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Tag: telepresence

  • Global Crossing Launches Telepresence Solution

    Global Crossing has announced it is launching an immersive telepresence solution and collaboration tools for high-quality virtual meetings with Teliris.

    The solution is provided on Global Crossing’s Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS)–based global Virtual Private Network (VPN) and tier-one global public Internet network, “ensuring a reliable and secure connection for this premiere video communication technology.”

    According to the companies, through these innovative collaboration tools, “customers will experience enhanced decision-making, reduced travel costs, lower carbon footprints and increased productivity.”

    “From single screen personal solutions to fully custom engineered meeting environments, Global Crossing’s telepresence solution is easy to use, schedule and initiate, and is fully interoperable with other telepresence systems and traditional videoconferencing services,” as the company claims.

    As an added benefit, customers using Global Crossing’s telepresence solution will be able to video stream telepresence meetings through ON24’s Webcast Center platform that delivers HQ video.

    According to Gartner, the global market for telepresence systems endpoints is projected to grow at a compounded annual rate of 25.7 percent between 2008 and 2013.

    Global Crossing has informed that the volume of its collaboration services grew by 13 percent in the first half of 2010 compared to the first half of 2009. Increased usage was driven in large part by the rising cost of energy, business travel restrictions and other global economic factors, the company said.

    "Our telepresence offer represents a milestone in our collaboration portfolio," said Dave Carey, Global Crossing’s chief marketing officer. "Customers around the world continue to demand a wide range of collaboration tools to conduct meetings without boundaries. This new capability transforms the video conference into a true-to-life interactive experience, leading to better global communications."

    Marc Trachtenberg, Teliris CEO and co-founder, said: "We are thrilled to extend our market-leading immersive telepresence and collaboration experience to Global Crossing and its customers. This partnership is the latest example of how Teliris is providing companies around the world with maximum flexibility through a broad continuum of affordable telepresence solutions that wrap around any business requirement."

  • HD Videoconferencing – A "Compelling" Option For Business


    High definition video has "raised the game" for videoconferencing and telepresence systems.

    That’s the opinion of Rick Snyder, president of Tandberg Americas, who says HD videoconferencing offers a "really compelling visual experience".

    He says this – and the fact the current economic climate has required business travel budgets to be cut – means more and more companies are looking seriously at HD videoconferencing.

    "We think that in the next few years, HD will become the norm," he said

    Speaking at the recent VoiceCon 2009, Snyder suggests that today’s HD videoconferencing systems offer a very compelling ROI – in some cases their cost is equivalent to a couple of international business trips.

    So as well as increasing productivity he says they can have a positive impact on a company’s bottom-line – and on the environment.

    Below is a video interview with Rick Snyder (his comments on HD start at 4.12mins) from VoiceCon.

  • Growth Strong In HD Videoconferencing and Telepresence


    A third of videoconferencing managers report that the economic crisis is likely to lead to an accelerated deployment of equipment rather than a slowdown.

    A survey from Wainhouse Research reports that customers are continuing to invest in "visual collaboration solutions", even in the current economic climate.

    It says the two largest drivers for this are travel reduction and improved decision making.

    Nearly a quarter of respondents have either deployed telepresence suites or are planning on deploying within one year.

    It’s not just full-room telepresence systems that are experiencing growth but videoconferencing solutions generally, including desktop videoconferencing applications.

    Wainhouse’s annual survey of videoconferencing end users indicates that in the past year, both interest in and purchases of more advanced visual solutions have increased dramatically.

    The results shows that 32 per cent of respondents have systems that can now support 720p HD videoconferencing.

    To support these and other unified communications applications, customers are continuing their migration to IP, with users reporting that 76 per cent of video calls now take place on an IP network – up from 66 per cent one year earlier.

    In addition, interest in integrating videoconferencing to unified communications platforms has grown significantly, according to the report.

  • LifeSize Launches Full-HD Telepresence System


    LifeSize Communications has unveiled what it describes as the next generation in video communications – a full HD telepresence solution.

    The system provides life-size images and HD audio for as many as six participants at one time.

    Equipped with multiple camera inputs and dual monitors, it offers standards-based 1080p at 30 frames per second and 720p at 60 frames per second.

    LifeSize Room 200 also supports 720p30 dual streams enabling full-motion, high definition data sharing.

    The company claims that with twice the frame rate and half the latency of other HD systems, its new system delivers a communications experience rivaled only by being there in person.

    Craig Malloy, CEO and founder, LifeSize Communications, said Room 200 unlocked the power of telepresence for knowledge workers everywhere.

    The system is already being used by companies such as Reliance Industries Limited and The Blackstone Group.

    “Now more than ever in today’s economic climate customers are viewing high definition video as a critical lever to help them stay competitive, bridge their globally dispersed work groups, and reduce expenses, “ he said.

    Roopam Jain, principal analyst at Frost & Sullivan, said LifeSize Room 200 was the industry’s first shipping 1080p30/720p60 Full HD offering.

    LifeSize Room 200 is now available for order with volume availability in early November 2008.

    Prices are expected to be around USD $17,000.

    For companies looking to cut their travel expenses, the idea of HD teleconferencing must look increasingly attractive.

  • JOBS: Manager of Hardware Engineering with consumer video electronics experience


    Cisco’s Emerging Technologies Group (ETG) focuses on creating solutions in new and adjacent technology markets, and is looking for high energy, high impact individuals who want to help shape Cisco’s future by building our next USD $1B business.

    Consumer TelePresence is a new Business Unit being incubated in ETG, and we are currently seeking a Manager of Hardware Engineering to help lead this incubation through to a significant business. Leveraging technology developed for our enterprise TelePresence product, the fastest growing product in Cisco’s history, CTBU will bring to market a breakthrough, consumer version of TelePresence which will provide a unique, in-person experience when communicating with friends and relatives over the internet.

    Job Description:

    Reporting to the Director of Hardware of TSBU, the Manager of Hardware Engineering will be responsible for the following:

    • Build world-class engineering team
    • Work with product management, market development, and customers to develop, refine, validate, and prioritize product requirements and product roadmaps
    •Work with industrial design team to ensure constraints are met in developing compelling consumer designs.
    • Define product hardware architecture and system level designs based on product requirements and business model.
    • Work with director of software to ensure a complete system and make appropriate trade offs as a team
    • Develop product hardware functional specifications
    • Develop product prototype
    • Make strategic trade-offs in make-buy-partner technology decisions
    • Drive to develop and protect intellectual property for market leadership.
    • Lead development, launch and successful revenue growth of the product(s)
    • Develop, and adhere to, resource plans, schedule, and budget

    Requirements:
    • Previous multiple year experience in the consumer electronics market, bringing multiple successful products to market.
    • Experience with video, audio products and solutions.
    • Track record of developing “disruptive” products and bringing them to market
    • Very high technical competence, individual technical accomplishments with repeated, proven track record for product delivery
    • Entrepreneurial drive, demonstrated ability to achieve stretch goals in an innovative and fast paced environment
    • Strong leadership and management skills, ability to deliver results with a small, fast-paced teams, and ability to work across teams
    • Strong ability to stay in sync with key customer requirements and deliver products to meet the requirements, making appropriate trade-offs
    • Experience in building high performing engineering teams
    • Strong inter-personal skills and teamwork
    • Ability to work and thrive in a true “startup” mode

    Other desired qualifications include:
    • Work experience with successful startups
    • Brought products to market with cameras or displays
    • Experience with visual communications systems.

    This position is located in San Jose, CA, US

    Please click here for more information.