Cisco today launched its new multimedia conferencing solution, TelePresence Meeting. The new product enables video and audio conferencing using IP networks, thereby applying next-generation functionality to communications between remote locations.

 

AT&T already has completed initial testing of the new solution, and plans to incorporate Cisco’s technology into its portfolio of network integration and video communications offerings.

 

More specifically, AT&T (News - Alert) will be delivering TelePresence Meeting over its IP-MPLS network, which means the new solution is hitting the ground running.

 

Eric Shepcaro, Senior VP of Business Development at AT&T, explained in a statement the significance of TelePresence Meeting: “By holding network-based, collaborative meetings that provide participants with a greater sense of being there in person, businesses will be able to take advantage of the AT&T network to receive an optimum collaborative experience.”

 

In its announcement, Cisco said TelePresence Meeting is best delivered using a network connection certified by the company. Cisco currently is developing a program service providers will be able to utilize in order to become certified.

 

“The service provider network is the critical link in delivery of this service,” said Jeff Spagnola, Cisco’s VP for service provider marketing, in a statement. He added TelePresence represents an opportunity for service providers to offer a next-generation IP communications service.

 

TelePresence also, of course, offers value to the end-user. Chief among those is enhanced video resolution—something industry analysts already are commenting on.

 

In a Oct. 23 blog entry, ZDNet’s Russell Shaw writes that TelePresence “seems to be a big step forward toward substantially reducing the absence of non-verbal attendees cues.” The solution’s 1080p video and spatial audio, Shaw says, lets “participants experience video subtelties as well as conversational nuances often elusive in more garden-variety solutions.”

 

According to a Tele.com report, two versions of TelePresence will be available beginning in December. TelePresence 1000, for one-to-one meetings, will sell for $79,000 per station. TelePresence 3000, for large meetings, will sell for $299,000 per station.

 

At those prices, VoIP Watch blogger Andy Abramson noted in a Oct. 22 post, only the largest companies will be able to take advantage of the new platform.