Megaconference

[Ben Fineman <>]

Good response Todd. To add a bit to Todd's point at the end, Internet2 is partnering with other national research and education networks to take the NET+ services global. Here is a presentation that Shel gave this past summer on the topic. The Canadian NREN CANARIE is participating in this program. 

Regarding NET+ video conferencing services, the four today are Blue Jeans , FuzeBox, Seevogh, and Vidyo.  FuzeBox is the only one that has completed service validation. None are available globally yet, but expressing interest to your NREN might help that process. 

Finally I continue to believe there can be a role for both a unified communications solution (Lync, Jabber, etc) AND a bridging platform like the above. The latter is important both for multiparty collaboration and inter-organizational collaboration. That said, as UC, video conferencing, and web conferencing solutions all keep adding features, the lines between them become blurred. One thing that remains constant is the need to maintain standards-based interoperability. 

Regards,

Ben

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Internet2

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On Nov 6, 2013, at 1:43 PM, "Todd L. Austin" <>

 wrote:

Jon,

If your institution is heading toward buying Microsoft cloud services, I can understand the interest. Michigan went heavily to Google and we've seen a push to use Google Hangouts and the like. Lync has a small footprint on our campus, but is a bit too Windows-oriented for our diverse computing environment. The bigger players here are Adobe Connect and Saba for web conferencing and Hangouts, Skype, Vidyo, and BlueJeans for videoconferencing (in addition to H.323 and SIP).

For synchronous two-way video communications, we're looking hard at BlueJeans. It gives us connections of excellent quality and reliability and allows us to bring in existing H.323 systems as local endpoints, while our distant partners can use the BlueJeans browser plugin (Mac or PC), iOS app, Skype, Lync, Jabber, Hangouts, or even a telephone. That has the added benefit of providing a tool to manage multi-person teleconferences, obviating the need for a separate service and infrastructure.

BlueJeans is now partnering with Internet2 in the States to provide their service under a contract with predictable pricing  in the Net+ suite of services to universities. I expect Canada has something similar through its NREN. If your folks are not yet talking with BlueJeans about a partnership, they should consider it.

Todd

Todd L. Austin
Videoconferencing Lead
LSA Instructional Support Services
University of Michigan

Office:  2012 Modern Languages Building
Mail:  G353 Mason Hall
419 South State Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1027

http://www.lsa.umich.edu/iss

cell:  734-274-7259
office:  734-647-1534

On Nov 6, 2013, at 11:25 AM, Stock,Dr.Joern wrote:

Hello,

Lync (and it´s predecessors) already has a long history.

But although not ready for prime time WebRTC is worth a look.

Browser-based, (hopefully) no additional license fees for both staff and customers, peer-to-peer AV-data transport, ……

 

 

Regards

 

 

Dr. Jörn Stock

Fachbereich Informationstechnik

System- und Netzwerkadministration

Tel +4930 4593 1519

Fax +4930 4593 3098

GDS 00493045933619

H323 

www.dhzb.de

 

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Von:  [mailto:megaconference-] Im Auftrag von Jon Winterbottom
Gesendet: Mittwoch, 6. November 2013 17:12
An: 
Betreff: [Megacon] Lync

 

Hi All,

 

I’m being asked/told (not by customers) to start looking into adopting link for desktop communication.  Since I haven’t come across a single request that involved anybody on Lync and we already have a software based h.323 solution, I haven’t really felt the need to start looking into it.  I’d like some input on anyone that is currently using Lync, what you are using it for, why, what problems do you have with it etc.  I think the big push behind this is the Cloud based service that office 365 offers but to be honest I haven’t really wrapped my mind around what Lync will do for me that is drastically different from what we are currently doing.

 

Regards,

 

Jon Winterbottom

Audio Visual Technician, Client Services

Brock University /Information Technology Services

Niagara Region/500 Glenridge Avenue/St. Catharines, Ontario L2S 3A1

brocku.ca/ T  905-688-5550 x3588/ M  289-228-9024/ F  905-688-4191

 

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