Vidyo Launches Telepresence For Lotus SameTime

Cisco Umi

Cisco says it has been working to make its telepresence technology available to home users for a year. Many analysts question whether it has been successful, suggesting that the high cost of equipment and special lines makes it cost-prohibitive.

These market realities are said to be behind its acquisition of WebEx in 2007 and Tandberg in 2009, as well as the open sourcing of its Telepresence Interoperability Protocol in 2010. The IBM announcement is certain to put more price pressure on the videoconferencing leader.

The Vidyo solution which integrates with IBM Sametime is based on the H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC) standard, and will be demonstrated at IBM's Lotusphere event in Orlando starting Sunday, January 30. Lotus Notes has about 145 million users worldwide.

After I recounted to Noble how I braved Atlanta's ice storm recently to attend a Cisco videoconference 25 miles from my office, he admitted having been stuck in Los Angeles by the same storm, just before an important family event. Fortunately, he had his own product with him.

"I was able to use the cable modem in my hotel to do a teleconference with my family in New Jersey." he said.

The plug-in supports IBM Sametime Connect Client Version 7.5.1 or 8.0.2, IBM Lotus Domino Community Server Version 7.5.1, and runs on Windows XP and 32-bit or 64-bit Windows Vista, Windows 7, and the Mac OS.

SEE ALSO:

Cisco Announces Umi Home Telepresence Service

Cisco's Consumer Telepresence: Umi, Oh My, Not So Fast

Cisco Umi Takes Telepresence To The Home

Adobe Connect 8 Gets Vidyo Plug In

Vidyo, Adobe To Demo Telepresence Plug-In