* Equant offers ready-to-run videoconferencing
International telecommunications service provider Equant last week unveiled its IP Video Solution service package for small to large enterprises.
The carrier is teaming with Cisco, videoconference gear vendor Polycom and videoconference bridging service provider Genesys Conferencing to support its latest offering.
IP Video Solution offers users a fully managed service at a flat rate, which Equant says is priced competitively against rival technologies such as ISDN.
The carrier says it decided to roll out a complete videoconferencing service bundle because so many enterprises are traveling even less since earlier this year. While travel was already down, the carrier says the war in Iraq, which began in March and the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, in April has resulted in more users trying to conduct meetings from their offices.
This is not Equant’s first video offering. Last year it announced a service for its IP VPN customers that optimizes network support for videoconferencing (see story link below) but this is the first time the carrier is offering a complete bundle that includes equipment, bridging services and network connectivity.
The service runs over Equant’s MPLS-based, international network and supports dedicated videoconferencing sessions in 85 countries. Equant also manages and monitors the service for customers.
While Equant manages the network provisioning and support, Polycom deploys and maintains IP Videoconferencing gear for customers around the world.
Equant says that customers that have used ISDN-based videoconferencing services in the past should expect cost savings when they migrate to the carrier’s offering. ISDN services are typically priced based on usage where Equant offers flat rate pricing. The carrier says that users that only videoconference eight hours a month should see cost savings.
The service is available now.
https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2002/0909equant.html
Equant tunes VPN for video
Network World, 09/09/02
