In the Philippines, for instance, more and more companies – even brick and mortar businesses – have accepted the indispensability of communicating offshore.
However, many of today’s communication tools in the workplace such as e-mail, IM (Instant Message), audio, and data are often single dimensional and simply lack that "personal" touch.
A recent online survey conducted by RoperASW revealed that people are least focused when they rely on the phone and e-mail and are noticeably more attentive face-to-face.
Unless a local company is willing to shell out cash to globe-trot, the logical solution to this equation is videoconferencing. Video communication can offer many of the same benefits as in-person communication. It is more engaging and creates deeper understanding by revealing real time reactions and emotions.
These elements enables quick decisions, builds high trust, makes negotiating easier, reduces confusion and misunderstanding, and is better for explaining details. Among the pioneers making inroads to the Philippine videoconferencing market is Norwegian visual solution provider TANDBERG.
According to Ms. Deborah Wong, Marketing Manager for TANDBERG East Asia, a growing number of Filipino companies are turning to TANDBERG to improve the way they communicate, not only with clients, but also with their virtual teams.
She said video-conferencing provides an array of systems that cater to personal desktops, meeting rooms and boardrooms. These systems use either ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) or IP (Internet Protocol), or even a combination of both which would integrate seamlessly into the existing office network.
"Video communication goes beyond as just a travel replacement. The simplicity and reliability of this mode of communication will make video meeting as ubiquitous as e-mail and telephone calls," Ms Wong said.
She remarked that with conferencing moving to be highly IP-based, there are five important factors to consider while selecting the IP video systems to ensure lowest total cost of ownership.
These are the use of a common software platform; standards based architecture to enable companies to leverage on existing infrastructure and to protect future technology investments; the new H.264 standard support across the entire product line that delivers twice the video quality while lowers bandwidth costs; Intelligent Packet Loss Recovery (IPLR) which improves both received and transmitted video on all IP systems and IP infrastructure; and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) Security that ensures secured conferencing at all times.
One Tandberg solution being introduced in the Philippines is the fully integrated TANDBERG 1000, which is distributed by its certified local partner Microdata Systems & Management, Inc.
TANDBERG 1000 includes an LCD flat screen, codec, camera, microphone and speaker. With no external components or TV screen to worry about, its ultra thin frame can be hung on the wall or placed on a table.
Microdata Systems and Management Inc., TANDBERG’s exclusive Philippine distributor, showcases its latest videoconferencing technology at the ongoing Total Office Products and Services Show 2004 at the World Trade Center on until June 13. For more information about TANDBERG, visit www.microdata.com.ph or e-mail mdsinfo@microdata.com.ph.
