Polycom this week is delivering on its vision of convergence with Version 4.6 of its MGC conferencing software, which can support audio- and videoconferencing in one chassis.
Previously, two boxes were needed; one for connecting phone-only conferences and one for video calls using ISDN or IP. With the new MGC 4.6 software that runs on the company's MGC 50 (eight slots) and 100 (16 slots) chassis, customers can connect audio and video calls, including mixed conferences with some participating in audio-only with others on video.
"You can dial into a conference regardless of the endpoint, be it a phone, ISDN or IP video," says Mark Roberts, director of business development for Polycom.
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Using a combination of cards that support public switched telephone network, IP and ISDN video, and an interface to a LAN, customers can support up to 600 simultaneous users on one MGC 100 box. Roberts says the number varies depending on how the device is set up. Video requires denser cards for setting up multipoint calls, so the number of simultaneous users is lower.
W.R. Grace in Columbia, Md. is beta-testing Version 4.6 on its MGC 100 box and has saved more than $45,000 in bridging charges over the past four months, says Guy Welty, manager of global media networks and collaborative services. Welty says W.R. Grace relies heavily on conferencing to connect offices around the globe. It is using its upgraded unit to replace third-party audioconferencing services and a Coral audio bridge. Welty says he runs 96 simultaneous calls out of one box with only two cards in it.
"We do hybrid (audio-only and video) calls all the time now," he says. "What used to be a sloppy process - cascading off-phone to a video bridge - is now in one package."
Version 4.6 does not fully support the converged world that Polycom is aiming for in future releases. An extra video and audio port still must be used under the covers to connect both worlds, Roberts says.
Polycom's combined offering competes with products from Radvision and Tandberg.
The software release, which is compatible with older chassis, should ship by the end of the quarter. Pricing starts at $29,950.
RELATED LINKS
Polycom: www.polycom.com
