“I want to interview a potential job candidate in Toronto and not leave San Diego.  What are my options?”  In modern times no one wants to fly if they don’t have to.  As travel becomes more stressful, expensive, and time consuming, business people are looking for technology solutions to allow them to conduct face-to-face meetings nationally/internationally without leaving their city.  Our sister company, Kramm Court Reporting, has set up depositions for clients throughout the USA and Europe using videoconferencing. 

The question is:  what are your options?
 
a.  ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) is a set of CCITT/ITU standards for digital transmission over ordinary telephone copper wires.  ISDN has been the standard used in the USA and internationally because of the high quality audio and reasonable-to-good quality picture.

b.  IP (Internet Protocol) is the method or protocol by which data is sent from one computer to another on the Internet and is emerging as the technology of choice for videoconferencing.  The key to successful IP is bandwidth.  To provide predictable performance, IP videoconferencing requires significant bandwidth with minimal delay, jitter, and loss.  The inability to provide the required network quality has been one of the major obstacles affecting the popularity of this application.  The Discovery Conference Centre has a T1 Covad dedicated line for IP videoconferencing. 

c. Skype:  Clients are calling requesting Skype using internet protocol.  Skype is free software.  When Skype was first put into the market it was meant to be an audio application and the video was added later.  T1 technology is available via a CT5 connection. Webcam connections between computers do not, as a rule, provide any of the security that is part and parcel to true video conferencing solutions provided by professional videoconferencing studios.

Beware of Skype:  It is widely reported it is easy to hack into a Skype event.  If one were to Google “Skype” and “hack,” numerous sites come up ready to sell you software that would allow you to capture someone’s transmission.

Tips for Video Conferencing:
a. Be conscious of time.  The public rooms and line charges will be billed on an hourly basis.
b. Expect your VC provider to do a test of both sites the day before the event.
c. Multiple parties can participate with a combination of ISDN and IP lines.  Your videoconference service provider will set up a bridge to facilitate a multiparty videoconference.

Videoconferencing is an excellent option to save money and time.  Discovery Conference Centre offers ISDN and IP technology.  Call us for more information or to set up your next videoconference event.