Despite optics, carriers have roles in Cisco’s TelePresence play

At first glance, it seems Cisco Systems Inc. has shut Canadian telcos out of its new telepresence ecosystem. The network equipment maker chose IBM Corp. – not Bell Canada, MTS Allstream Inc. or Telus Corp. – to bring its new high-definition video conferencing system to Canuck businesses. But according to industry observers, carriers do have positions to play in the telepresence game. "They’ll be watching closely to see if are actually getting customer traction," said Brian Sharwood, a telecom analyst at The SeaBoard Group Inc. In early December, Cisco Systems Canada Co. unveiled TelePresence Meeting, demonstrating the platform at its Toronto headquarters. The system had already launched in the US. The flagship version, TelePresence Meeting 3000, includes three 65-inch plasma screens, multiple cameras, and an advanced audio system. It comes with special lighting and a high-tech conference table that blends into the display panels. The result is an audio-visual experience that makes video conference participants feel as though everyone is in the same room, even if some are actually thousands of kilometres away (see box for details). According to Nitin Kawale, Cisco Canada’s senior VP, enterprise and public sector operations, telepresence takes the place of expensive travel for geographically dispersed companies. Cisco will use it internally to reduce travel. Kawale said IBM was the right partner for planning, designing and implementing telepresence because it’s "a pretty specialized experience," and Big Blue has the technological expertise required to understand it. Rod Scotland, Cisco Canada’s product sales specialist, unified communications, said IBM is top-notch in all aspects. Marc Seeman, leader of IBM Canada Ltd.’s network convergence practice, noted that his company has global reach – a necessity for large video conferencing installations, and something most telecom service providers don’t offer. "Telephone companies…are a patchwork," he said. Sharwood pointed out that although IBM is the first certified telepresence partner, it won’t always be the only one. "There have always been companies providing video conferencing," he said. "The problem has always been the network. It was hard to get a fast enough connection between two locations." With their network expertise, telcos could become important participants in the telepresence world. Daniel Therrien, Cisco Canada’s national manager, product and technology marketing, said his company would present a product specifically for carriers in 2007 so telcos would be able to host telepresence for enterprises that don’t want to manage the equipment themselves. Cisco also plans to launch other versions that address needs of specific verticals such as healthcare, banking, entertainment and government. Sharwood said companies other than telcos would likely apply for telepresence certification. He mentioned Accenture and Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) as possible Cisco partners – even though HP has a competing high-definition video conferencing system, the Halo Collaboration Studio. "They’ll listen to the customer," he said, explaining that if an HP client insists on Cisco equipment, HP would oblige.Rick Moran, Cisco’s VP, product and technology marketing, participated in a telepresence demonstration the day of the Canadian launch, appearing by video conference from a room in Cisco’s San Jose head office. That room was similar to the Toronto telepresence room in paint colour and carpet hue, creating what one Cisco rep described as "psychological connectedness" between participants. According to Moran, Cisco will use telepresence to not only reduce expenses, but also to lessen the firm’s environmental impact. Cisco wants to reduce its "carbon footprint" – the amount of carbon dioxide it produces – by 10%. Video conferencing instead of flying or driving to meetings will help.

Despite optics, carriers have roles in Cisco’s TelePresence play

News | 12/21/2006 5:00 am EST

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