A Video Hook Up Between PCs is Now Possible

Real time videoconferencing using internet phones has been made possible for less than $200 a year thanks to technology made available from Cisco Systems Inc. Cisco has combined the power of the CallManager 4.0 software, which is made for providing IP voice server functionality, with the client software, Video Telephony Advantage, 1.0. Video Telephony Advantage makes real-time video sessions to be possible on a person-to-person basis and for that functionality to happen transparently.

The management of Cisco describes how this technology makes it possible to connect to another person in the company with voice. But then if both PCs are configured with an internet camera, you will automatically be able to establish a video connection PC to PC. It used to be this kind of technology was only possible in futuristic movies. Leave it to Cisco to take a futuristic idea and make it a today reality.

Even though the call turns into a video conference, all of the features of a regular phone call still can be used. You can put the call on hold or transfer the call to another associate. When you do that, the video transfers with the call. You can even pull in a conference call and all of the other people will be added to the call with video. This can turn a phone conference into a virtual meeting quickly and easily.

Any business that has already invested in CallManager along with a service agreement and the proper Cisco Internet phones can easily add the upgraded version at no cost and then get the PC package from Cisco, which includes the video software and a web camera. That will cost under $200 per user, which is not too costly for such an effective tool.

All of this technology including CallManager and the newest releases of the Cisco VT Advantage package with necessary video equipment is being shipping this spring. The CallManager package is also adaptable because it can work well with other videoconferencing systems including Tandberg ASA and Polycom Inc.

In another announcement, Cisco will be integrating with global standards for Ethernet driven network devices. This step will open up Cisco networks to be accessible by third party products including sensors and wireless access points, which are not driven by a conventional wall socket for power.

That global standard has a formal name of IEEE 802.3af and it is the default on many of the most popular Cisco switching equipment. Cisco offered a privately developed power-over-Ethernet product that was designed in 2000. This was before the standard was put in place. Both the previous equipment and the new 802.3af compliant equipment will be fully supported by Cisco indefinitely.