However, the lack of a Medicare rebate for a video consultation – in the past a consultation had to be face to face before a refund was paid – stopped organisations in the health industry from buying videoconferencing solutions, Chetner says.
The future is mobile
A future growth area for video and SMBs is consumer devices such as iPads, Chetner says. “There will be a demand for organisations to have apps on them, video or otherwise. Video apps on the iPad will extend the ability to have videoconferencing wirelessly, not just in boardrooms.”
Apple’s Facetime and Skype are good examples of applications that have driven video calls, but Chetner is critical that these platforms only allow calls between each other. “Only once these platforms are opened up to allow calling from anyone to anyone will the power of video calling on devices across all platforms be harnessed, whether that is Android, iOS, Skype, etc.”
Polycom’s strategy is to deliver high definition telepresence and content sharing across a range of mobile device platforms, including Android, BlackBerry, Microsoft Windows 7, and Apple devices.
“This technology will include integrated feature-rich mobile clients, standards-based architecture, and the Polycom UC Intelligent Core (allowing the ability for multi-point calls).
“This fits perfectly in service provider networks to enable cloud-based (communications) delivery to consumers and enterprises.”
Polycom’s first foray into the world of mobile apps was with Samsung. The Polycom application Telepresence m500 is based on the Android platform and is available. “It uses the tablet hardware to control voice and video quality. Users will also be able to video call between Android devices, such as two Galaxy Tab tablets, and between different devices, such as a tablet and a phone.”
LifeSize Communications has also just developed HD video content streaming on mobile devices, such as iPhones or iPads, using LifeSize Video Centre. Videoconferencing can also be used over the just- released iPad 2, which comes with two cameras.
The expansion of video conferencing from dedicated systems to devices of all brands, shapes and sizes is another important driver in its growth.
Cisco’s cross platform application, Jabber, incorporates Cisco’s presence technology, instant messaging, desktop sharing, conferencing, video messaging and voice. Jabber links into Cisco’s own unified IP devices, WebEx MeetingCentre and TelePresence.
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