TMCnet Conferencing Week in Review

From consumers and businesses, the advantages of video conferencing, Web conferencing, virtual conferences and collaborative events are also being extended to educational institutions, medical facilities and many other organizations. So, this past week there were many exciting announcements in this community.

For instance, contributing writer Monica Gleberman reported that cloud-based collaborative video editing solutions provider WeVideo has teamed up with the Qatar Foundation International (QFI) to help students in the United States foster a relationship with those in Qatar. As part of this new initiative, 39 students from both the countries will begin using the online cloud service to work on projects together that will be displayed in Washington D.C. this March, wrote Gleberman.

Gleberman’s report quoted Maggie Mitchell Salem, executive director of Qatar Foundation International, as saying, “WeVideo’s cloud-based collaborative film editing is a perfect fit for our student exchanges. The trips are just the first step towards sustained interaction between U.S. and Qatari schools… WeVideo is providing to be a vital tool in cementing and enriching their experiences,” added Gleberman.

Likewise, video conferencing and network gateway solutions provider Connexus will be providing video conferencing solution to a psychologist. As a result, remote patients will now be able to connect with psychologist Jameca Falconer and receive counseling via Connexus-on-Demand, a desktop video conferencing service that is based on the Vidyo (News - Alert) desktop video conferencing platform, reported TMCnet contributor Shamila Janakiraman.

Janakiraman’s report published a statement made by Jameca Falconer, founder of Diverse Ventures, the St. Louis-based counseling company. Falcone said, “The cost was very important for us. We wanted to provide services to patients in a facility over a hundred miles away that otherwise might not receive one on one counseling.”

Similarly, TMCnet contributor Deborah Hirsch reported that standards-based unified communications provider Polycom (News - Alert) is helping UK-based stroke specialist NHS Cumbria & Lancashire Cardiac and Stroke Network (CSNLC) to provide telestroke service to remote stroke victoms. Polycom’s video conferencing solutions will connect remote stroke victims to specialist during the most critical time of their lives, wrote Hirsch.

In this scheme, 15 stroke consultants from six participating Acute Trusts connecting eight hospitals are able to take stroke specialists to the patient enabling timely diagnosis and treatment, saving lives and over £8 million a year, reported Hirsch.

 At Lotusphere, Avistar (News - Alert)  Communications Corp., specializing in unified visual communications solutions, demonstrated a fully comprehensive virtual desktop videoconferencing solution. According to Mike Dignen, senior VP Sales, Avistar, “With these solutions, Avistar solves a very important need for UC users.” Gartner (News - Alert) estimates that there are 3 to 4 million virtual desktops in production today and predicts that there will be up to 4.5 million by the end of 2012. With that number growing rapidly to 50 million by 2014, it means that more and more unified communications (UC) users will require solutions that run within these VDI environments, wrote contributor Shamila Janakiraman.

Contributor Calvin Azuri’s report revealed a new iV2VIP video softphone from Wind Currents Communications for the iTunes store. Available with a large keypad display, picture-in-picture and contact management options, the iV2VIP app makes use of the H.264 video codec to offer global in-network video calling over any Wi-Fi Internet connection via iPhones or iPads (iOS 5),  wrote Azuri.

Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO East 2012, taking place Jan. 31-Feb. 3 2012, in Miami, FL. ITEXPO (News - Alert) offers an educational program to help corporate decision makers select the right IP-based voice, video, fax and unified communications solutions to improve their operations. It's also where service providers learn how to profitably roll out the services their subscribers are clamoring for – and where resellers can learn about new growth opportunities. For more information on registering for ITEXPO registration click here.

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