subject: The Need for Videoconferencing Managed Services [print this page] The Need for Videoconferencing Managed Services
You only get one chance to make a first impression. In the videoconferencing world, a failedvideo meeting is often so embarrassing and stressful that it drives a user away from thistechnology for many years. Stories abound about users who tried to use videoconferencing10+ years ago and suffered such humiliation that they vowed never to try it again. In otherwords, short term failures can have a long-term impact on user behavior.
Unfortunately, eliminating videoconferencing failures is no easy task. First of all,
videoconferencing devices are typically very complex to install and configure, requiring the
user to understand a wide range of audio-visual, network, and videoconferencing-related
topics. Once installed, the videoconferencing systems are not particularly easy to use, oftenrequiring users to navigate through complex menus and enter cryptic dialing strings in order toplace calls
Things become even more challenging when advanced feature and capabilities, are
introduced. Some of the most commonly sought out features include multipoint calling, content sharing, audio add-on, session recording, and more. Technology issues aside, the logistics associated with video meetings can often be overwhelming. A typical call, for example, might involve the coordination of rooms in multiple locations and time zones distributed across multiple companies. Such situations often involve videoconferencing systems from multiple vendors; a common phenomenon that introduces interoperability issuesinto an already confusing mix. In addition, videoconferencing is dependent upon a wide range of items that are often out ofthe local user's and local support person's direct control. These include LAN and WAN bandwidth and audio-visual equipment. Perhaps worst of all, videoconferencing sessions tend to include high profile meeting participants seeking to discuss important topics in a timely basis. These executive users haveno time, no patience, and no interest in dealing with technical issues. The net is that videoconferencing is incredibly complicated, involves significant coordination
and logistics, and can be impacted by a wide range of external items. For these reasons, andmany others beyond the scope of this document, videoconferencing within the typical enterprise is extremely prone to failure. A well defined, properly implemented videoconferencing managed service staffed by
videoconferencing-savvy professionals can help an organization provide its users with a highperformance, highly reliable internal videoconferencing service
