Monthly Archives: November 2010
2010
Cisco Video Conferencing Gains End-To-End JITC Certification
TANDBERG, now a part of Cisco, recently announced that its Video Communication Server (VCS) and several products in its C and EX video conferencing lines have been certified by the Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC). This follows up on TANDBERG’s strong history of leading the industry when it comes to JITC certification for high definition video conferencing options.
What is the JITC? This branch of the U.S. military is responsible for the evaluation of technologies which can give American personnel a high-tech advantage in both peacetime and war. The JITC makes use of an extensive array of software and hardware based testing procedures when evaluating any product that could serve an important role in the military’s technological arsenal, whether directly on the battlefield or in a critical supporting role. JITC certification also ensures that a technological device or system meets the full standards of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) and as such satisfies the Department of Defense’s extensive security requirements.
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2010
Video Conferencing Benefits Expand Beyond Cost and Travel Savings
If you were to ask most business executives to name two benefits to video conferencing, you would almost certainly hear the terms “less travel” and “lower costs” used to describe what this technology can bring to the corporate world. The appeal of cost and travel savings are what initially lured many companies into experimenting with and then adopting TelePresence and video conferencing systems such as those offered by TANDBERG, now part of Cisco. A new slew of positives associated with the use of video conferencing has now been confirmed, however, thanks to a worldwide study overseen by Cisco.
500 professionals working at companies employing 250 people or more participated in the study, which was run by Ipsos.Mori. Truly international in flavor, the effort stretched across three continents and 12 countries to ensure the widest possible sampling of opinions and experiences of those who use video conferencing in the workplace at least once per week.
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2010
Video Conferencing Empowers Public Safety Agencies
During natural or manmade disasters, time is of the essence, and face-to-face interactions provide a much clearer picture of what people are going through than phone calls, email, or text messages. Consequently, a growing number of public safety agencies rely on video conferencing equipment from TANDBERG, now part of Cisco, to streamline communications as well as enhance their training programs.
For example, the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is responsible for preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters in an 1,134-square-mile area housing 700,000 Alabama residents. The agency works with local government departments and private organizations to develop emergency response plans, and a desire to make sure that they all had a common understanding of what was occurring led to the deployment of TANDBERG video conferencing equipment. During Hurricane Gustav in 2008, the county used the system to coordinate placement of 7,000 evacuees, and as a result, a process that could have taken days or longer was completed in a matter of hours.
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2010
Telepresence Embraced by South African Corporations As Corporate Travel Alternative
Communications experts in South Africa recently made public information concerning the growing number of companies in that region of the world thatare turning to video conferencing as an alternative to corporate travel. In fact, the use of video communication solutions from TANDBERG, now a part of Cisco, are being increasingly adopted in order to help lower the carbon footprint of corporations.
Imago Communications SA has studied the South African market and concluded that eco-conscious companies were the ones most likely to adopt video conferencing and TelePresence as important communication tools, capable of replacing standard executive and sales travel. This trend is not just restricted to specific sectors of the economy, however. According to Imago’s managing director Clint Cronjé in a report published by Gadget.co.za, “…business volumes for video conferencing implementation show significant growth across all industries.”
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2010
Cisco TelePresence Calculator Offers Detailed Video Conferencing Cost and Impact Estimates
When making a convincing business case for the use of video conferencing equipment available from companies like TANDBERG, now part of Cisco, it helps to have solid numbers to back up any claims made regarding cost savings or environmental benefits. Realizing that the market was looking for a simple tool that could help provide this information, Cisco has stepped up with the Cisco TelePresence Calculator.
The Cisco TelePresence Calculator is a simple, web-hosted application that gathers information about a company and then offers a realistic estimate regarding the dollar figure associated with adopting a TelePresence solution, as well as the green quotient related to this type of communications strategy. Users can manually input the number of TelePresence units and locations that they see themselves needing, or they can instead select from a range of choices automatically generated based on the size of their business and the distribution of their offices. The Calculator is calibrated to handle companies ranging from those still in the startup stage to fully developed multinational conglomerates.
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2010
Cisco TelePresence Virtual Studio Expands To Mainland China
Cisco has made it a goal to increase the availability of high end TelePresence suites across the world in an effort to improve global communications and open up a new era of connectivity between those in all walks of life. As part of this admirable effort, Cisco recently opened up a new public Cisco TelePresence suite at the JW Marriot at Tomorrow Square in Shanghai, China.
The JW Marriot Hotel Shanghai occupies 60 stories of prime downtown real estate in Shanghai, and provides its guests with five-star service and accommodations. The site was a natural choice for a Cisco TelePresence suite, as the hotel’s central location in one of the country’s most important cities made it an attractive option for Mainland China’s very first Marriot Virtual Meetings studio. The JW Marriot joins seven other Virtual Meeting studios located at other Marriot hotels around the world, each of which offer the same type of public access. In addition to connecting through to these Marriot telepresence hot spots, the Virtual Meeting studio is also capable of interfacing with any other Cisco TelePresence suite, as well as companies using the AT&T Business Exchange system.
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2010
Cisco Conferencing Systems Shatter Guinness World Record
Enabled by Cisco TelePresence, Cisco TV and Cisco WebEx, more than 1,893 people in 12 countries and 34 locations took part in an art class led by Singapore artist Peter Draw. The class size illustrated the flexibility found with Cisco’s video communication technology while etching the event into the Guinness World Book of Records - a noteworthy accomplishment.
The conference was held on Children’s Day, October 7th, an event that has been held since 1925. The day typically involves speeches on children’s rights and well being, youth TV programs, parties, and other activities involving children – who usually get a day off from school.
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2010
Telepresence Reunites Artists Separated By An Ocean
Cisco has partnered with Tata Communications to provide a Cisco TelePresence solution that unites those who share an undying passion for the arts but are separated by the realities of geography. The initiative makes use of several technologies that are also offered by TANDBERG, now part of Cisco.
The highlight of the Cisco-Tata Communications initiative so far has been the world’s first virtual dance rehearsal. By leveraging the power of Cisco TelePresence equipment with the artistic talents of some of America’s and China’s most gifted young dancers, both the Children’s Palace in Shanghai and New York’s National Dance Institute were able to virtually collaborate across thousands of miles. This truly unique form of dance practice was part of the preparatory process undertaken by the Chinese dancers prior to making the actual journey to New York to perform with the NDI.
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2010
Video Conferencing Finding a Niche in Financial Services Industry
Financial services companies are often at the forefront of technical innovation. So, it is not surprising that a number of these corporations have been using video conferencing systems to streamline business processes and improve productivity.
Delivery of fast, accurate information is critical in this market sector, and each day, financial managers across the globe evaluate time-critical investment opportunities. Video communication allows these executives to share information more effectively, answer questions more efficiently and even provide a greater variety of services at more locations.
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