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BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER: THE ROLE OF SERVICE BUREAUS

Multimedia teleconferencing between two parties is quite simple: a “point-to-point” connection (via modem, local area network, or ISDN line, for example) links the two sites and the conference is under way. When three or more parties wish to interact, on the other hand, they require a “multipoint” bridging capability—which delivers a quantum leap in technology, capacity, and features. A conferencing bridge requires an investment in hardware, software, networks, and human resources, along with ongoing management and maintenance. To avoid these expenses, many companies rely on a teleconferencing service bureau to provide multipoint bridging and end-user support. In addition to the physical bridging of calls, a service bureau also provides the training, troubleshooting, and support users need in the early stages of their multipoint teleconferencing experience.

MULTIMEDIA CONFERENCING STANDARDS

The long-term acceptance and growth of multimedia teleconferencing hinges on the ability of different vendors’ hardware and software to interoperate. In the future, conducting a multimedia teleconference should be as easy as making an audioconference call is today.

Interoperability is especially important in multipoint applications, where more than two sites are involved. Disparate systems from multiple vendors will all need to be able to talk to one another for multimedia teleconferencing to realize its true potential.

The key to interoperability is industry standards. Fortunately, two major sets of International Telecommunications Union-Telecommunications Standardization Sector (ITU-TSS) standards were developed and ratified that are paving the way for complete multimedia teleconferencing interoperability. H.320 represents a suite of standards, ratified in 1990, that address videoconferencing, audio, and control. In 1993, ConferTech founded the Consortium for Audiographic Teleconferencing Standards (CATS), which drove the development of the T.120 standard. The T.120 standards suite addresses infrastructure and protocols for delivering data and graphics images in a multipoint multimedia meeting. The major components of T.120 were ratified in March 1995.

In a convergent industry like multimedia teleconferencing, the importance of standards cannot be overstated. Benefits of industry standards include:

  Optimizing users’ capital investment in technology.
  Minimizing the risks of market fragmentation.
  Accelerating product and market growth.
  Providing a common denominator of functions on which more elaborate capabilities can be built for advanced applications.

To promote the broad use of multimedia teleconferencing based on open standards, nearly 50 industry-leading companies (CATS merged with several other industry standards groups) are working together as members of the International Multimedia Teleconferencing Consortium (IMTC). Members of IMTC include AT&T, British Telecom, PictureTel, Intel, Microsoft, ConferTech, Motorola, and Databeam. IMTC’s goals include promoting open standards, educating the industry on the value of standards compliance, and providing a forum for discussion and development of new standards.

In general terms, IMTC promotes “Standards First.” This initiative encourages multimedia product and service providers to start with compliance with at least the H.320 and T.120 standards. This level of compliance ensures basic connectivity across equipment from all participating providers. Exhibit 5-3-2 lists a few of the standards for audioconferencing and videoconferencing.


Exhibit 5-3-2.  Multimedia Conferencing Standards

Challenges of Multimedia Teleconferencing

Like any upstart industry, multimedia teleconferencing has some room to grow. Product, network, and market issues are being addressed that should lower barriers to trial and usage. The multimedia teleconferencing vendor community is focused on these primary areas for development:

  Product ease of use. Progress has been made in crafting desktop multimedia teleconferencing products that are simple to learn and use yet robust enough to meet the needs of users at all levels of sophistication. But the seamless “point and click” performance users want has not yet been achieved. Ultimately, multimedia teleconferencing products and services need to be as easy to use as telephones are today.
  Network connectivity. Currently, multimedia teleconferencing requires specialized, sometimes awkward network connections. Multipoint dataconferencing, for example, requires two separate telephone lines. Multipoint videoconferencing over a local area network is suboptimal for real-world environments. ISDN solutions are powerful, but reach only a fraction of the potential marketplace. Straightforward, easily integrated networking options are critical for multimedia teleconferencing to fulfill its potential.
  Interoperability. The ratification of the T.120 dataconferencing standards suite represents a major milestone in the creation of uniform international standards for dataconferencing. (H.320 standards-based videoconferencing products already interoperate in most cases.) But significant testing and refinement is yet to be done to ensure true interoperability of various vendors’ products. Purchasers of standards-based multimedia teleconferencing solutions need confidence that the products and services they buy will be compatible with other vendors’ products. The following table outlines multimedia conferencing standards.


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