Cloud Meeting Place

Cloud-based video conferencing services provide organizations with the benefits of effective video conferencing technology without the CAPEX investment of infrastructure or hardware, or the costs of staff required to manage it all. In effect, these modern solutions make video conferencing accessible to everyone, from everywhere, spanning desktop computers, dedicated conference venues, and mobile devices. They also encourage use through simple, user-friendly platforms that embolden even the most tech-shy employee.

Video Conferencing Benefits for Business

No matter the changes technology effects in business, good communication remains a cornerstone of successful companies, and high-end video conferencing tools help foster open and direct information exchange. Aside from secondary benefits such as reduced travel expenses and improved work/life balance, the increase of productivity through better communication has a direct impact on business development and success. Implementing cloud-based video conferencing tools offers more than cost savings and outsourced technical expertise, but further provide a single process for managing calls across multiple sites. The best solutions can also be relied upon to provide smooth and glitch-free video for distraction-free communication, and typically provide interoperability through transcoding, a complicated process that translates different video conferencing protocols into uniform formats. Finally, expert cloud-based managed services take care of security concerns, protecting both data and communication through high-level encryption.

Advancing Video Conferencing

RingCentral, a leading provider of enterprise cloud communication and collaboration applications, recently launched their own cloud-based video conferencing offering as a response to intricate, pricey, and confusing on-premise room video conferencing systems currently in use. In discussions with CloudTweaks, RingCentral notes, “The room video conferencing market presents an enormous opportunity for disruption. The legacy on-premise room systems are complex and expensive, which explains why this market to date has seen less than 10% penetration, according to Frost & Sullivan.”

RingCentral Rooms, the ‘any room’ video conferencing solution, is an innovative cloud-based software application that brings high definition video solutions to businesses at much-reduced costs. We’re told, “RingCentral Rooms is a user-friendly, manageable alternative through SaaS-based licensing and the support of off-the-shelf hardware. As a result, we will see an increasing number of enterprises shifting away from legacy systems to reap the productivity and workflow benefits of our latest addition of cloud-based software.” Compatible with off-the-shelf room cameras, RingCentral Rooms is used with a simple visual iPad app, and, available in July, RingCentral Room Connector allows legacy room conferencing systems to connect with other RingCentral Rooms or ring RingCentral Meetings users via desktop or mobile devices. Asserts Kira Makagon, Executive Vice President of Innovation at RingCentral, “RingCentral Rooms is completely redefining room video conferencing with a cloud software application. We’re extending our impact beyond mobiles and desktops, and now taking our solution into conference rooms. There’s no longer the need for expensive legacy conference systems as cloud applications open up new opportunities to bring video conferencing into the corporate mainstream.”

The Global Market

Earlier this year, RingCentral Global Office launched a single global Unified communications as a Service (UCaaS) solution designed for multinational enterprises. Already more than 170 global organizations use this solution to connect their separated workforces and by July the service will be available to a total of 24 countries. Says David Sipes, Chief Revenue Officer of RingCentral, “While the cloud is transforming business communications, the journey to the cloud requires thoughtful change management for enterprise customers.” Promoting quality business communication in modern and flexible systems, RingCentral supports mobile workforces through open, scalable, cloud-based communications, and their state-of-the-art cloud technology integrations assure better business communication without the need for costly IT overhauls.

By Jennifer Klostermann