29 January 2008. Sony has introduced the industry’s first 1080i High Definition (HD) videoconferencing system and it is expected to be priced competitively at about $9,000 in North America and Euros 7000 in Europe. The new system is an expansion of Sony’s HD videoconferencing line-up. It incorporates several functions and features of the company’s PCS-HG90 system released in February 2006. The new PCS-XG80 system combines 1080i resolution and a high frame rate of 60 fields per second to deliver superb live video quality and a very natural alternative to face-to-face meetings. Wide band stereo audio also enhances the overall meeting experience for users with crisp and clear sound.It gives a Natural and Clear Voice quality with a Sony Advanced Echo Canceller. The new PCS-XG80 offers backward compatibility, giving users the option of connecting with HD video quality over the growing number of high bandwidth connections or with Standard Definition (SD) legacy systems, which comply with industry standards, over IP and/or ISDN. In an industry first, this new Sony system also features: (1) BrightFace(tm) that produces clear images even when used in rooms with less-than-ideal lighting conditions; (2) Video Annotation with optional third-party tablet input device; and (3) “One-touch Dialing” with newly-designed RF Remote Commander Unit. The new PCS-XG80 system offers Intelligent QoSTM Function – Intelligently Allocates Video Data Based on the Network Condition to Maintain High-picture Quality; and the H.235 Advanced Encryption Standard for High Security. The new PCS-XG80 system has two network ports (LAN and WAN) to easily bridge between corporate network behind a firewall and the public Internet without using additional firewall traversal hardware or software. Other enhanced features are: (1) Memory Stick (tm) Recording – Video and Audio can be recorded for later review; (2) a built-in Streaming Function for Broadcasting to Large Audiences; (3) Integrated Visual Communication – View images from an IP Camera during a videoconference; and (4) Single cable connection to HDTV with HDMI Interface. Dual stream functionality lets users send two separate parallel streams of live, HD information. Both live camera view and animated PowerPoint data, for example, can be displayed in HD on two different screens or projectors at a remote site. The PCS-XG80 complies with the ITU-T H.239 standard. Presentation data can be transferred at a frame rate as high as 30fps, which makes it possible to present animations during a videoconference. Moreover, by using the “Video Annotation” function of the PCS-XG80, you can clearly point out specific parts of an image by writing on a tablet (See above). With these outstanding data-sharing tools, you can now minimize misunderstandings during your videoconference. The PCS-XG80 supports six-site multipoint conferencing and Continuous Presence Mode with Voice Activated switching. Users can call up to five other remote sites to simultaneously meet, with multi-language support for 20 different languages available through easy-to-navigate menus. There is a Russian version of the Remote. Wide band stereo audio also enhances the overall meeting experience for users with crisp and clear sound. Mike Sekiguchi, general manager for Sony Electronics’ IPELA™videoconferencing group, said: “We believe that the PCS-XG80 system delivers the best available video and audio quality on the market for large corporate organizations, as well as SMEs (small and medium size enterprises), healthcare institutions, education establishments and government bodies that are looking for cost-effective, proven communication technologies. This technology allows people to engage ‘face-to-face,’ without incurring the financial, environmental and human costs of what is often unnecessary travel in today’s global business environment.” The new system is expected to be available this Spring in North America at a suggested list price of approximately $8,999. Kees Hoogstraate, manager of videoconferencing products at Sony Europe, told us the price would be about Euros 7000 in Europe. The Sony PCSA-CHG90 HD camera for the PCS-HG90 codec was priced at $11,000 when it came out in 2006. New Article vc-net headquartered in the City of London wins a VC Insight Award as one of The Five Best Providers of always-on IP Networks dedicated to Videoconferencing in the year 2007 28 January 2008. vc-net - The collaboration Company achieved some significant technological and business milestones in 2007 and introduced an aggressive channel strategy for 2008 to facilitate further growth. vc-net was founded in February 2000 as Europe’s first provider of a telecom network dedicated to videoconferencing. The company provides an “always-on” IP Network to its many blue chip customers. vc-net experienced strong and growing demand for its services in 2007 when revenues almost doubled, mainly due to fast growth in Europe. As “vc-net - The collaboration Company”, vc-net is showing its customers how collaboration is the next paradigm for increased workforce efficiency. vc-net shows customers (1) how to put teams together, (2) how teams interact best to enhance performance, and (3) helps them find and implement the appropriate videoconferencing network and equipment solutions. vc-net offers a hosted Microsoft OCS solution, but the main offering is the reservation-less conferencing service - Hub Meeting which can be found at www.hubmeeting.com. With software written by vc-net, this can integrate any video codec; vc-net is looking at some of the latest codecs for 2008 and to eradicate choppy networks. vc-net is a licensed telecoms carrier (Annex 2 in the UK). The IP network has its major POPs in London, Frankfurt and New York. There are smaller POPs or partnerships in: Australia, Belgium, France, Gibraltar, Ireland, Netherlands, Luxemburg, Spain, and Switzerland in Europe; and in Canada, India and Kuwait. vc-net had 24 partner telecom providers helping it to achieve this global reach at the end of 2006. In 2007, vc-net added satellite offices in Los Angeles, Mumbai, Shanghai, and Sydney and there are plans to add Paris early in 2008. In 2007, vc-net achieved important accreditations with its strategic partners, including Cisco, Novell and Microsoft (Gold Partner status). In addition, vc-net moved into new purpose–built premises in London and doubled the capacity of its data centres there. This enabled the company to provide more customer-hosted network services to large companies. Not all of the major customer wins in 2007 have been announced but here are two that have. In 2007, for Jimmy Choo, the world-famous luxury brand, vc-net helped to find and implement the right components for its high-performance multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) network to provide consistency throughout the organisation. The company also installed the high-definition videoconferencing facilities linking its main offices across Europe and the US, as well as VoIP telephony to help decrease internal call costs. Jimmy Choo and vc-net won ‘Private Sector Project of the Year’ at Computing Awards for Excellence in 2007. Also in 2007, vc-net finalised a five-year contract with Archant, a British group which publishes four daily regional newspapers, 85 weekly titles and 75 magazines as well as maintaining 120 websites. Archant’s new managed network will inter-connect all its offices, print centres, home users and trusted partners and enable Voice over IP, Video over IP and rich media collaboration. Under the new vc-net channel strategy, innovative AV, voice and data resellers are invited to assist vc-net in identifying opportunities to satisfy the fast-growing demand for IP network services. In return, resellers can enjoy access to vc-net’s extensive knowledge in networking technology and introductions into some of the largest and most respected organisations today. Dan Somers, Founder and Managing Director of vc-net told us: “2007 has been another outstanding year for us. We developed the company strategy in 2006 so that we can offer a much wider set of services to our customers. They have appreciated this and our revenues almost doubled in 2007 as a result. Further expansion with both old and new customers and through our new network of resellers is planned in 2008.” vc-net enhanced its extensive global IP video network service dedicated to videoconferencing in 2007 and introduced new enterprise collaboration services. That is why vc-net was chosen as one of The Five Best Providers of always-on IP Networks dedicated to Videoconferencing in the year 2007, as it was for the Year 2005 and 2006. New Article The dedicated network for videoconferencing of Network-i based in London wins a VCInsight Award as one of The Five Best Providers of always-on IP Networks dedicated to Videoconferencing in the year 2007 28 January 2008. Network-i’s IP network dedicated to video conferencing is called In-Vision and was started four years ago. The service provides end-to-end connections to the UK, Ireland, Western Europe, and every major city in the United States. In-Vision is an always-on service offered to customers at fixed cost per month independent of usage and at a fraction of price of leased-line networks and MPLS based IP VPN’s. The In-Vision customer base continued to grow rapidly in 2007. Network-i has been operating successfully since 1996. The company based in Slough near London runs an IP network backbone for some of the UK’s leading Internet Service Providers. The company launched a parallel network for the sole use of videoconferencing in 2004 and added Security Gatekeepers, Managed Multi-point Bridging and IP to ISDN gateways. The company then took the service to market through a network of value-added resellers. System Integrators such as VideoCentric are embracing the technology to offer their customers unlimited IP video calls for a fixed monthly fee. David Shimell, MD of Video Centric told us “Our customers are looking for a single source solution with no hidden costs.” David Lucas-Smith, Vice President of Sales, told us “Network-i saw its Videoconferencing network usage double over the course of the year 2007 for the third year in succession.” David continued: “ The company has seen two major developments in 2007, extending the breadth of offering to encompass homeworker solutions and a fully managed service designed to deliver 100% successful video meetings across a large number of sites.” “Network-I’s managed service proposition underwrites the promises that a vendor makes to the business. End user adoption increases dramatically if the service is easy to use. With call launching capabilities for room based systems and 24/7 support, ease of use and peace of mind are key differentiators of our Invision service,” he concluded Videoconferencing users whose endpoints are connected to the Internet can also register their equipment with Network-i’s system giving them a cost effective way of connecting to ISDN-connected Video endpoints. This negates the requirement to install and rent ISDN lines and frequently reduces the cost of new hardware acquisition by up to 20%. This method of connection is particularly popular outside of the UK when dedicated bandwidth may be more expensive. Network-i’s homeworker package is based on the BT Max Premium service which allows a video service to be cost-effectively rolled out to remote sites with limited budget allowances. MCUs and Gateway services located at Network-i datacentres are made available over a highly-tuned ADSL environment. Network-i’s solution is engineered to take priority over ADSL Max products at the exchange and to avoid conflict with general data traffic on the Network-i backbone. Commenting on the year’s progress in 2007, David Lucas-Smith was quick to praise the efforts of Network-i’s reseller partners. “We are fortunate to have prolific partners that are comfortable in a solutions sale environment. We have made significant gains in all market segments, notably Law, Government and Medicine and I am delighted with both the quantity and quality of the contracts we have written this year.” Network-i is not always free to disclose its customer success stories. But one major law firm David described to us linked several UK sites with sites abroad and involved managing the end user experience in places as far away as Dubai, Hong Kong and Australia. In this example, the meeting delegates need only get themselves to the designated rooms where they will find all parties connected 15 minutes before the scheduled meeting time. When we asked David about the prospects for 2008, he said: “We have just received planning permission for our new 20,000sq ft hosting facility and we are expecting to be housing a lot of customer MCUs. In addition, we have some exciting new developments round the corner and there is every chance that 2008 could completely eclipse this last year. Better watch this space!” For all these reasons we have chosen Network-i as one of The Five Best Providers of always-on IP Networks dedicated to Videoconferencing in the year 2007, as it was for the Year 2005 and Year 2006. Advanced Video Conferencing - Professional SolutionsVideo conferencing is basically the integration of audio and video elements into a data system to allow two or more people to communicate simultaneously over a telecommunications medium. Instead of being in the same room, video conferencing will allow individuals located in different geographic locations to conduct a meeting. The main components of video conferencing are cameras, microphones, appropriate software and equipment as well as a high bandwidth data transmission to relay information back and forth among the parties involved.Basic video conferencing works by having a computer codec (short for code-decode) convert analog information captured by a microphone (sound) and camera (image) into digital signals. This digitized information is cut up into manageable units of information called packets. These packets are sent down the data transmission line and are received by the other party where the same codec retranslates the digital data into analog audio and video signals.Advanced video conferencing still works on the same premise, only at a much more sophisticated level. Most basic video conferencing use the Internet and a high speed Internet connection to facilitate a session. The problem with this is that even with high bandwidth access, the Internet can still cause more hiccups in the system because of having so many computers involved. This can therefore result in choppy images and sounds. This can be very distracting and irritating, especially when your meeting will last more than an hour. To address this problem, advanced video conferencing systems use a dedicated line to transmit not only TV quality audio and video signals to the meeting parties, but also other forms of data information like pictures, sound clips and office files. Some systems can actually support a virtual whiteboard where parties can write on the same board. Another feature of advanced video conferencing is a moderation control where you can control who hears what in a conference (something you cannot do in a real life meeting).however, because of these beefed up features, this level of video conferencing can cost quite an amount. That is why there are companies that offer the rental of a facility and/or equipment to parties interested in advanced video conferencing. If you live within a business district, there is bound to be an outfit in your area that offers such services.Tips in conducting a successful video conference:. Have a clear agenda prepared before the meeting and have all pertinent documents and visual aids ready. . Plan the conference as far in advance as possible (especially for overseas calls) to allow for necessary coordination with either the rental facility or with the IT department of your organization. 3. Have the participants be at their conferencing facility 10 to 15 minutes before the meeting begins so that enough time is given to final preparations. Making people wait for one particular individual may aggravate the other parties.Avoid wearing strong-colored clothing (too light or too dark) as this has a distracting effect on video cameras.An advanced video conference or not, these preparation tips will help make your video conferencing a successful one. In the selection of what video conference system to use, weigh the pros and cons. One may not necessarily be better than the other. It is simply a matter of knowing what you need and the parameters (budget included) you have set to get it