Reaching out to the desktop, according to Frost & Sullivan

By Sagee Ben-Zedeff

Categories: Innovation, Video Conferencing

May 22nd, 2008

If you have been following this blog for the past two months, you are probably well-aware of the benefits of using video conferencing, both for the organization and for the environment. With the introduction of high definition video on one hand and the virtual working place taking off (pdf), with around 100 million US workers expected to telework by 2010, the challenge of developing a solution that can suit this evolving and demanding market is not trivial.

An ideal (at) home office.

On Monday Frost & Sullivan published the result of a recent analysis of the video conferencing systems market (pdf). Frost & Sullivan point out the growing need to support a wide variety of devices and networks, with high definition on one end of the scale and desktop video on the other (including the support of collaboration software from vendors like IBM Sametime, Microsoft OCS, Cisco CUVC or Alcatel-Lucent MyTeamWork). Bringing the conferencing room to the desktop is a must, according to Frost & Sullivan, in today’s visual communication market.

Pricing is considered by Frost & Sullivan as another important factor. It’s true high definition (HD) video is considered high-end, but most video conferencing users will use desktop applications or standard definition (SD) endpoints and so expect to pay much less for infrastructure that will support them. The flexibility in supporting a mixture of HD and SD users in the same conference using a pricing model that takes that into account is a big plus, according to the analysis.

Reaching out to the desktop is no longer just a slogan, according to the Frost & Sullivan analysis. Users want to use their PCs and laptops to access the same video conferencing system as their peers, especially when they are at home or on the road. Same goes for connecting using a mobile device. In a virtual working place there shouldn’t be any difference between employees in the enterprise premises and those who are traveling, not in quality of service nor in ease of use.

Vendors therefore, according to Frost & Sullivan, should be looking to develop solutions that have freely distributed software clients (with built-in firewall traversal capability, which enables you to connect to the video conferencing system without using any VPN solution), that are easily installable, and that provide data collaboration and video features that are compatible with other video conferencing devices.

Each year Frost & Sullivan present an award for Product Differentiation Innovation to companies that have best demonstrated the ability to develop and advance products with more innovative capabilities than competing vendors and products, including the successful adoption of new and existing technologies. In view of this analysis, Frost & Sullivan selected RADVISION for the 2008 North American award for its SCOPIA MCU and Desktop line of products.

I am always baffled with praises. Still, I feel that I am indeed part of a wonderful solution to a major challenge to today and tomorrow’s working environment, and I am glad that others feel our offering is different, innovative and presents a true solution to the problem.