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Business Services Industry

Now You See It

Entrepreneur, April, 2001 by Amanda C. Kooser

Forget conference calling. Liven up your meetings with videoconferencing.

When it comes to ways to meet with clients, customers, business partners and suppliers, you have several options. If they're local--no problem. You meet at your office, their offices or somewhere in between. But as businesses find themselves branching out beyond the corner store in an increasingly global and technological business world, it gets harder to get together in person. Jetting around the country for every meeting can be time-consuming and cost-prohibitive. While phone calls are simple solutions, they can't replace a good old-fashioned "face-to-face."

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That's right where videoconferencing comes in. It's not just for huge corporations and old Star Trek episodes anymore. Even entrepreneurs struggling with tight budgets can take advantage of the solutions now on the market. If you have $50 and a PC with a fast Internet connection, you can get a basic doit-yourself system, though we recommend you set your sights higher. Dedicated systems designed for small offices and workgroups fall into the $2,500 to $5,000 range. And they come in a wide variety of flavors.

The most popular options for videoconferencing systems are tetheredcamera desktop systems and set-top systems. All-in-one set-top systems are a strong choice for small offices already equipped for either DSL or a cable connection. You'll get reliable, professional results and the flexibility to either set up a permanent meeting room or move the system around the office.

Depending on which method you choose, you may have to provide some extra hardware, like a monitor or a server. To keep costs down, go with a system that you already have the components for.

TETHERED CAMERAS

The simplest and cheapest way to get into videoconferencing is through your desktop computer. Slap a camera peripheral on top of your monitor, install the software, link up through the Internet and you're good to go. While theoretically you only need a dial-up connection to take advantage of this type of videoconferencing, you'll get better results from something more along the lines of DSL or a cable modem. Sending video and audio over the Web takes up a lot of bandwidth. You don't want the people on the other end to be watching your face stall out during a crucial meeting.

Four cameras appear in our table, including the Intel Deluxe PC Camera for $79 (all prices street) and the Kensington VideoCam for $39.99. Both cameras connect through your computer's USB port and are tethered, which means you can't carry them around like you can a regular digital camera. The Intel camera comes bundled with Microsoft Windows NetMeeting software for making video phone calls over the Internet. One huge advantage here is that you have to pay no more than the cost of your regular Internet connection.

The Kensington model comes packaged with Microsoft Windows NetMeeting for use on a PC and CuseeMe software for Mac users. The basic $50 camera is just that-basic, in-expensive and not really appropriate for small businesses. Moving up a ways to the top-of-the-line VideoCam Super VGA model for $130 gets you higher-quality video at 800 x 600 pixels per inch with an 11.1-by-8.3-inch window size. And the microphone is built in. It costs twice as much, but the extra cash outlay is well worth it when you want to sell a more professional video impression to customers. What you'll receive with cheaper models and slower connections is a smaller window and jerkier performance. It may be passable for very informal uses, but read on to discover the best bets for your office.

SET-TOP SYSTEMS

One big advantage set-top systems have over tethered cameras is that you can fit more than one person into the camera range. By design, set-tops are meant to work over faster broadband networks than tethered cameras. That makes them more efficient while allowing you to project a more professional business image.

If you have a little room in your budget, you can invest in a videoconferencing system that won't break the bank. These systems don't require a computer. The basic Sony Contact PCS1500, for example, will run you $4,995. For that, you get a dockable camera, a system-controlling remote and an integrated microphone. You provide the ISDN phone line and TV to operate the system. In addition, Contact is available in a v.35 version for T1, satellite and other dedicated networks. A 323 version allows LAN/WAN and TCP/IP connectivity.

Some systems require an ISDN line. If you already have one, you're in luck. If you don't and you don't plan to get one, then you'll have to look elsewhere. The Tandberg 500 system, for example, operates over your choice of ISDN or IP.

Another set-top system, The Picture-Tel 960, clocks in at $9,500, on the high end for most growing companies. However, this system is worth a look because of how it is arranged. The 960 is built into a normal computer system, so you're getting a functional desktop as well as a videoconferencing machine. It can also be used for typical PC duties when it's not in use for meetings. All those things make the price tag a little easier to swallow.

Business Services Industry

Now You See It

Entrepreneur, April, 2001 by Amanda C. Kooser

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