Discussions

Edited by author 06-14-2007 07:16 AM

Manek Dubash is Editor of Network Weekly, and writes a weekly column for NewsWireless.

Here is where it's best to post replies, comments and the like for his attention!

Manek Markups

Somehow, our columnist thinks, it may be possible for 3G wireless to see off rival technologies until a genuine 4G system is available.

But can WiMAX really be that alternative?

Part of the problem with video conferencing is the manufacturers who build the systems have never embraced the service provider industry. in the market we have Internet service providers, cell phone providers, ld providers, etc. Most people have a cultural stigma to using video because of poor expeirences in the past. I.E. Meeting not starting on time, poor audio -video quality, poor environment. My experience shows if you have top down support, measurable return on investment and ease of use video conferencing can be succesful at an organization. This level sets expectations for end user, just like they know what to expect in a conference room meeting. The author is correct, nothing replaces face-to-face meetings, so identifying audio conferences or webex presentations that could be replaced with video is a good place to start. What do you do during these type of calls, I multi task and also feel drained after long conference calls. DOn't have this with video.

I agree with the author that green initiatives are not the way to justify video conferencing. It is more of a marketing ploy to improve the market perception of the company. While reducing emissions is still important for future generations, the far more measurable return is productivity decline on the front and back end of business trips.

Just my two cents.

What are your opinions about the free video chat market? I wirte for ooVooworld, the unofficial WOM world for the free video chat download ooVoo, and have had feedback from small businesses increasingly using this kind of application now you can get profeesional quality and multi-user facilities with something like ooVoo.

Sure, it's not the same as face to face but it does seem a viable alternative for smaller meetings and businesses unwilling to outlay for a fancy expensive system. I'm amazed by how many people use it daily now instead of text chat online.

Do you think it will just become more ubiquituous across the board rather than just for big business high profile Telepresence-type gatherings?

Shapes... of things to come?

This week, it's packet/traffic shaping that has Manek focused on the future of ISP... and IP.