they are required to make.
Today’s separated communications and conferencing technologies reside on different
networks and, different platforms, requiring different management interfaces for support.
These communication boundaries are major barriers to the effective deployment of mixed /
feature rich media conferencing services. A unified conferencing solution that supports
unified conferencing services, and that can be managed with a single management interface, is
required to overcome the complexities associated with these historical barriers.
To provide effective voice and video conferencing services, organizations are looking for a
converged solution, a solution that will answer all the above challenges. There is a need for a
unified conferencing bridge that can seamlessly connect voice and video end points to the
same conference, on the same platform, with the same robust features and management
interfaces for both end users and system support.
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4. Unified Conferencing: Why Unified Conferencing? What is it? What are the benefits? How to implement it.
Why Unified Conferencing?
Voice and video conferencing products and services are well established, heavily demanded
solutions to business and consumer needs to communicate, and to work with others, at
geographically dispersed locations. Voice and video multipoint and gateway conferencing
solutions have followed different development paths on different platforms, creating
complexity, increased costs, and separated conferencing solutions, with significant differences
in conferencing features.
These islands of conferencing technologies, products, and services are not capable of the
flexibility needed in today’s world to deliver a scheduled or ad hoc conference that can
seamlessly connect all needed participants, regardless of their location, voice or video
endpoint or network connection. These limitations are more significant today with the global
trend towards a mobile workforce, dispersed geographically among different business and
home office locations. Using a contract workforce to perform office, technical, and
professional jobs and projects is now a common business practice and another key trend that
creates more need for a converged conferencing solution.
The huge differences in interactive communication features between today’s voice and video
conferencing products and services translate into huge differences in conference productivity.
A truly converged conference that seamlessly connects voice and video participants into a
conference must have a common set of conference features and end user interfaces if it is to
be a productive conferencing solution. This means that the level of shared conferencing
features must be set at the highest, not the lowest level, of features. This means that robust
voice conferencing features with IVR/DTMF interfaces must be supported by video endpoints
in a video or converged conference, creating a truly unified conferencing experience.
Separated Conferencing Architecture Creates Multiple Barriers
The technical barriers to having the capability to conduct a truly converged, unified
conference of voice and video participants, are greater when issues of different switched,
dedicated, and packet networks and support are considered.
Many large, businesses and institutions that have a geographically dispersed workforce and/or
customers have moved from a public voice or video conferencing service to an in-house based
conferencing service. Almost none of the businesses and institutions have brought both voice
and video conferencing services in-house. The answer to the “why not” question is that
separate conferencing platforms, separate management systems, and separate network
services supporting voice and video conferencing require duplicate costs, duplicate training,
duplicate support and less productivity.
The following graphic depiction of separated voice, video and data conferencing platforms
on separate networks highlights several other significant technical barriers to delivery of a
simple, intuitive unified conferencing solution. Without robust and automatic capabilities to
transcode across different audio and video algorithms, different network protocols, and
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5. Unified Conferencing: Why Unified Conferencing? What is it? What are the benefits? How to implement it.
transmission data rates, connection of different voice and video endpoints across different
networks will not be seamless. In fact it will not be possible to achieve an acceptable level of
reliable conference set-up.
Current Separated Conference Architecture
Packet Switched Networks Circuit Switched Networks
PSTN
Phone
PBX
Call Manager Audio
IP
Phone VOIP Bridge
Gateway
Cell
Voice Network Phoneone
Limited Connectivity Limited Interoperability
H.323 Video
Video Gateway H.320
Video
Gatekeeper Video
Bridge
Video Network
Separate
Limited Control
Management
Systems
Web
PC – Web Conference T.120
Browser Server Conference
Server PC -
NetMeeting
eting
Data Network
Like any meeting, meetings at a distance very often require the delivery of content and
application-based collaboration. These service capabilities are different for voice and video
conferencing with, in-band delivery of content and collaboration in a videoconference, and
web based service used in voice conferences.
The current separated conferencing architecture also means different end user interfaces,
leading to less productivity during the conference, as well as creating a barrier to end user
cross-over from their current, familiar conferencing service to another unfamiliar
conferencing service, even though that service may be more appropriate for their conference
application.
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6. Unified Conferencing: Why Unified Conferencing? What is it? What are the benefits? How to implement it.
Meetings At A Distance Need To Do More
Most businesses, organizations, governments, and institutions use voice and/or video
conferencing services on a regular basis. Many now regularly use Web-based collaboration
services in conjunction with audio conferencing services. Growth in demand for these
conferencing services has consistently been strong and is, in fact, accelerating for Web
collaboration services, resulting in increasing demand for related audio conferencing.
Increasingly dispersed and mobile workforce, markets, and customers are not the only trends
driving demand for these conferencing services. Issues of costs, productivity, security, travel,
and family are also now key drivers of need and demand for voice, video and web
collaboration conferencing services.
The limitations of separate conferencing solutions, with huge differences in connectivity,
features, interfaces, and productivity, are technical barriers that must be overcome to be able
to connect from anywhere, anytime into a unified, feature rich, highly productive, meeting at
a distance. There needs to be flexibility to support whichever voice, video or unified
conference that is most appropriate for the customer application with the same set of features
and interfaces.
What is it ?
One Platform
Unified conferencing supports ISDN video, IP video, PSTN voice, VoIP, and mixed
voice/video conferences simultaneously on one platform, with the same set of conferencing
features, one set of end user interfaces, and one management application. Key technologies
required to support unified conferencing include:
Full, automatic transcoding
Multi-network support for switched, packet and dedicated networks
Resource sharing of software and hardware resources
One management application to support the conferencing platform as well as voice,
video and unified conferences
One set of interfaces that the end user uses to schedule and manage their voice, video
and unified conferences
A unified conferencing solution must be able to support both scheduled and ad hoc
conferencing services, as end user demand for scheduled and ad hoc conferences varies by
conference application, by type of conferencing services (voice, video and web), and by
organization. To concurrently support both scheduled and ad hoc conferences, without having
serious resource contention problems, priorities and rules for system resource allocations and
conflict resolution between scheduled and ad hoc conferences must be enforced by the unified
conferencing bridge.
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7. Unified Conferencing: Why Unified Conferencing? What is it? What are the benefits? How to implement it.
One Conference, One Conference Experience
A unified conference seamlessly connects a mix of voice and video endpoints on different
networks to one conference, on one platform that provides each conference participant with
the same conference experience.
Conference Entry Queue
At its simplest level, unified conferencing is a single phone number that all voice and video
participants use to enter the same conference entry queue, regardless of whether they are on
switched or packet networks. To initiate an ad hoc conference, the conference chairperson
needs only to dial the single number assigned to their personal virtual meeting room. All other
conference participants can join the conference using the same number and conference PIN
code.
Each voice (PSTN and VoIP) and video (ISDN and IP) participant enters the same conference
entry queue. As they enter the entry queue, each voice and video participant hears the same
IVR greeting and prompt to enter the conference PIN code. Each voice and video participant
then using their endpoint keypad or keyboard enters the conference PIN code. Different IVR
messages services could also be selected to require a chairperson PIN code and/or a billing
code.
When the requested PIN codes are entered correctly, each voice and video conference
participant is prompted to record their name, that is used to announce new participants as they
enter the conference, during the conference when there is a request to hear the roster of
conference participants, and when a participant exits the conference.
Conference Management
Once all voice and video participants have entered the conference, the conference chairperson
and all conference participants (voice and video) have available to them the full set of voice
conferencing features that can be accessed with IVR/DTMF. Chairperson conference
management features that can be controlled from either a voice or video endpoint should
include:
Conference security (lock and unlock the conference)
Put conference on-hold
Invite new conference participants, delete participants (voice or video)
Request operator assistance for the conference
Mute all participants audio, except the chairperson audio
Request roll call of all conference participant names
Extend or terminate the conference
Initiate and terminate question and answer sessions
Initiate voting/polling sessions, monitor and email results
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8. Unified Conferencing: Why Unified Conferencing? What is it? What are the benefits? How to implement it.
Presentation Of Content And Collaboration
The feature capability to present meeting content, and to have interactive collaboration, exists
today in the separate worlds of voice and video conferencing. In a videoconference, delivery
of content and collaboration is embedded in the data stream used to transmit both voice and
video. In a voice conference, the transmission of content and collaboration is accomplished
over the IP LAN and/or Internet. In-band transmission of content and collaboration in a
videoconference excludes the participation of voice participants in this critical part of the
conference.
A truly unified conference must include a unified experience of content presentation and data
collaboration. The best solution to address this requirement is web-server-based, enabling
every conference participant to receive the content presentation and to fully participate in
applications-sharing and white-boarding sessions, regardless of their location and network
access.
Using the features supported in today’s web conferencing products, the conference
chairperson can conduct a one-way or interactive presentation of content that allows the
chairperson and all conference participants to view, highlight, and annotate specific points of
the presentation. If the unified conference requires workgroup collaboration, this also can be
accomplished in a one-way or interactive format, using application-sharing and
white-boarding.
An added advantage of using a web-server-based solution, for a unified experience of content
presentation and collaboration, is the ability to use Instant Messaging during the conference.
With Instant Messaging in a unified conference, the conference participants have a greatly
enhanced capability to interact without disrupting the flow and focus of the conference.
Important features that the conference chairperson (voice or video endpoint) has available to
manage participant interaction during the presentation and conference includes “mute/unmute
all but me”, question and answer sessions, and voting/polling sessions.
What Are The Benefits Of Unified Conferencing ?
Flexible Meeting Options, Anytime, AnyPlace
One of the most important benefits of a unified conferencing solution is the flexibility to start
a conference when it is needed (scheduled or ad hoc), that includes the appropriate conference
participants regardless of their location, the capabilities of their endpoint equipment, or their
network connection.
More Robust, Productive Meetings
Merging the best features and capabilities of voice and video conferencing into a unified
conferencing experience creates a uniquely robust and more productive meeting environment.
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9. Unified Conferencing: Why Unified Conferencing? What is it? What are the benefits? How to implement it.
More Productive Conference Support
The gains in support productivity that come with a single platform, single management
system supporting both voice and video conferencing, provides a powerful justification for the
unified conferencing product solution.
Superior Return On Investment
Unified conferencing eliminates the need to make duplicate investments in voice and video
conferencing equipment and upgrades. Network services do have to be duplicated. Training
costs are significantly reduced for support and end users. Manpower required for operations
support is significantly reduced.
How To Implement It.
Polycom has taken the best of the industry leading Polycom VideoPlusTM and Polycom
VoicePlus conferencing products and developed Polycom Unified Conferencing that takes
conferencing to the new level needed to provide truly converged, feature rich conferencing.
Polycom Unified Conferencing is the first solution in the industry to offer full-featured voice
and video on a single platform, in the same conference, with the same set of conference
features and end user interfaces.
All of the conference features of a feature rich voice conference are now provided in a
Polycom unified voice and videoconference. Any combination of conferencing features, such
as roll call, conference invite, mute/unmute, questions and answers, voting / polling, and even
request for operator assistance, can be utilized by all conference participants using their voice
or video endpoint keypad or key-board.
Polycom Unified Conferencing takes multipoint conferencing to a new level that adds
significant value and increased productivity well beyond traditional voice and video
meetings-at-a-distance.
Polycom Unified Conferencing Built On MGC Technology
Polycom developed the Multipoint Gateway Controller (MGC) conferencing bridge to
support multipoint and gateway conferencing that seamlessly bridges conferences across
different networks, as well as different endpoints, with different communications media
support and performance capabilities. Automatic transcoding of differences in audio and
video algorithms, video resolution, video frame rates, transmission rates, and network
protocols are integral to the MGC architecture. Transcoding capability across these
technology boundaries is an essential feature of the Polycom MGC, enabling support of ISDN
video, IP video, PSTN voice, and VoIP conferences on a single platform.
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10. Unified Conferencing: Why Unified Conferencing? What is it? What are the benefits? How to implement it.
The MGC architecture also includes the ability to share hardware and software resources
across all switched and IP video, voice, and mixed video/voice conferences. Key benefits of
the MGC shared resource design include lower costs of equipment needed to support video
and voice conferencing, improved resource module backup, and more efficient use of
platform “real estate” that can be used for future system upgrades.
Polycom’s MGC conferencing bridge is designed to deliver high levels of system reliability
and ease of support. Hardware modules and power supplies are all accessible from the front of
Polycom’s MGC 50 and MGC 100 platforms, and are hot-swappable. The self-configuring
design of the MGC 50/100 hardware modules means that replacing a module does not require
an engineer or a technician.
For enterprises that require workgroup and distributed deployments of unified conferencing,
Polycom provides the compact MGC 25 platform in standard configurations.
The diagnostic and fault resolution capabilities of all Polycom MGC platforms enable
effective remote diagnostics of alarms down to the DSP level. These combined system
capabilities, with the shared resource architecture of the MGC, results in the high levels of
system reliability and ease of support needed for an effective Unified Conferencing Bridge
solution.
Supports Multiple Networks
Polycom Unified Conferencing streamlines voice and video services by providing a single
entry point to multiple networks, protocols, standards, and services integrated for IP, ISDN,
POTS, and wireless (cellular) multipoint and gateway conferencing applications. The ability
to seamlessly provide video and voice communications connectivity, from anywhere to
anywhere, across different networks on the same platform, is a major benefit that should be
demanded from a single conferencing platform solution. The complete and automatic
transcoding capabilities of the MGC are essential to achieving this key benefit.
The resource sharing design of the Polycom MGC provides the opportunity to reduce the
required investment in network resource interfaces. It also provides the opportunity to reduce
the costs of network service, as the same switched or IP network connections can be used to
support ISDN video, IP video, PSTN voice, and VoIP conferences.
The capability of the MGC to support multiple networks on a single conferencing platform
also brings important benefits in future migrations to new system support for additional
network protocols and standards. The fact that these migrations, like ISDN video and voice to
IP networks, occur over many years, is a very important reason why an effective single
conferencing bridge solution is needed to address the complexity, increased costs, and
inefficiency in supporting different multipoint and gateway conferencing platforms.
The MGC capability to use the same IP resources to support video and/or voice multipoint
and gateway conferences means that decisions and investments in IP are leveraged in the
ability to support the migration to IP video and voice, at whatever rate it occurs.
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11. Unified Conferencing: Why Unified Conferencing? What is it? What are the benefits? How to implement it.
Ease Of System And Conference Support
A key requirement and benefit of a single platform conferencing bridge is that both the system
and the conferences are easy to support, both from a support and end user perspective. A key
component of system reliability is having a management application that enables easy
monitoring of conferencing operations, to quickly resolve any system or conference alarm.
Polycom’s answer to this requirement is the MGC Manager, a Windows-based system and
conference management application that enables support to manage either a single or an entire
network of MGCs. From the MGC Manager application window, video and voice conferences
are scheduled and managed, conferences and systems can be monitored for alarms, and
problems are resolved. Hardware alarms can be diagnosed down to the DSP level, and reset or
taken off-line to allow continued use of all other hardware resources for video and voice
conference support.
Maintaining the MGC platform at current release levels of software is a simple download of
the latest release of the MGC operating system. The MGC automatically upgrades the
software level of hardware modules, whenever a new software release is downloaded.
At the enduser level, the requirement for management tools and interfaces that are simple and
easy to use is equally important. The benefits of a single conferencing platform solution are
significantly reduced if the end user must learn to use different interfaces in scheduling and
managing their video and voice conferences. Different user interfaces means: more end user
training, more end user errors that require more support, and less crossover utilization of
different conferencing media.
Polycom’s Web Commander is a browser-based interface for end users to schedule and
manage voice, video or unified conferences on a single or multiple network of MGC
gateways, MCUs, and Unified Conferencing Bridges. All voice and video end users also have
the same IVR/DTMF interfaces to all of the conferencing features that are supported in a
Polycom VoicePlus conference.
Having a single interface to access and manage any combination of video and voice
conferences, whether the network is switched, dedicated, or IP, means that meetings will be
more productive and will use the communications media that best addresses the end user’s
conference requirements.
Feature Rich
Ease and simplicity of use are not of sufficient benefit to have an effective single
conferencing platform solution, if it does not also support the full set of video and voice
conferencing features required by the end user. Most of today’s video MCUs are capable of
supporting either ISDN or IP videoconferences, with expected conferencing features, as well
as multipoint ISDN or IP voice conferences. In the latter case, the voice conferencing
capabilities of these video MCUs do not include the voice conferencing features that the end
user expects. The lack of features such as roll call, voting and polling, and IVR/DTMF
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12. Unified Conferencing: Why Unified Conferencing? What is it? What are the benefits? How to implement it.
interfaces are key reasons why these solutions for video conferencing have not displaced any
significant share of voice conferencing services or equipment sales.
Polycom Unified Conferencing provides the end user with fully featured video and voice
conferencing capabilities that are also, in many cases, replicated across these different
conferencing environments. Support for attended, unattended, and ad hoc voice, video and
unified conferencing services provides both the end user and operations support with
important service level consistency, as well as the flexibility to use a level of service that best
supports the needs of the conference. Equally important in this regard is a consistent interface
for the end user to schedule and/or manage their conferences.
Polycom’s Web Commander is the only browser-based interface the end user requires to
schedule or manage a video, voice, or mixed conference on the Polycom Unified
Conferencing Bridge. Polycom’s Web Commander also supports the integration of video and
voice conferences with Web-based collaboration, the Polycom WebOfficeTM. The integration
of voice and video conferencing services with Web collaboration is now a baseline service
capability that a single conferencing platform solution should address.
Integration of conferencing features and services is the direction that end users are expecting
and vendors are rapidly developing. By definition, a single conferencing platform solution
should offer both a rich selection of possible conferencing features, and a seamless integration
of different conferencing and communications media.
Polycom Unified Conferencing Architecture
Packet Switched Networks Circuit Switched Networks
PSTN
Phone
PBX
Call Manager Audio
IP
Phone VOIP Bridge
Gateway
Cell
Voice Network Phoneone
Total Connectivity Complete Interoperability
H.323
Video H.320
Video
Gatekeeper Video
Bridge
Video Network
Common
Full Control
Management
Web Systems
PC – Web Conference T.120
Browser Server Conference
Server PC -
NetMeeting
eting
Data Network
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13. Unified Conferencing: Why Unified Conferencing? What is it? What are the benefits? How to implement it.
Flexible Deployment Options
Polycom MGC Unified Conferencing supports the flexible deployment of multipoint and
gateway conferencing capabilities, whenever and wherever they are needed. The MGC-25
(2U) platform, MGC-50 (8 slot) platform, or an MGC-100 (16 slot) platform can be selected
to configure a video and/or voice multipoint, gateway, or unified conferencing system
configuration.
As requirements for video and voice multipoint and gateway conferencing change, upgrades
to add additional video and/or voice conference capabilities can be easily accomplished with
the addition of the appropriate hardware resource modules and software support. All MGCs,
regardless of configuration and conference support capabilities, use the same platforms,
hardware resource modules, and operating system software, making it both easy and cost-
effective to support a network of systems. Any or all can be easily upgraded to the full
conferencing capabilities of a single platform MGC Unified Conferencing Bridge.
Superior Return On Investment
A single multi-point and gateway conferencing platform should deliver feature-rich service
level capabilities and seamless integration of media.
The most important deliverable is a very attractive return on investment. This is inherent in
the purpose of having a single platform solution. In this regard, the design capability of the
Polycom Unified Conferencing MGC platform to share software and hardware resources, to
be managed with one interface, and to transcode across a full range of video, audio and
network standards, means the customer can leverage their investment in equipment and save
on support costs in ways that are both flexible and produce significant returns on investment.
The Polycom Office TM
The Polycom Office is the conferencing and communications vision that drives the integration
of all Polycom video, voice, network, and data products. Polycom Unified Conferencing is a
major advancement in making a feature-rich, seamlessly integrated conferencing environment
a reality.
The Polycom Office provides a proven end-to-end conferencing solution that includes
Polycom Unified Conferencing, voice and video endpoints, and network management and
support. With The Polycom Office, the benefits of interoperability, feature rich conferencing,
and shared resources and management that are provided with Polycom Unified Conferencing
are extended to the entire conferencing network, including voice and video endpoints,
collaboration and network management.
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14. Unified Conferencing: Why Unified Conferencing? What is it? What are the benefits? How to implement it.
The Polycom Office
Conquering Distance Communication
Conferencing Conferencing & Collaboration
Personal Group Large ROOM
Personal Group
Voice Voice Video Video
Voice
SoundPoint® VoiceStationTM Vortex®
iPower
VOIP SoundStation® iPower ExecutiveTM Executive Collection
SoundStation IP
Premier®
SoundStation VTX 1000TM Polycom WebOfficeTM
Video Video
ViaVideoTM
ViewStation®
Application Packages: Health; Legal; Education
Network Infrastructure and Management Solutions
Polycom Global Services
Summary: Polycom Unified Conferencing Benefits
The power to bring together integrated services for voice and video into one platform is
beneficial on many levels. A Polycom Unified Conferencing MGC platform provides
seamless connectivity, management, interoperability, control and a simplified user experience
for the network manager, the conference administrator and the end user.
Binding these network layers, protocols, and applications together under a single, unified
platform has significant benefit. Let’s take another look at the challenges discussed earlier to
see how the MGC provides valuable solutions to those challenges.
Beginning with the network, it becomes clear that the MGC platform solves many issues
related to the network. The MGC provides physical interfaces to both voice and video
circuits. It is extremely important to have a common element when deploying mixed services.
Having a system that provides mixed services natively, within a reliable architecture,
alleviates many problems associated with simply getting the services deployed.
The MGC platform supports all of the standards and protocols associated with voice and
video services. This is important in itself, but the MGC goes a crucial step further. The MGC
solves the issue of mixing conferences that have differing standards and protocols. NO
LONGER are you limited to supporting a least common denominator method of conferencing
services. The MGC translates the various standards and protocols between each endpoint,
allowing each endpoint to participate in a conference session at its highest mode of operation.
This is achieved entirely without manager or end user intervention.
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15. Unified Conferencing: Why Unified Conferencing? What is it? What are the benefits? How to implement it.
The network manager now has a common entry point for monitoring, diagnostics and
management. It is much easier for the manager to have access to and manage one or more
systems, using the robust capabilities of the MGC Manager, ensuring with confidence that all
voice and video services are operational from end to end. The other key benefit to the
manager is that the MGC unified platform is based on the highly reliable MGC architecture,
providing both scalability and redundancy.
The conference administrator also now has a single point of entry for all scheduled or adhoc
conferencing services. This is very advantageous to the administrator when trying to
coordinate not only voice and video services, but also peoples’ schedules.
The end user now has a single point of entry for conferences and a common user experience
for voice and video services. The end user is able to focus on the issues at hand without
having to worry about using the technology.
The Polycom MGC eliminates issues related to differing levels of access control and
security. As described earlier, the MGC provides common entry points into the service, based
on a user, or group policies and permissions. The network administrator sets these policies
and permissions one time and, from that point on, the user’s experience remains the same.
The organization’s typical usage scenarios and requirements are now greatly expanded due to
the ability to mix and integrate both on-demand and scheduled voice and video services.
The organization’s goals for technical support, effective management of network, technology,
and application resources are now all synchronized through a core set of capabilities based on
the MGC Unified Conferencing Bridge.
All of these benefits result in a lower cost of ownership and operation, thereby providing cost-
effective services to the organization.
Vortex are registered trademarks and The Polycom Office, Polycom WebOffice, Polycom VoicePlus, Via Video,
iPower and SoundStation VTX 1000 are trademarks of Polycom, Inc. in the U.S. and various countries. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Specifications are subject to change without notice.
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