Video conferencing: Face to face, far away

The CRN View

Tandberg's proposed sale to Cisco validates overnight a technology that has gestated for 131 years. Wainhouse says Cisco's combination of sales, marketing and gear "will likely raise the water level for all boats [but] some boats will float better than others".

The price-benefit ratio is now where it needs to be for videoconferencing to reach mass business adoption. Inexpensive, high-quality options such as LifeSize's palm-sized Passport busts high-definition videoconferencing out of mahogany row and opens avenues for mobile workers. Generation Y, weaned on video such as camera-phones, YouTube, Skype and vodcasts, is a precocious and comfortable adopter. And as more users accept videoconferencing, capacity grows under the National Broadband Network and standards-based systems gain traction the network effect will give existing users greater utility and reasons to use their gear, especially outside the firewall.

The opportunity rests with resellers that specialise in unified communications, networking (especially Cisco gear) and audio-visual installations to unite to provide their customers with cost-effective solutions that do more than cut travel costs but improve service delivery. If you don't have all the pieces inhouse consider banding together or buying a reseller (subject to due diligence) that has your missing pieces.

Resellers and systems integrators that service vertical industries where travel is a given such as mining or who have customers with geographically dispersed offices have an opportunity to start a conversation about the technology and how it unites the diaspora.

The economy will rebound so the immediate pressure on travel budgets will ease but the benefits from heightened collaboration, improved work-life balance, triple-bottom line accounting and reduced carbon footprints will only become more apparent.