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8 Steps to Choosing a System

Let PicturePhone design a custom videoconferencing solution to meet your specific visual communication requirements. Give us a call and let one of our video communication specialists guide you through our simplified videoconferencing needs assessment.

1) What is the intended use for your system?

Generally speaking, how do you wish to use the equipment and whom are you going to talk to?

2) Number of sites?

How many locations do you need to communicate with and what resources will each have at their disposal? Will you be making point-to-point video calls or will you require multi-point videoconferencing capabilities?

3) Number of participants per site?

How many people do you want to participate in video calls at your various locations? Do you want the same videoconferencing set-up for every location? Or, do you want to have a Telepresence suite or integrated visual communication system for your headquarters?

4) Size of your room(s)?

Where do you want to put the equipment? For example, is your current conference or meeting room big enough to add a system? Does your current meeting environment offer sufficient size, lighting and ancillary resources to accommodate an appropriate videoconferencing solution?

5) Connectivity?

What IP resources are available at the various locations? OC3, T-1, Fractional T, xDSL, Cable-modem? Will legacy connectivity be required for ISDN? Will the connection be dedicated to the conferencing system? What types of communications do you plan? Tele-presence, high definition videoconferencing, multi-point conferences? (The type of communication will determine bandwidth requirements.)

6) What type of systems or formats will you be calling?

An IP based (network) system typically communicates using the umbrella h.323 voice/video standard. IP videoconferencing systems are available in both High Definition and standard definition configurations. HD uses a 16:9 format and provides 20% more information display on screen at a minimum resolution of 720p (1280x720). A legacy ISDN system typically sends and receives voice and video data using the h.320 standard. Each umbrella standard is comprised of a video and voice standard. For example a common video standard is h.264. You can only call between systems that use the same standard. Also, gateway and bridge (MCU) devices are available that will allow you to translate calls between the common standards. (Standards are defined by the International Telecommunications Union and are the same worldwide.)

7) Do you need data capability in addition to video & audio?

A typical videoconference has an audio channel, a video channel and optionally a data channel. H.239 is the latest standard for multi-media communications and allows for the presentation of both the videoconference and the associated data in a dual stream IP environment concurrently.

8) Who is your preferred dealer or system integrator?

PicturePhone is a value added distributor of videoconferencing products and accessories. We'll gladly review your communication requirements and assist you in addressing the preceding questions. Once we understand your needs, we would be happy to work with your preferred integrator and assist them in delivering and implementing a cohesive videoconferencing solution that accommodates your current visual communication needs.