posted 03 March 2003 09:28 AM               

This may not be the correct BB for this question. But here goes anyway...
Having seen the numerous postings regarding VC equipment and services vendors and also discussion on whether or not VC will become 'more mainstream' and 'required'. Is anyone aware of any global/national companies offering full VC solutions? In this I mean not only providing and installing VC hardware but also network design, maintenance, managed services, scheduling tools and other peripheral conferencing services such as conference room design and general conferencing consulting.
I think in order for VC to become more a part of everyday life, VC has to be made available as other office productivity tools are today (email, phone, internet etc). Maybe it's time for companies such as the tier 1/2 IT services providers to include VC services as another arrow in their quiver of services...

posted 10 April 2003 04:45 PM            

I personally don't believe there is anyone out there right now (well not in the UK anyway) who could truly do as you require.

Because the cost of end points has dropped so dramatically in the last few years, combined with a drop in margin and a slower growth in market than expected, the money has left the industry.

This has resulted in a dumming down of the channel community to little more than box shifters.

My suggestion would be to find yourself a good consultant, pay them to do the specification work with you and then get them to drive margin from the channel to the point that you get the best deal for the competition.

This might sound tough on the channels but:

1. That way the poacher is also not the game keeper.
2. Most industries work this way
3. By knowing that the advice you get from the consultant is not dependent on their commission you should get the solution that is good for you, not good for the channel principals new Porsche fund.

Interestingly enough Video Conferencing resellers have tradationally been very niche businesses that do not offer other IT or telecoms solutions such as PBX, Email, IM or other IT services and solutions.

In my experience of these things VC has always been treated by all parties as something different. I think the new world of converging communication solutions is going to be a very rude awakening to these resellers.

My final suggestion would be go and talk to Mitel, they have years of experience in Telecoms and have recently got into the VC market by rebranding and integrating the VCON solution. VCON have tradionally been a bit part player in the VC market, but they have some very impressive desktop endpoints (Vpoint specificly) and MXM is one of the best Call Processing Servers available. Their room based systems stink though so go and get something else for that bit of the puzzle.

posted 16 April 2003 03:38 PM               

I have your answer.My website is www.imrc.net. My name is Harry. My Phone # is 239-455-1411