November 1999

I recently had an opportunity to ask Glenn Adamo, vice president of videoconferencing for Sony Electronics Broadcast and Professional Company, some questions about IP video conferencing. His answers are detailed below.
– Laura Guevin

LG: What will it take for video conferencing over IP to become broadly accepted in the enterprise?

GA: There are four main points that will help video conferencing over IP become broadly accepted:

1. Ease of Use. The product must be easy to use. Currently, ISDN-based video conferencing systems continue to make improvements in this area, and are typically able to be operated without an MIS manager. Video over IP should be just as easy to use if not easier, to become broadly accepted by the mainstream user.
2. Bandwidth. Bandwidth contention issues must be addressed and rectified. Right now, the infrastructure still needs to be reinforced to handle the oncoming load of video over the Internet. As companies upgrade their access networks, video over IP will prosper due to more bandwidth.
3. Video Quality. Video quality will have to improve to business caliber in order for video conferencing over IP to go to the mainstream. For business applications, the video quality must be as good as, if not better than, the video quality over ISDN.
4. Interoperability. Interoperability is a key to the future of video conferencing over the Internet. Manufacturers are currently improving and testing interoperabilty, and inevitably, this technology will take off.

LG: What are the benefits of streaming audio and video and how can they be utilized for real-time video conferencing?

GA: Key benefits of streaming audio and video include easy access and up-to-the-minute information, the convenience to access that information at any time, and the ability for the content provider to quickly and easily change that information. Streaming audio can be used for a variety of informative applications, including training and customer service. Video can be seen and heard on demand in real time over the Internet, ISDN, ATM, and other networks, and appears to be live. The user can supply the most current information on a topic available for distribution to anyone who has access to the Web. Video streaming operates on the H.320 protocol, and allows users to dial into a site and learn about the topic at hand.

LG: When will IP videophones become widespread, and what is the next step forward for this technology?

GA: The technology is present for IP videophones at this time, but users must re-educate themselves on using it. For example, a user must feel as comfortable picking up a videophone as he or she is picking up a “regular” phone. Videophones will become more widespread once users realize the added benefits of using a videophone as compared to the regular telephone. Of course, as the quality of the product improves and the price declines, this will also help mainstream acceptance.

LG: What do you think about IP video surveillance?

GA: Eventually IP video surveillance will be a factor in the industry, but today there are several concerns with the offering of this technology. Video surveillance requires guaranteed service and secure communications. Currently, the quality of service (QoS) of video over the Internet is not guaranteed. If a security manager has difficulty retrieving data, in real time, the security system is jeopardized. Also, there is the risk of hackers breaking into the system, enabling them to dismantle the security system on the remote end, while an accomplice can commit the crime on-site.

LG: Will quality audio AND video conferencing over IP help acceptance of VoIP?

GA: The quality of audio over IP will certainly be a critical factor in the acceptance of VoIP. Without high-quality audio, VoIP will be ineffective because the two are interrelated. However, we don’t believe that the quality of video will have a major effect on the impact of VoIP. What we do expect, however, is that the quality of audio and VoIP will influence the acceptance of video conferencing over IP.

LG: What potential do advances in broadband connectivity and increased bandwidth have for IP video conferencing?

GA: Improvements in broadband connectivity and an increase in bandwidth will significantly affect the status of IP video conferencing by moving data faster and offering better quality. As a result, IP video conferencing will become a more mainstream and widely used communications tool.