Video Conferencing Blog

AV Installation – Engineer Your Audio Visual Experience

When it comes to Audio Visual (AV) and videoconferencing installation CCOMM are one of the UK’s foremost specialists, having completed installations for some of the world’s leading companies (Shell, BP, Ford, 20th Centruy Fox and KPMG to name but a few) and for almost twenty years across the globe. However, if you haven’t thought about hiring AV and VC Installation specialists in the past then it is about time you started.

- The performance of the technology currently available is now of such a high standard that you will not be disappointed – and with bandwidth becoming less and less of an issue high definition video and audio quality is now a reality.
- Whilst performance levels of the products have improved greatly, the costs have gone down. There is a very competitive market with a wide range of products available – this has led to a reduction in costs and now any business, small or large, can afford it.
- Potential for Return On Investment (ROI) – especially with videoconferencing and digital signage all companies should see the products start to generate cost savings and start helping you to make a profit. A good digital signage solution can attractive visitors and inform them of special offers increasing revenue and videoconferencing can make huge budget savings by cutting out flights, expenses and saving time.
- Work place productivity should also increase greatly with the addition of new technology and a professional AV installation. Whether it be presentation screens, a videoconferencing system, improved microphones and speakers or simply a new smart whiteboard the collaborative working environment should greatly improve.
- Finally at CCOMM we only employee the best engineers – so when we undertake a project with you, you can rest assured that fully qualified technicians and engineers are providing you with a great installation.

Across the internet there are hundreds of blogs and websites trying to tell you what the main benefits of a Telepresence or videoconferencing system are – but I think that the five listed by Polycom are perhaps the most popularly held – and coupled with a Return on Investment example there is now no reason why your business should not be making the most of the new technology available.

Reduced Travel Costs
In a globalised business world and with the cost of travel getting more and more expensive and less and less glamorous there is now no longer the need to spend hours on a flight at a huge cost. Meetings can be made from the comfort of your own office and at high definition standard – it really is as if other participants are sat just across the table from you.

Corporate Social Responsibility
The carbon emissions saved by not travelling makes videoconferencing a near perfect “green technology.” With an emphasis on businesses to be responsible for their environmental actions an investment in VC can go a long way.

Gain A Competitive Advantage
With competition between companies at an all time high why not steal an advantage over your rivals by increasing productivity by creating a collaborative working environment. Also cost savings made through VC can be spent in other areas of the company.

More Efficient Hiring, Firing & Training!
The hiring process can be very lengthy and costly, especially when candidates are located in different cities. With video interviews time and money can be saved and also recorded and reviewed. Training sessions can also benefit through video as more people can join the session from the comfort of their own desk.

Increased Productivity
Use video technology to bring employees together wherever they are located. Research shows the participant involvement is 80% higher over video compared to audio.

When it comes to Return on Investment (RoI) it of course is dependent on the nature of the business and the adoption of videoconferencing and Telepresence equipment. If have have a look at vpod solutions model for RoI we can see that the argument is extremely compelling.

Figures

In order to calculate an accurate RoI (Return on Investment) for the purchase of a v3 unipod, usage data from the 8 pods was gathered over a typical month period, June 2008.
When reviewing the data, an assumption has been made that only 1 in 4 meetings has saved one person from travelling.

Data

Total calls for 8 v3 unipods
= 1204
Average calls per pod per month
= 150
Assuming 1 in 4 meetings saves 1 person from travel, total no. of travel savings
= 37
Example of an average cost for same day or overnight travel in Europe
= £800
Total travel cost saving
= £29,600

Results

Return on investment (ROI) per v3 unipod in months
= 1.7 months
CO2 reduction per v3 unipod
= 9 Tonnes
Travel time saved (calculated @ 8 hours per trip)
= 296 hours (37 working days)

On this very achievable model we can see that the pay back is under two months! Making the argument for installing a Telepresence or videoconferencing system even more attractive.

Videoconferencing and Telepresence are part of a £2.5-3 billion real-time collaborative market that encompasses web-based conferencing products and services as well as video and audio. To get your business set up for the New Year you need to consider the three core areas of the videoconferencing and Telepresence which include -

Boardroom endpoints – these systems can host up to 32 participants in a single room and are designed and engineered to be used in collaborative environments like boardrooms, meeting rooms and auditoriums.

Desktop videoconferencing – with a camera and microphone now installed on most new laptops and PCs these systems are designed for single-person use. Products such as the Lifesize Passport have taken this sector to new heights and now gives the user a portable HD videoconferencing unit.

Video infrastructure – crucial to the success of these endpoints is the infrastructure which supports them. The video bridge and network need to be operating as efficiently and smoothly as possible to ensure that there are no problems such as packet loss and grainy images.

Once you have made the decision to go ahead and install a videoconferencing system all you need to do is make sure that you get the infrastructure and products. By partnering with a company like CCOMM your integration to the world of video can be seamless and you will soon be able to enjoy the benefits and ROI (Return On Investment blog coming next week!)

Videoconferencing in a meeting room

A new whitepaper has today declared that 2011 is the Year of Videoconferencing.

Key points from the document -

Key Factors

Travel is expensive – in this rightsized economy, reducing costs is always a key factor for acquiring any new system or product. Travel costs far outweigh videoconferencing costs

Videoconferencing pricing has plummeted – we have seen videoconferencing systems costs go down by 15% to even 30% in the last 30 months, making videoconferencing a very cost effective face-to-face meetings

Web conferencing and conference calling are standard practice for meetings today. Videoconferencing is now the next logical step in the evolution of the virtual meeting environment now a part of our mainstream culture

Broadband and converged networks are here – IP is now everywhere and is flat rate. Bandwidth is now less expensive compared with the same 36-48 months ago Videoconferencing is now much easier to use and ease of use equals greater use and acceptance of videoconferencing in the market at large

Other Factors

Meetings are now recordable and have the ability to be played back for later viewing. Training via videoconferencing is “hot” for organizations requiring certifications and regular training

Everyone is now mobile – and videoconferencing is a way to connect individuals across large geographies without disruption

HD video is here – HD as we have come to embrace in the consumer market, is now available in the commercial videoconferencing space. Videoconferencing quality is now what you have come to expect from satellite and cable providers at 720p/30 frames per second and 720p/60 f/sec

Focusing on the key factors the document highlights the benefits of videoconferencing as being dramatic, bringing individuals together across the organization and speeding up business sales and processes,

To read the complete document, which is sponsored by Lifesize click here – http://resources.idgenterprise.com/original/AST-0016969_Why_2011_is_the_Year_of_Videoconferencing.pdf

CCOMM, the Audio-Visual and Videoconferencing experts, have today announced it has appointed Chris Gibson as its new Business Development Manager. Based in the Aberdeen office Chris will be responsible for spearheading the sales approach across the business, focusing specifically on the Oil & Gas sector where he has been working for the past 15 years.

Chris Gibson commented today that: “Based on its experienced, vibrant and highcalibre team, ambitious yet realistic views and depth of expertise, together with an already strong customer base, CCOMM is firmly established as a leading technology solutions provider. Looking to the future with the breadth of the CCOMM product and service portfolio and range of targets, we are now in a very strong position to offer a wide range of services to our customers in the Oil & Gas sector.”

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The most common videoconferencing question CCOMM is asked on a regular basis is: “what is the difference between Telepresence and videoconferencing”? To answer this question we offer the following definition of Telepresence:

Telepresence is the ultimate videoconferencing experience, optimising the relationship between the room environment and technology to give the impression of being in the same room as the people you are communicating with, regardless of their location.

The hype around the buzz word – Telepresence – has only served to create confusion and over simplify what is in essence an incredibly simple theory – to make videoconferencing the communication medium it should always have been and with todays technology it is a reality.

Being industry experts CCOMM are more than able to not only give a definition for the difference between the two – but also offer solutions and installations to an exceptionally high standard on each with options like the Vpod making it a far more affordable option then previoulsy thought.

For more information get in touch with the CCOMM sales team on 01727 758 000

CCOMM ARE PROUD TO BECOME A CERTIFIED RESELLER OF VPOD SOLUTIONS

Please see below for more details on vpod and be sure to keep returning to keep up to date on the latest developments.

Alternatively follow the following link to the vpod

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

28^th January 2009

VPOD SOLUTIONS LAUNCHES VPOD,

CORPORATE VIDEOCONFERENCING IN A BOX

Technology workplace specialist, vpod solutions ltd, has announced the launch of vpod, a standalone, turnkey videoconferencing facility with an extremely small physical and environmental footprint.

vpod is a revolutionary concept that has been developed to function as a completely self-contained, pre-fabricated videoconferencing suite. The design includes pre-fabricated walls, acoustic panels, climate control, power, network connectivity, lighting and furniture, which includes a 50-inch high definition monitor.

Vpod is product independent and can accommodate next-generation videoconferencing systems, including telepresence-capable units, so customers can choose whatever system they wish to use.

The compact nature of the vpod unit means it can be located in small sections of unused office space, such as under utilised ‘break-out’ areas, atriums or reception areas, making the most of potentially wasted office space, as well as reducing avoidable travel costs, which contributes to its environmental advantages.

Vpod is already attracting considerable interest, with a number of corporate customers signed up to use the system as part of their VC strategy for 2009. In fact, early reports demonstrate a payback period on investment in the system of just six weeks.

A key benefit of the vpod system is its flexibility: it can be installed in around half a day and, because of its modular nature, it can be easily relocated if necessary.

A simple ‘walk up and book’ booking system sited on the outside of the vpod eliminates most of the bureaucracy and administration resource traditionally associated with booking videoconferencing time in traditional meeting rooms.

vpod also brings with it a number of hidden benefits, including associated issues relating to corporate social responsibility, carbon footprint, reduction in both travel costs and time, leading to improved productivity.

vpodcurrently comes in four configurations: the UniPod, with a footprint of just 7.4 square metres, can be accommodated in extremely small areas and is suitable for up to three users; the DuoPod has a footprint of under 15 square metres, accommodates up to six users and can be installed against internal or external walls to save space, whereas the TriPod comes in at under 22 square metres and can hold 9 users; finally, the QuadPod is designed to deliver four separate conferences for up to 12 users. The unit is designed for installation in free circulation areas in or around receptions, atriums or breakout areas and has a footprint of just 30 square metres.

“Both HD end points and the ability to connect videoconferencing systems to IP networks has made the virtual conference room a serious proposition for any business,” says vpod’s Vice President of sales and marketing, Mike Entwistle. “But for many companies vpod makes the idea of a dedicated, high-quality videoconferencing facility a reality, even for relatively small companies.”

The vpod units are available now, via a global reseller network. Prospective customers can see demonstration units at the vpod offices in St. Alban’s, UK.

Entwistle concludes: “The product development plan for vpod is very exciting and new designs and applications are already underway.”

This is a great link to follow if you want to stay up to speed with industry developments.

www.vcinsight.com

The list of events looks worldwide and 12 months ahead; next up is IBC in Amsterdam, 12-16 September 2008 and the IP Environmental Conference at Canary Wharf, London on 17 September

Sony has shipped 400 units of this 1080i resolution HD videoconferencing solution in the first month.