Types and possibilities of the VIDEOCONFERENCING modern systems

Though for September, 2014 the market of VKS (video conferencing) still shares between two technology approaches – hardware and program – the ratio of these solutions changes. Demand for program VKS grows quicker and probably this trend will remain. By estimates of Mind company, growth rates of sales program VKS till 2017 will make about 30% in Russia (while on hardware solutions – this indicator will not exceed 8%).

According to the expert of Mind, in Russia, most likely, influence on the market and other factors will be noticeable. By Mind estimates, up to 70% of solutions VIDEOCONFERENCING it is delivered in the organization of public sector. It is quite possible that in connection with the changing relations between Russia and the West the nature of deliveries and purchases of solutions of the western vendors will change. As a result, the public sector can change preferences and look at the East and towards domestic manufacturers. One of key trends in the market of VKS is use of the WebRTC standard at the moment — technology with the open code which is actively advanced at present by Google. It allows to perform video communications in real time via the browser and to reproduce audio and video content in excellent quality. Mind expects that next year all main players of the market will implement WebRTC in the solutions. In fact, the video conferencing from discharge of an exclusive for top management passes into a mass segment now and becomes the technology available to all staff of the company.

One more trend in the market of VKS, is considered in Mind - it is distribution of mobile solutions. Today applications on the IOS platform and Android are developed by most of decision makers of VKS. Mobile applications allow to use products VIDEOCONFERENCING without loss of quality of video and audio communication. Main advantage is here that employees can participate in video conferences or webinars where they were. Thus, it allows to save the employee's time and also increases productivity of a company performance in general.

Software solutions for video conference and video conferences

Software solutions for video conference and video conferences require for the organization of operation of the personal computer with the webcam connected to it and the headset. Programs such are divided into paid and free. In particular, commercial products offer:

• Adobe Connect,
• BlueJeans,
• ClikMeeting,
• Fuze,
• Google Hangouts,
• GoToMeeting,
• Skype for Business (ранее Microsoft Lync),
• Mind,
• Mirapolis,
• Pexip,
• Skype,
• TrueConf,
• Videomost,
• Vidyo,
• WebEx,
• Webinar.ru.

From suppliers of free technologies it is possible to select as widely known services Skype QIP, Tango or ICQ, and applications Videoport Microsoft NetMeeting, VC software, Ekiga, HoneyQ, ooVoo, etc.

Paid solutions provide broader functionality at holding of conferences (for example, the large number of participants) and compatibility with hardware solutions of a video conferencing of different producers (thanks to the open SIP and H.323 standards is supported).

The minimum initial investments belong to the main advantages of software solutions of VKS, first. It can be cheap (in comparison with hardware solutions) or even the free systems. Long time was considered as their main shortcomings low quality of the video image (low resolution and low frequency of the personnel) and also sharp quality degradation when using the mode of video conferences. However for 2014 technologies already allow to provide video communication in ultrahigh quality 4K of Ultra HD.

Hardware solutions for video conference and video conferences

Hardware solutions for communication by video conference and video conferences are much more expensive program, but historically are considered as more reliable for ensuring quality of communications. Such solutions support television (including HD) transmission quality of the image and also connection of different external video sources, ensure stable functioning. Among the main producers of such solutions it is also possible to call:

• Avaya (Radvision),
• Cisco (Tandberg),
• LifeSize,
• Polycom,
• Sony,
• Vidyo,
• Huawei.

Cloud VKS

Today not always traditional – set by integrators - the equipment for a video conferencing is more reliable for the customer, than cloud VKS. At the same time cloud solutions are more focused on reducing the price and simplifying infrastructure. They visually implement the principle of payment only for the used resources. These technologies and for functionality do not concede to traditional solutions, and on security level any more – they can be used in segments of B2B and B2G. In principle solutions are not so new – similar services are delivered 10 years and show high growth rates from year to year.

Cloud VKS offer, in particular, the companies:

• Adobe Connect,
• BlueJeans,
• ClikMeeting,
• Fuze,
• Google Hangouts,
• GoToMeeting,
• Skype for Business (ранее Microsoft Lync),
• Mind,
• Mirapolis,
• Skype,
• TrueConf,
• Videomost,
• WebEx,
• Webinar.ru.

Categories of the systems of video conferences

It is also possible to select several categories of the VKS systems – first, group - i.e. video conferences for participation of several people from each party of VideoMost, and, secondly, the personal systems - are intended for comfortable video communication of one person.

The group systems of a video conferencing represent the high-quality devices providing comfortable carrying out video conferences between removed groups of people. As a rule, such systems provide a high image quality with the clear easily perceived sound at easy intuitive management.

The personal systems of a video conferencing are intended for connection of one user to different video conferences. A personal system can represent both the inexpensive videophone, and the comfortable place of the head with the big screen, the high-quality camera and a fine sound.

Selection terms of VKS

For decision-making and the choice of a system of a video conferencing  the head needs to define a main goal of its application:

• holding meetings,
• personnel recruitment,
• efficiency at decision making,
• control,
• distance learning, etc. 

Further it is necessary to consider systems capabilities, its flexibility and also integration with other systems of communications. A priority – an opportunity to participate in sessions of VKS using the mobile device – the tablet, the smartphone or the notebook.

As comment in Mind company, for 2014 modern technologies allow to create very qualitative mobile products. Such VKS applications provide the ultrahigh quality of audio-and video conference comparable to communication quality of hardware solutions.

"The video conferencing will be tied out of place holding meetings, and to the mobile device of participants. Devices can be a little: the home personal computer, the tablet, office notebook and the smartphone – from any of them it is possible to join a conference. In fact this embodiment of the concept of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) — "Bring the own device", - Alexey Mind considers.

Vladimir Mind claims that first of all the customer pays attention to functional criteria of the VKS system — quality of the video image and a sound, reliability of communication and security of video and audio streams. Besides, essential factors are usability and administrations and also reliability of a system. The main sign of a qualitative video conferencing is a reliable work of service in any conditions. At observance of all requirements to communication channels VKS service should run smoothly, on an equal basis with phone and e-mail. Also when choosing a product in the field of VKS the investment payback is important for the customer. Thanks to qualitative solutions of a video conferencing it is possible to cut down expenses of the company on business trips, internal and external negotiations, meetings with clients, management of branches, etc.

"Selecting the specific solution for VKS, the customer should understand accurately how use of video conference will be able to improve processes of internal communication in the company not only now, but also in the long term to pick up the solution which will satisfy requests of the company not only today, but also in several years, considering rapid growth of use of video in everyday life", - Alexey Ulyashkin, the chief of project bureau of DeLight 2000 company summarizes.

Alexey Matytsyn, the head on products of corporate business MegaFon, in turn, notes that, in addition to mobility, significant effect on the market of VKS will be had by development of cloud platforms.

"For many enterprises connection to cloud VIDEOCONFERENCING service from operator or service provider is the ideal solution: there are even no minimum starting equipment costs of a core of VKS network where it is necessary to provide hardware visual communication systems. Service is guaranteed by the telecom operator, is available from any point to all regular and remote workers, does not require costs for maintenance of a system and technical specialists for its service, is flexibly scaled depending on requirements of the company", - experts of the operator comment.

In addition to actually system implementation, it is also necessary to provide a possibility of creation of a special mediarkhiv for management of video resources (among which there can be written video conferencing sessions) – such as quick search of content, fast viewing a part of the written video image, planning of record and broadcasting, the organization of secure access of the employees including working far off.