Video conferencing is allowing workers to connect more in real-time and spend less time behind the windshield (a big deal for me personally). Marco has invested a significant amount of dollars in video conferencing technology over the past two years to better connect our offices. I am often asked about the differences between the rising web-based video calling applications and the integrated video conferencing rooms that we have implemented at our various locations. 

The video conferencing industry is changing rapidly right now with skyrocketing investments, more offerings and increased convergence. Microsoft, for an example, released its video calling application Lync in 2010 and bought Skype last year for $8.5 billion. The offerings continue to grow and video conferencing is proving to be a key tactic to collaborate and grow a business.

All of the web-based video calling systems currently on the market are fairly similar in what they offer. Here’s a look at the major players and how they compare to integrated video conferencing spaces:

• Skype, a recognized leader in video calling, was among the first providers to offerfree Internet calling. For a fee, Skype offers a business version with a variety of additional business-focused features.
• WebEx, recently purchased by Cisco, has been made popular by its webinar capabilities. It combines file and presentation sharing with voice and HD video. It can be used from any computer with an Internet connection or 3G-enabled mobile device.
• Lync, first developed by Microsoft in 2010, allows users to create, moderate, and join pre-planned and on-the-fly audio, video, and web meetings with people inside and outside the organization. Lync is available for Windows and Mac as well as mobile versions  for Windows, iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. The 2013 version will be an enterprise-ready unified communications platform and connect users on Windows 8 and other devices.
• FaceTime, released by Apple Inc. in 2010, allows users to make video calls over Wi-Fi from their iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac to another Apple device.

Integrated Rooms
Telepresence room technology enables groups to meet and collaborate in multiple locations in real time. It goes beyond the Internet connection to combine high-definition video, real-time audio and interior design to make it feel as though you’re meeting in the same room.

These telepresence spaces can cost $30,000 to $50,000 and certainly much more. Hosted and managed service solutions now are available and allow organizations to get started for a fraction of the cost. Companies buy the screen and camera and pay a monthly fee for unlimited connectivity between their locations.

So, why is it worth the investment?

• You can make a call by pushing a button.
  You don’t want to have people placing an IT ticket every time they want to make a video call. It has to be as easy as pushing a button and integrated video conferencing technology for rooms make that happen.
• Communicate many to many.
  Instead of one-to-one or one-to-many, integrated video conferencing rooms are designed for video calls from a room of people to another room of people. We use our video conferencing at Marco for sales meetings, company-wide meetings and collaborations we need to do on the spot between our branch locations.
• Share documents as if you’re in the same room.
  Share presentations and handouts without losing visuals or audio of the people participating in the meeting. Participants can pass content back and forth as if they were in the same room.
• Increase security and quality.
  Security has been among the greatest concerns organizations have when using web-based platforms. While it may not matter for all meetings, it is essential for many. Integrated rooms ensure that the calls are encrypted so the information passed back and forth through audio or video is protected. The quality of service also is better because organizations use their own dedicated lines instead of relying on limited bandwidth by the video calling provider.

Playing Nice
Web-based video conferencing also are beginning to “play nice” with one another and integrated video conferencing spaces. A new set of standards have been developed and so as long as the user adheres to those and has an Internet connection, he can connect with a person or group even if they are  not using the same platform. That means if I have WebEx on my phone, I can connect to an integrated room as long as I the latest video standards.

Much like mobile phone calling, I imagine soon it will not matter what platform a person is using as long as the person on the other end has the ability to video conference, too. It will completely change how we communicate in business – and in life.