Vendors Jump on IP Video Bandwagon

Computerworld - Videoconferencing products fall into two categories: group/room systems, and single-user desktop systems. The endpoint equipment may consist of a stand-alone appliance, or it may connect to a PC using a Universal Serial Bus port or internal add-in card.

Most corporate deployments are group systems. While appliances are easier to use, PC-based units offer better integration with Web conferencing features such as application sharing, says Giga analyst Elizabeth Herrell. Conferencing with more than one location requires a multipoint control unit, which acts as a central call manager. Vendors also offer specialized software that handles bandwidth management and call scheduling and enables the creation of a global address book.

Prices range from less than $5,000 per site for a system supporting up to three callers to $15,000 or more for room systems with large screens. But users also need to consider the incremental cost of upgrading and managing a more complex network infrastructure to support IP videoconferencing, Herrell notes. All systems can support a mix of ISDN and IP connections.

Polycom's iPower 9000

Polycom Inc.

Pleasanton, Calif.

Polycom has more than two-thirds of the market and a comprehensive suite of hardware and software offerings. Products include the $599 ViaVideo PC-based single-user system. Pricing for group systems, which include the ViewStation set-top and PC-based iPower series, start at $3,999.

Tandberg Inc.

Reston, Va.

Tandberg focuses on the high end, offering 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard encryption and directory integration via the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol. Its integrated 2500, 7000 and 8000 systems start at $15,990 per site and go up to $59,990. The 800 and 550 series set-top units start at $4,990 per site. Its 1000 series single-user desktop units start at $5,490.

Sony Business Solutions & Systems Co.

Park Ridge, N.J.

Sony's high-performance, low-cost systems have sold well to small and midsize businesses, Herrell says. Its PCS-1600 series set-top units start at $3,394; desktop units start at $3,994. On the high end, a packaged system capable of supporting six multipoint sessions sells for $21,300.