Videoconferencing tools are showing off a lot of new value for businesses the world over, offering better connections in businesses as well as some great opportunities for cost savings. But the hardware side of the market isn't so often considered, especially when the unified communications (UC) concept gets into the mix. Yealink, meanwhile, is offering some terrific new options in hardware, and its VC series of high-definition (HD) videoconferencing systems have recently proved value once more by landing the 2015 Unified Communications TMC (News - Alert) Labs Innovation Award.

The annual award comes from TMC's Internet Telephony magazine, and seeks to call out specific products that can not only demonstrate innovation in the field, but also unique innovation that helps improve the overall state of communications technology as it's known today. Yealink (News - Alert)'s product line, meanwhile, took the nod as it sought to end what was known as the “videoconferencing dilemma” for small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) users.

More specifically, it's a line designed to deliver excellent quality in both video and audio, while doing so with less bandwidth and demand on the network. Reports suggest that using the Yealink VC lineup can reduce bandwidth needs by as much as 50 percent, yet still deliver excellent service with network conditions that may fluctuate as a day goes on. The system requires no dedicated network, reports suggest, needing just 512Kb to offer up 720p video. That means most networks will be able to work with the Yealink VC line right away, without the need for big upgrades.

There are even considerations made for businesses using firewalls; the VC series offers features like Intuitive Operation and Intelligent Firewall Transfer, which work with a firewall system to help make sure the incoming and outgoing traffic of a videoconference gets through, and all with the help of a simple user interface. This makes the VC system plug-and-play easy to use. There's even room for free call recording thanks to a local USB flash drive added in, and with no software update fees or license fees to consider, there's not just capital expense savings, there's also operational expense savings afoot.

Videoconferencing, more and more, is an attractive proposition to business owners out there, especially those dealing with a mobile or geographically-diffuse workforce. Videoconferencing allows those workers to better stay connected and accountable, working in the same direction despite location. It also allows for at least some business travel to be replaced; while there's still something to be said for face time and the handshake, its importance has fallen off in recent years, and many trips really don't need to be taken. But in order to take advantage of all of this, the right equipment has to be on hand, and Yealink's VC lineup is clearly providing value for its users with ease of use, high performance, and a lack of needed augmentation in resources to deliver these great benefits.

Yealink's VC line has not only offered value, but it's also shown its clear dominance over the field with its latest award from Internet Telephony Magazine (News - Alert). It's not likely to slow this pace, either, and future developments from Yealink are likely to prove quite worth watching.