Nortel readies new videoconferencing tool

28-07-2004

by Martin Lynch

Nortel is preparing to introduce low-cost videoconferencing for companies with 25 users or more in the next release of its MCS 5100 software.

Multimedia Communication Server (MCS) 5100 is a software-based, converged desktop solution that currently offers secure instant messaging (IM), IP telephony, video calling, presence awareness, instant file transfer and audio conferencing on PCs and laptops.

Due in September, MCS 5100 Release 3, will add a host of new features including video-conferencing, which will drastically reduce the cost of videoconferencing for businesses, the company says. Although official pricing has not been released the solution is expected to come in at around USD300 per user -- similar to that of Release 2.

"One of the key benefits to the video-conferencing feature is the fast return-on-investment (ROI)," explains Charlie Wade, Nortel's director of enterprise multimedia systems, at the company's global R&D headquarters in Galway. "Right now, businesses pay between USD0.15 and USD0.25 per minute to a supplier of video-conferencing services. If you multiply that cost across a 100 users, each using video-conferencing for four hours a week, you are paying USD5,000 a week to a third party. Just on video-conference savings alone, you will have paid for MCS 5100 in a couple of months."

Like many converged solutions, the current version of MCS 5100 has a minimum user base of 100, but Release 3 will be available to companies with just 25 users as the hardware requirements to run the software have been halved. Release 3 will also boast Web collaboration features, allowing numerous people to edit documents on the fly, and a range of advanced instant messaging features. These will include the ability to create IM chat rooms for multiple users and to do broadcast IM, which lets you send an IM message or file to more than one person.

One of the key features in MCS 5100 today is the 'presence awareness' facility. This allows users to see the status of work colleagues, regardless of location, by showing them if they are available on-line, at their desk, on the phone, or out of the office. By doing so, users can use the best method of contacting them without sending e-mails or leaving voice messages.

MCS 5100 is already in use by 100 staff at Nortel in Galway, as well as in numerous customer sites in Ireland and across Europe. According to Wade, the productivity gains are already impressive.

"Using MCS 5100 has reduced my e-mail by 20 percent and I'm also getting a lot less voice-mail because colleagues can tell when I'm available and choose the best method of getting in touch" he says. "E-mail and voice-mail are 'blind' communications as you never know if someone is there or not. The 'presence awareness' feature makes communicating with people more intelligent as it shows my status all of the time."