By IP-based conferencing and collaboration applications are not old — they really began gaining momentum a decade ago, and have now, with advances in technology, achieved considerable market penetration.
Certainly, there are premises-based video conferencing solutions, like those from Telanetix, LifeSize, Cisco, Tandberg, and Polycom (News - Alert). And businesses have a wide variety of audio conferencing solutions to choose from as well. But there are a host of other Web-based conferencing and collaboration platforms that offer a variety of on-demand, so that companies can not only get the features they need, but they can do it without the major investment in hardware on-premises solutions require.
The benefit of Web-based hosted solutions extend far beyond the initial investment, as enhancements are uniformly handled by the provider, ensuring users have the latest features available to them, whether that means video conferencing, document or application sharing, or a one-way presentation to a large constituency.
WebEx, now part of Cisco (News - Alert) Systems, has been in the online meeting business for more than a decade now, and has a long tradition of providing on-demand solutions for businesses of all sizes. With WebEx, customers need not worry about available ports, firewalls, platform interoperability, or any of the other hurdles that often hinder the effective deployment of on-premises solutions. Instead, all they need is a Web browser and a phone — and a mouse to point and click — in order to set up an online meeting with anyone, anywhere, any time.
In addition to the obvious cost savings from not having to purchase and maintain an in-house solution, WebEx’s online platform creates additional cost efficiencies by allowing users to arrange meetings with colleagues, customers, and anyone else without having to incur airline, hotel, and other travel related expenses.
Furthermore, in today’s age of Green Technology, limiting travel by using Web-based conferencing and collaboration facilities aids in decreasing carbon emissions from both cars and jet engines. WebEx claims, for instance, that two people conducting a training session online, instead of traveling from Chicago to San Francisco for the event, can save 4,700 pounds of carbon emissions.
As part of its partnership with Carbonfund.org — and part of its mission to help raise environmental awareness among businesses — WebEx is helping customers better understand not only how their travel can impact the environment, but how their increased use of Web-based services can minimize the impact business travel has on the environment.
In addition to simple awareness programs, WebEx is now offering to plant a tree on the behalf of each customer who signs up for a 14-day free trial and holds two Web conferences with two attendees. It’s that simple. Sign up, use the service, do your share for the environment. You’ll benefit from the expertise of WebEx, reduce expenses, minimize your carbon dioxide footprint, and increase productivity across your entire business.
Erik Linask (News - Alert) is Associate Editor of INTERNET TELEPHONY, IMS
Magazine, and Unified Communications. Prior to joining TMC (News - Alert), he was Managing Editor at Global Custodian, an international securities services publication. To see more of his articles, please visit Erik Linask’s columnist page.
Magazine, and Unified Communications. Prior to joining TMC (News - Alert), he was Managing Editor at Global Custodian, an international securities services publication. To see more of his articles, please visit Erik Linask’s columnist page.To learn more about Green Technologyand the first Green Technology World Conference, being held this September 10-12 in Los Angeles, California, visit TMCs Green Technology World home page. The Web site and conference are designed to educate readers about technologies, essential issues, and trends that enable companies to operate more efficiently, thereby creating a positive impact on both their businesses and the environment.
