posted 26 April 2006 10:38 AM            

I am a student from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. I'm going to do a master thesis on something like "Relevant (marketing) factors when expanding videoconferencing from a conference room product to a product on every desktop".

Now I ask you for some ideas about hypothesises I can use. I am mainly interested in marketing related issues, but also technology or other areas.

I know that desktop videoconferencing already exists, what I want to do is to look further into this. I found the thread "Future of VC" very useful, but now I would like some more specific ideas about my master thesis subject. What I already considered includes:

- Desktop videoconferencing must be positioned differently from substitutes like NetMeeting or messenger regarding features and quality etc.

- Desktop videoconferencing should be aimed at different markets than group videoconferencing, for example companies with different needs or the home market.

- User friendliness will play an increasing role in desktop videoconferencing since end users will have less technological knowledge and ability to set up and use the systems.

- Integration of desktop videoconferencing systems into other desktop systems like computers wiil be important just as the ability to reach other external systems.

Do you have any comments or ideas regarding these hypothesis or do you have additional ones of interest? I was vague in my descriptions on purpose to get more ideas and feedback from you all.

I really appreciate your help!

Thank you!

Viktor

posted 06 May 2006 12:07 PM               

To become that application it must have most if not all of these capabilities.

Easy to use by all (web based interface would be ideal)

Effectively deal with firewalls, so call can be made from and too anyone and anywhere

Provide full duplex multipoint capability

Be compatible when need be to working flawlessly with existing boardroom and conference room systems

Integrate well with other desktop collaborative products

Provide business quality video and audio over a broad range of bandwidths (60KB-500KB) depending on what each end point has to work with and with out having to depend on QOS solutions to accomplish it. Maybe even a product that dynamically adjusts quality and frame rate based on dynamic bandwith flutuations

An easy to use API for web developers that what to add custom features

All software based so it can work with any camera, PC, PDA, etc

Compatible with WiFi,EVDO,3G broadband wireless offerings

Allow VoIP only endpoints to be part of a video conference

These are the most imprtant points

Comments and additional point welcome