Cisco virtual desktop users to get access to Jabber HD voice and video

IDG News Service - Users of Cisco's virtual desktop system will soon be able to engage in voice and video communications with their colleagues using the Jabber instant messaging tool.

Previously, Cisco virtual desktop users could tap into Jabber's IM text communications and presence capabilities, but a newly developed software component will make it possible for them to also do high-definition voice calls and video conferencing.

In this way, users will get an expanded set of capabilities to collaborate at work, acccording to Phil Sherburne, vice president of Enterprise Smart Solutions Engineering at Cisco.

The new software component is called Virtualization Experience Media Engine (VXME) and it extends the Jabber capabilities within Cisco's Virtualization Experience Infrastructure (VXI) Smart Solution desktop virtualization system, Cisco said on Thursday.

The expanded Jabber features for VXI systems will be first available for Cisco's own Virtualization Experience Client (VXC) 6215 thin client in March, followed later in this year's first half by Dell Wyse's Z50D thin client and Windows PCs and thin clients.

The VXME software uses computing and processing resources of the user's desktop device, and it also makes the VXI system network aware of desktop device's voice and video traffic, according to Cisco.

Cisco also announced on Thursday that Logitech and Jabra plan to release new accessories for Cisco virtual desktop users in March, including a keyboard, mouse and webcam from Logitech and a Jabra handset.

Juan Carlos Perez covers enterprise communication/collaboration suites, operating systems, browsers and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. Follow Juan on Twitter at @JuanCPerezIDG.