IP videoconferencing embracing the next era of visual collaboration

The world of videoconferencing has begun expanding to H.323 (IP) because this standard enables mass deployment of lower cost, desktop videoconferencing systems. As desktop videoconferencing becomes more popular, users are demanding that IT organizations offer this capability across the company-wide network. The standard has since been updated for networked multimedia broadcasting. However, due to latency and bandwidth issues inherent in IP networks, the H.323's potential for videoconferencing has not been realized. With the increasing adoption of IP networks and IP multimedia technology, users are looking forward to the time when they can drop expensive ISDN connections altogether and move voice, video, and data over to IP networks. Until that happens, IT managers must find a videoconferencing platform that delivers the best quality possible today while maintaining compatibility with tomorrow's IP-based systems. This paper outlines the solutions and technology choices available today, and explains how to design a future-proof videoconferencing solution as IP continues to evolve.