Economic Woes Boost Videoconferencing
by Jennifer L. Schenker, Business Week, Technology August 5, 2008, 1:40PM EST
Reducing carbon footprint, a new priority for multinationals, is no easy task for Dutch express-delivery outfit TNT, which operates 47 aircraft and more than 26,000 trucks to move an average of 4.4 million parcels, documents, and pieces of freight each week. That takes a lot of jet fuel and gasoline.
There is not much that can be done to cut back on that traffic, so TNT is instead urging employees to reduce carbon dioxide emissions under a program called Planet Me. A big part of Planet Me is a drive to reduce business travel and use videoconferences instead. TNT estimates the CO2 savings from videoconferencing alone to be 2.6 kilotons a year for the next four years, or a total of 10.5 kilotons.
There are other benefits, too. "We're telling our employees that using videoconferencing is beneficial not just for the environment, but also for life balance," says Carin ten Hage, TNT's social responsibility director. "Top management who fly a lot recognize that spending your life in airports can be really horrible." Not to mention expensive.
Videoconferences Get Second Look
Now, though, "people are willing to give this technology a second look," says Tandberg chief Halvorsen. For starters, the resolution has become far sharper and less choppy and the audio sync problem has gone away, both in boardroom systems and on desktop systems. That is because high-definition video is now becoming available on the desktop, improving quality and user experience, say analysts.
Meanwhile, the move to Internet Protocol has dramatically driven down the cost, since the calls are sent over broadband networks that charge all-you-can-eat fixed tariffs rather than by the minute. And videoconferencing is no longer confined to special rooms with huge screens that cost anywhere from $3,000 to $300,000 to install, though demand for these high-end systems is booming as well.
To read the full article please click here.
Written by David Nahon, Senior Technical Specialist, CBCI Telecom
So the sun was very strong in Las-Vegas last June. I couldn’t say the same about Montreal...
It was mainly hot at the TANDBERG booth, browsing through the new products presented. The main highlight this year was the new C-90 videoconferencing codec to be released end of 2008 or beginning of 2009.
The release of a new codec platform was long overdue in my opinion considering that POLYCOM already came up with an integrator codec last year (HDX series).
It was very natural to think that TANDBERG was going to follow through.
Just to give us a quick reminder, the current 6000 codec platform with different variations has been around for about 8 years. Previously it was the codec 5000 and the codec 2000 from 1994 now that’s quite a history! TANDBERG has been developing the new one for quite a while. It’s not anymore only a software upgrade but really a whole product design of all facets including hardware and software. My take is that TANDBERG has put up a product that will be with us for the next 6 to 8 years.
The role of the C-90 codec is to meet the new Tele Presence trend in videoconferencing with it’s complex requirements of multiple participants, displays, cameras and configurations, in other words we need to meet our clients demand and we need to be flexible! Another important trend is High Definition, the C-90 comes with a fully 1080p definition, propelling us from the previous HD codec which was at 720p. Any way we look at it, in the corporate market, we are being pulled by the residential market and we have no choice but to comply.
So how does this product look like?
The first thing that struck me when I saw the codec was the back plane, just the way I like it…full of connectors!
What are all the connectors for?
Let’s start with the Video inputs. There are very 13 impressive inputs including 4 HDMI, 4 HD-SDI, 2DVI-I, 2 Component video and 1 S-Video/Composite.
You will notice that there is only One S-Video/Composite input because the days of low resolution video are numbered. Next we have 2 HDMI, 2DVI-I and 1 composite output to a total of 5 which are very practical when you got to connect to multiple displays.
In the audio department we have an imposing 8 microphone inputs and a combination of digital and analog stereo. The number of microphones is specifically designed with Telepresence in mind since participants are normally sitting in front of the screens and each one has his own microphone.
On the network side, TANDBERG has added 2 Ethernet ports in the back which are very useful for connections to both internal and external networks, a very nice feature to have.
It would be an understatement to say that I can’t wait to put my hands on this product. Please remember that this product is not yet available for sale but I invite you to check the following links for more information.
Brochure
Until the next time this is David’s pick. To contact David please email him at dnahon@cbcitelecom.com
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TANDBERG T1
The instant telepresence experience designed for the executive office or high-end collaboration room – available anytime you need it.
• Brochure
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MVP-5200i 5.2" Modero® ViewPoint® Touch Panel with Intercom
Sleek. Sexy. Powerful. ULTRA BRIGHT WIDESCREEN DISPLAY, WIRELESS CONVENIENCE AND SECURITY
• Brochure
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Samsung Instinct™
Touch Screen, GPS navigation, music, TV and Camera
• More Details
• To Order |
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Jawbone 2.0 Bluetooth® Headset in Black
Jawbone 2.0 is the world’s first adaptive Bluetooth headset for mobile phones.
• More Details
• To Order
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TLOMA
September 19 to 20th, 2008
Videoconferencing and Wireless Product Demonstration
more info
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9e Symposium de la TéléSanté
September 24 to 26, 2008
Hilton de Québec
Videoconferencing and Multimedia Product Demonstration
more info
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CBCI Telecom Southeastern Ontario TECH TOUR
September 9th
Kingston Convention Center
Showcase of latest Wireless and Wireline Technology offerings from many partners
including: Bell Mobility and Bell Canada.
more info
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