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It seems like a fight has started over the communication device on our desktops. Not the fight over voice – that one has already been fought and won time and again by the ubiquitous desktop phone, with some signs of the mobile handset providing any serious competition to its reign. What I am talking about is the fight over visual communications: doing video chat and video conferencing from your desk, wherever that is.

Here’s a list of the current contestants:

The Desktop Videophone

This is the easiest to think of – take the current contestants in the voice world and copy-paste into the video world. If you have a desktop phone, just add video to it.

If you need an example, the Grandstream GXV3140 IP Multimedia Phone is just that. It looks like a phone, it talks like a phone, but it also has video.

GVX3140 – a desktop videophone

Advantages?

• Easy to use with a very known physical interface – it is a phone after all

Disadvantages?

• Well, my phone is usually located to my right. Now, for a video call, I’ll need to shift my whole body to face its screen. Sounds like nagging, but what happens if the video call is actually a one hour long conference?
• Another issue is the size of the screen. 7-10″ displays will most likely be the case, which is too small for my taste.

The Downloadable Client

Next runner up is the downloadable client. After all, we all have a PC or a laptop on our desks. Usually quite a strong beast, with some horsepower inside. So why not slave it for the purpose of video calling? Here’s a little secret: we do it at work on a daily basis using our SCOPIA Desktop.

SCOPIA Desktop running on my laptop

Advantages?

• Should fit rather well on most modern PCs
• Allows to enhance the experience for a complete Unified Communications package
• Functions easily with the keyboard and mouse already connected and used (no need for a remote!)
• Doesn’t require to move your head from the monitor

Disadvantages?

• Won’t really give a top-of-the-line video quality (it depends on many parameters)
• Would slow down a lot of PCs out there to a dead crawl
• Takes up room on your monitor with the hassle of moving windows around during a call
• You need to install it, as well as take care of it
• The PC must be open, connected and running for it to work. My last call at work, for instance, is usually done while I close up the applications on my laptop, hibernate it, take it out of its docking station and get ready to go home – a no-can-do with a software client

The Embedded Monitor Terminal

We’ve had these for a few years, but now, our very own SCOPIA VC240 is changing this market – it’s a large PC monitor that seconds as a video conferencing unit, with a relatively low price tag.

As these things go, others will probably follow suite, especially when the initial reactions we’re hearing from customers are “wow!”, “get me one” and “I want more features”.

SCOPIA VC240 in a conference call

Advantages?

• It’s there, on the table, working as a monitor, so no additional space taken, no cables, no cameras, no nothing
• Easy to handle as part of a video communications network for IT managers
• Allows you to show your PC view mixed up with the video call for maximum productivity

Disadvantages?

• It costs more than a software client
• You can’t take it with you… – it’s a monitor
• Can’t replace an IP phone… there’s this that nagging need for a handset

The Mobile Device

The question can be raised – why not the mobile device? It does seem to replace the desktop phone in some places for voice calls, so why not video as well?

I’d say it is due to the issues that plague mobile handsets today, that doesn’t allow them to do video conferencing, even though they had these capabilities for several years already.

While they offer true mobility and an easy to use dialing scheme, they don’t really provide the necessary user experience: camera quality, processing power, holding position during calls, etc.

So Who Will Rule the Desktop?

I have no clue whatsoever…

If I had to bet, I would say the downloadable client or the embedded monitor terminal. But that’s just me.

Any thoughts on the subject? I’d really like to hear who’s your winner.