Polycom has released the QDX6000 a DVD quality (4CIF or 704 × 576 pixel) video conferencing unit for US$3,999 list (I can see this online for as low as US$3,199). This is around half the cost of the high definition (720p or 1280×720 pixel resolution) HDX8000 system. Camera, table microphones, AES encryption ability and dual monitor support are included.
For organisations with an existing Polycom environment the QDX6000 may slip in nicely to those low bandwidth remote sites that wont support high definition conferencing, while still integrating into Polycom central management and bridging systems.
If your organisation is new to video conferencing then this may provide a cheap entry point, but before diving in you will need to consider the approach and costs for bandwidth required (IP or ISDN), display devices (plasma/LCD screens) and ongoing maintenance and support costs.
And for all organisations don’t forget that setting up your room system by applying the same principles as telepresence rooms will provide a far superior video conferencing experience: screen sizes that support lifesize images; cameras at eye height; lighting that completely illuminates participants faces; and sound proof rooms and if required blackout blinds covering external facing windows.
February 5th, 2009
Mitel has announced desktop and mobile Unified Communications (UC) clients with some excellent features and their own flavour of telepresence which might compete with other HD solutions but wont compete with leading telepresence solutions.
The UC desktop client include some key features that immediately stand out; the ability to federate with public presence sources and integration with their mobile UC client. Better still the mobile UC client is available across Windows Mobile, Symbian and Blackberry. These feature releases are essential to providing integrated UC solutions and from an industry perspective come hot on the heals of magic quadrant provider Cisco who has also only just released desktop to mobile integrated presence and the support for a Microsoft Mobile UC client.
In addition Mitel has announced the availability of their TeleCollaboration solution for Q1 2009. Mitel claims an improved result over telepresence due to desktop sharing and recording capabilities (see below image). The video component of the solution is actually provided by a company called Magor.
While the collaboration aspects may provide an improvement I can immediately see their is no comparision to a telepresence solution such as Polycoms RPX (see below image). Telepresence is not just high definition video conferencing (which is a better description for Mitels solution), telepresence allows users to interact as if they were in the same room. Imperative components of telepresence solutions include having completely controlled room environments that look identical at all locations, with immersive lighting, with immersive audio and screens that are large enough to allow users to stand up and move around without disappearing from view - the Mitel offering does not achieve this. Ultimately price will dictate if the Mitel solution compares to existing market high definition solutions, however given current information it wont compete with true telepresence rooms.
November 16th, 2008
