Category Archives: Videoconferencing

SPIRIT DSP, Video, Videoconferencing, VideoMost

SPIRIT DSP Releases VideoMost 2.5

SPIRIT DSP announced today a new version of its multipoint web videoconferencing software, VideoMost 2.5. The new version allows 50 simultaneous interactive videoconferencing participants in one conference room, and additional broadcasting of the conference to up to 500 people who can view and listen to the discussion in real-time or recorded. VideoMost 2.5 enables telcos and service providers to launch SaaS multipoint videoconferencing under their own brand and billing in a matter of days, allowing them to quickly build new revenue streams and customer loyalty against OTT videoconferencing providers such as Microsoft and Webex.

“VideoMost 2.5 allows for massively multipoint, interactive speakers’ participation and real-time conversation with up to 50 people participating in a roundtable discussion, and each person can speak at any time ? while our global competitors only offer a maximum of nine interactive video participants,” said Andrew Sviridenko, SPIRIT DSP Chairman. “VideoMost 2.5 includes the added ability to broadcast, allowing 500 other people to view and listen to the discussion in real time or recorded. It’s a great tool for collaboration engagements, such as interactive virtual sales meetings or product training for up to 50 professionals that can also be viewed by 500 additional remote employees or partners. The number of conference rooms is limited only by the service providers’ hardware server farm capacity.”

VideoMost 2.5 multipoint videoconferences are designed for enterprise collaboration, social enterprise networks, round table discussions, interactive educational workshops, and other activities that involve active participation of speakers. VideoMost 2.5 reveals opportunities for remote broadcasting to a wide audience and conference recording ? features highly demanded by today’s businesses and government organizations.

VideoMost software server supports an unprecedented 1000 concurrent video channels per each $4000 PC hardware server, dramatically cutting down service providers’ costs for a hardware video server infrastructure. VideoMost is targeted at enterprise customers in partnership with telcos and service providers as a SAAS under the telcos’ own brand and billing.

VideoMost 2.5 will be demonstrated at Mobile World Congress 2013 in Barcelona, Feb. 25–28 SPIRIT’s booth #6F87 in Hall 6.

California, Illinois, Minnesota, Partnerships, Video, Videoconferencing

Video Guidance, SinglePath Partner for Video Conferencing

Video Guidance, a video conferencing company, has formed a partnership with Single Path, LLC, a Chicago-based provider of technology solutions and managed IT offerings to Illinois- and California-based businesses. The strategic partnership will help Video Guidance grow by increasing its sales presence in its current markets and expanding its geographic reach across Illinois and California.

Strategic partners help Video Guidance – through its cloud-based services — create a more visually collaborative workspace for its customers. In the last decade, Internet, mobile and broadband technologies have redefined our way of life, and visual communication tools have become critical to a business’ efficiencies. And in an era of dispersed teams and reduced travel budgets, enhanced, strategic collaboration and applications are essential to maximizing the benefits of today’s sophisticated technology.

“Our joint partnerships utilize and maximize resources to offer more comprehensive collaboration and visual services to businesses and organizations,” said Michael Werch, president of Video Guidance. “The program is designed to help value-added resellers (VARs) succeed in the highly lucrative video conferencing market, enabling them to take advantage of high-margin sales opportunities with our best-in-class video conferencing solutions.”


Asure, IT Management, PeopleCube, Resource Scheduler, Tools, Videoconferencing

Asure Software Updates Resource Scheduler

Asure Software, Inc. today announced that it has released a new version of Resource Scheduler, a SaaS-based application for managing shared workspace and other organizational assets. This new release follows the July 2, 2012 acquisition of PeopleCube, making Asure the largest global provider of cloud-based workplace management solutions.

“The release of Resource Scheduler version 9.2 is a significant milestone for Asure and its clients, as it represents the first product release following Asure Software’s acquisition of PeopleCube,” said Pat Goepel, Asure’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are thrilled that we have been able to deliver this release as originally scheduled, reaffirming our commitment to our clients and supporting our vision that we will aggressively invest in ongoing product innovation for not just Resource Scheduler, but for the AsureSpace product line as a whole.”

The PeopleCube solution set has been incorporated into the AsureSpace workspace management platform, joining Asure’s existing Meeting Room Manager scheduling application. The addition of Resource Scheduler, Workspace Manager, PeopleCounter, Workplace BI, and Energy Management to the AsureSpace platform creates a comprehensive suite of workspace management solutions that helps organizations of any size maximize the efficient utilization of shared organization assets.

Over time, Asure will integrate Workspace Manager and Meeting Room Manager, combining the extensive office hoteling features of Workspace Manager with the best-in-class room scheduling capabilities in Meeting Room Manager.

“The acquisition of PeopleCube creates a powerhouse in the workspace management market by delivering increased measurable value to our clients,” continued Goepel. “Our customers will benefit tremendously from the combined organization. With additional investment applied to ongoing product research and development, expanded cloud-based offerings, new LCD panel scheduling capabilities, and a larger services and support team than the organization size of most of our competitors, we have greatly strengthened our ability to help improve the efficiencies of our clients each and every day.”
Resource Scheduler 9.2 features enhancements to improve telework and related office hoteling programs, including available support for importing CAD floorplan diagrams and integration with Brivo card readers for simple hoteling check-in. The release also includes integration with BT/Engage to support the scheduling of video conferencing equipment and services through Resource Scheduler, enhancing clients’ collaboration using the BT/Engage platform.

“Resource Scheduler has long been a leading solution of choice for organizations of all sizes to help maximize the efficient utilization of shared resources and other assets,” said John T. Anderson, Asure’s Executive Vice President. “This release of Resource Scheduler supports Asure’s strategy of delivering measureable value to its clients by streamlining the management of video conferencing services and shared workspace, both key components to enhanced collaboration and productivity of today’s modern workforce.”


Partnerships, Video, Video Guidance, Videoconferencing

Video Guidance, Connecting Point Partner for Video Conferencing in the Dakotas

Bloomington, Minn.-based Video Guidance, a visual communications company, has formed a strategic partnership with Watertown, S.D.-based Connecting Point Computer Center, which provides IT solutions to businesses, schools and government agencies throughout the Dakotas. The partnership will help Video Guidance grow by increasing its sales presence in its current markets and expanding its geographic reach across North and South Dakota.

“Our joint partnerships utilize and maximize resources to offer more comprehensive collaboration and visual services to businesses and organizations,” said Michael Werch, president of Video Guidance. “The program is designed to help value-added resellers (VARs) succeed in the highly lucrative video conferencing market, enabling them to take advantage of high-margin sales opportunities with our best-in-class video conferencing solutions.”

Since 1979, Connecting Point (www.ConnectingPoint.biz) has helped organizations of all sizes deploy and manage servers, desktops and notebooks from a centralized location. With off-site backup and cloud computing, the company is regarded for its proactive, preventative approach to IT management that stops problems before they affect a network. Connecting Point also offers Cisco Unified Communications solutions, which connect people, information and teams to help them collaborate more effectively.

“We are excited to partner with Video Guidance to expand our collaboration portfolio,” said Bryan Waege, president of Connecting Point. “Together with Video Guidance, we will maximize our customers’ technology investments to help them meet their business objectives rather than react to IT problems.”

Strategic partners help Video Guidance – through its cloud-based services — create a more visually collaborative workspace for its customers. In the last decade, Internet, mobile and broadband technologies have redefined our way of life, and visual communication tools have become critical to a business’ efficiencies. And in an era of dispersed teams and reduced travel budgets, enhanced, strategic collaboration and applications are essential to maximizing the benefits of today’s sophisticated technology.

Founded in 1999, Video Guidance is privately held and headquartered in Bloomington, Minn. Video Guidance is an independent partner of Cisco, Polycom and LifeSize, and maintains strategic alliances with Conference Plus, On Stream Media Corporation, VQ Communications, VBrick, and Accordent. For five consecutive years, Video Guidance has been named to the “Inc. 5,000″ list of the nation’s fastest growing private companies, and is one of the top privately held companies in Minnesota and one of the top 150 telecommunications companies in the nation. In addition, Video Guidance has been named by The Business Journal as one of the “50 Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies” in the Twin Cities, and by Minnesota Business magazine as “One of the Best Companies to Work For.”


Video, Videoconferencing, Voice over Internet Protocol

SPIRIT DSP Announces VideoMost.com 2.0 for White-Label Web Videoconferencing

SPIRIT DSP today announced the next version of its multipoint videoconferencing software for telecom operators, hosted service providers and enterprises, VideoMost.com 2.0. VideoMost is an HD quality, massively multipoint web videoconferencing software-only product, enabling service providers and enterprises to deliver a self-branded videoconferencing service from the cloud or with on-premise installation. The product combines state-of-the-art videoconferencing technology with business collaboration tools, such as conference moderation and management, screen and file sharing, broadcasting, ability to connect SIP endpoints (such as legacy Polycom VC hardware) and many more. VideoMost conferences can be accessed using any standard browser, although the product also has desktop and iPad downloadable clients featuring additional functionality.

“The need for new value-added services is the main topic in today’s telecom world. With the decline of traditional voice service usage due to strong over-the-top and cloud offerings from VoIP and other internet companies, telecom and hosted service providers are looking for services that allow them to compete better.” said SPIRIT’s head of telcos relationships Alex Zakharov. “If a service provider wants to roll-out fast WebEx-like, high-margin, enterprise-focused web videoconferencing service, under its own brand and billing, in a secure and controlled way, from its own data center, VideoMost software licensing is the answer.”

New key features and benefits in VideoMost.com 2.0 include:

  • Videoconferencing on the go with support for Apple’s iPad (the
    VideoMost client is downloadable in the App Store).
  • Enhanced video quality with TeamSpirit®
    Voice&Video Engine 3.2 inside, supporting connections from 512
    Kbps and providing up to 30 fps (frames per second) and 720p
    HD-quality for each participant.
  • Broadcasting/Recording API, allowing the conference speaker to record
    and broadcast to an unlimited number of viewers/participants.
  • SIP integration to support legacy videoconferencing SIP hardware
    endpoints (i.e., Tandberg and Polycom), including SIP-in/SIP-out calls
    from mobile and fixed phones to/from a conference.
  • Support for LDAP and corporate controls with single authorization and
    corporate contact list support.
  • Additional features: file sharing, recording, integration with emails
    and calendars, text chat.
  • Support for all popular browsers, including the most recent versions
    of Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Opera.
  • Debian 6, CentOS 5 and 6, RHEL 5 and 6 and Ubuntu support for the
    VideoMost server.

VideoMost is powered by SPIRIT’s TeamSpirit Conferencing Platform, delivering HD-quality scalable audio and scalable H.264SVC video of up to an unprecedented 1,000 concurrent video channels on a single standard $4000 PC server. VideoMost is uniquely universal, requiring no special hardware equipment to participate (just Internet access, a webcam, a mic and speakers or a headset) and no registration, allowing participants anywhere to start conferencing instantly.

Zakharov continued, “The corporate acceptance of mass-market desktop and mobile videoconferencing is phenomenal. This is partially the inevitable consequence of Moore’s Law, decreased bandwidth costs, the BYOD office trend and evident cost/time saving benefits, along with a large penetration of consumer video calling. What we offer is a sophisticated technology that accumulates more than 10 years of our expertise in scalable, HD and error-resilient VVoIP that ensures truly high audio/video quality, even in best-effort networks that have no QoS. Whether it’s a quad core machine, or iPad, users always get the best quality, with no need for the infrastructure to support heavy and costly servers for media transcoding.”

 

###


Audio, Conference call, Eircom, Ireland, Video, Videoconferencing, Voice, Web conferencing, Webinar/Webcast/Presentation

eircom, PGi Announce Alliance Offering Video, Web, Audio Conferencing Solutions

Eircom Logo

eircom, Irish provider of fixed and mobile telecommunications, and PGi, a provider of virtual meetings whose European headquarters are located in Clonakilty Co. Cork, today announced a new, multi-year strategic alliance.

With this new alliance, eircom will offer PGi’s full suite of video, web and audio conferencing solutions, including iMeet and GlobalMeet, to its business customers in Ireland. iMeet delivers secure, cloud-based video conferencing that enables up to 15 people to meet face-to-face online – anytime, anywhere, from their desktop, tablet or mobile device. GlobalMeet has an easy-to-navigate user interface, requires no software downloads for meeting guests and offers a unique “connect me” feature that automatically calls attendees, making dial-in numbers and passcodes obsolete.

Commenting on the announcement, Peter Smyth, director of marketing & product development for eircom said “eircom is committed to offering the most up to date technology and innovative solutions to our customers. We are delighted to work with PGi who are experts in delivering fully integrated web conferencing and audio conferencing solutions. The new range of products will be of huge benefit to our business customers and will undoubtedly lead to greater efficiencies for them. In today’s business environment where managing time and costs are key, more and more businesses are moving towards web and audio based meetings and our new services facilitate these requirements.”

“We are excited about our new strategic alliance with eircom,” said John Stone, PGi EVP Europe & Managing Director. “eircom has incredible scale and a strong enterprise customer base in Ireland, which is a solid complement to PGi’s deep expertise in the virtual meetings space. Together, we look to provide Irish companies with solutions that help them collaborate in more meaningful ways whilst increasing business productivity.”


Information technology management, Internet Technology, Orange Business Services, Telepresence, Video, Videoconferencing

Orange Launches Cloud-based Telepresence Service

Orange Business Services is enhancing its video services portfolio with Telepresence Pass, a new cloud-based offer that delivers a financially attractive, flexible and scalable solution for its enterprise customers.

Telepresence Pass is an easy-to-adopt and future-proof solution that allows companies to benefit from:

  • a Telepresence infrastructure in the cloud
  • a fully managed service with end-to-end quality guarantees
  • a monthly subscription fee

Telepresence Pass is a simple way for enterprises to harness the benefits of immersive videoconferencing across their companies and with their business ecosystems. Because Telepresence Pass is available as a service, customers do not need significant investments in equipment or in the management of their solution.

“Our ambition is to make video available to enterprises wherever they are, with no limitations,” said Vivek Badrinath, CEO, Orange Business Services. “The key is to offer customers many video collaboration options so that they can choose the solution that best suits their business needs.”

Telepresence Pass joins a wide-ranging portfolio of video services offered by Orange Business Services and is backed by a supportive network environment, extensive conferencing experience, and an overall strategy that enables enterprises to get the most out of their video investments.

“Of all applications, video is probably the most unforgiving,” said Nicolas Roy, head of Network Solutions Business Unit, Orange Business Services. “The Group continues to invest approximately €750 million per year for international network backbone and related IT infrastructure to ensure the coverage, bandwidth and quality required for an excellent video experience.”