TalkFusion Introduces Video Conferencing

Conferencing has been traditionally used in business for communication and productivity purposes. The evolution of technology and business, in conjunction with time and pressure constraints created a need for "better", more productive and cost effective conferencing solutions.

Video conferencing is a visual collaboration between 2 or more locations utilizing both streaming audio and video. Essentially, it is a live connection between people in multiple locations that provides full-motion video images and high-quality audio, that over the years has evolved into a beneficial and productive way for companies to "meet". Video conferencing now offers businesses the ability to meet with distant clients, colleagues and associates quickly, easily, and at a fraction of the cost and time involved in travel. Cutting edge video conferencing has grown beyond merely time and cost savings; it has become both a business opportunity and a strategic advantage.

The equipment required to participate or effectively use video conferencing has also evolved. Years ago large, highly technical and costly video conferencing systems and equipment were necessary to achieve quality results. Today this has all changed. Offices are typically equipped with the minimum required items that would be needed to engage in video conferencing. Most of us already have, a computer, high speed internet connection, microphone and webcam. With these few simple items you are ready to participate in online video conferencing from your desk. Technology such as VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), with desktop video conferencing enables businesses to conduct low cost, face to face meetings without leaving the office. As a result, hundreds of hours can be saved over the course of a year, which adds up to a significant amount of time that can be utilized for the purposes of performing other critical tasks.

Video conferencing adds an alternative approach to telephone conferences or the "traditional" face to face meetings. Ideally this type of meeting can be used when there is a need for live conversation, visual information is an important aspect of the conversation, the people that need to be involved in the meeting can't physically come to the same location and/or the expense or time involved in travelling makes the meeting prohibitive to your productivity. With video conferencing you now have the ability to organize meetings providing short notice and still expect that it will be both successful and productive.

Video Conferencing is not just simply "seeing" the people at the meeting. Document collaboration and sharing is available. White boards, complete interaction and participation in the creative process is possible. Screen sharing is a tool that is commonly available in most video conferencing solutions. With this comes the ability to share applications and "pass" control of the computer desktop to another member of the meeting. The ability to see the same thing, work on it together and all make changes virtually eliminates the "distance barrier" and any perceived differences between an in person meeting and online video conferencing. If a video conferencing event is conducted successfully, then the conference participants will have given and taken exactly what they needed from the meeting, they will feel that their time was productive and that they were as beneficial to the outcome as if they had attended personally.

Wainhouse Research's whitepaper The Business Case for Videoconferencing provides an excellent description of the many reasons and benefits to use video conferencing in your business. Briefly summarized, "Videoconferencing and other collaboration tools are far more than a simple replacement for travel. These enterprise solutions provide better ways to communicate and work. Conferencing and collaboration applications enable knowledge workers to do more than just exchange information; they also provide an environment for productive interaction."

Suggested uses for Videoconferencing may include:

• Research meetings
• General meetings
• Formal Presentations
• Project Coordination
• Informal Work Sessions
• Recruitment
• Alumni Relations
• Question & Answer Sessions
• Public Relations Briefing
• Training/Distance Education

The sky's the limit when it comes to new and exciting uses for web casting and video conferencing.

Now that we have finished mentioning the standard "inhouse" uses for video conferencing let's think outside of the box. What if the uses could be expanded to include your businesses marketing efforts. The benefits keep getting better and better. We've seen new product announcements using video conferencing, reaching far more potential customers than conventional press conferences. Video conferencing provides new ways of demonstrating your products to your customer or making highly effective sales presentations.

Entreprenuer.com states, "Online video is interactive, memorable, widely accessible, cheap to create and highly shareable. There's also a lot of investment happening around video, which is sure to create even more low-cost opportunities for small businesses to participate in video promotions ... "

The statistics are more than enough to make you question why are you not involved more with Video Conferencing and Online Video. Customer relations may also be improved through the use of video conferencing. This is a great way to stay in touch with significant clients or those who are viewed as potential clients, without the need to make a physical visit or take up too much of the client's time. Since the most effective meetings are those which can be attended in a face-to-face environment, video conferencing provides the ability to meet that goal while avoiding the inconvenience of travel, time and expense.

To ensure a successful video conferencing event you should follow a few basic guidelines;

• Test your technology and make sure that all participants are comfortable with the format. There is nothing worse than unforeseen difficulties and delays in your meeting.
• Ensure that there is a clear agenda with a listing of all the people attending and clear objectives sent to attendees in advance. This will ensure that everyone knows the agenda, what to expect and what is expected from them.
• Appearance Counts ! Just because the meeting format is "informal" does not mean that you should dress down or unprofessionally. Attend as if you were there in person.
• Introduce ALL participants at the beginning of the meeting and remind everyone to speak clearly and to make eye contact with their camera. Give everyone a chance to speak quickly, introduce themselves and indicate their position and role in the meeting. Besides the obvious purpose, this will also ensure that everyone can hear each other properly and any volume adjustments can be made early on.
• Remember to have common courtesy. Turn off all cell phones. Do not interrupt the speaker, rustle papers or appear disinterested. Give your complete attention as if you were in the room. Remember that body language is still important.
• Have quality audio/video equipment. Your clear communication is dependant on the quality of your equipment, make sure it works properly.

If you follow the recommendations provided, your video conferencing events will proceed smoother, everyone will feel confident and comfortable, and the purpose and objectives of the meeting will be met. Most of all, after a successful video conferencing experience, conference participants will be more likely to use the equipment and conference systems for future meetings.

Talk Fusion recognizes the demand for the fully integrated Video Communications Solution and is currently adding Video conferencing to its already robust set of business communication tools. With all that's available today, the question is no longer if a business can afford professional, cutting edge video conferencing, but whether it can afford not to use it.

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