Re: Integrated Communications BoF - Call for Participation

["Walt Magnussen" <>]

Jeremy,

  I agree that while there is overlap, the differences are significant enough 
that the additional WG could easily be warrented.  Count me in as an observer.

Walt


Walt Magnussen
Associate Director for Telecommunications
Texas A&M University

979-845-5588 phone
979-847-1111 fax

>>> Jeremy George 
>>> <>
>>>  02/04/03 12:15PM >>>

  I am organizing a BoF for the upcoming Internet2 member meeting to
look at the question of whether an Internet2 Integrated Communication
(IntCom) working group would be useful.
 
  As you may know, IntCom combines various real or near real time
communications media (text, voice, video and image based) under the
umbrella of Presence.  Since these elements are all layered on SIP/SDP,
they clearly need to be strongly Internet/IETF oriented.  In spite of some
potential overlap between IntCom and VoIP, I think the challenges and
opportunities of IntCom are sufficiently distinct to warrant a separate
working group.

  My sense is that IntCom is on its way to becoming a powerful force.
Since the exact shape has not yet been determined, there is currently
a window of opportunity to those who are interested in determining
that shape.  Moreover, this is a topic that in some way will likely
affect every Internet2 member institution.  This is one of those times
when there really is work for a working group to do.

  In fact elements of IntCom are already impacting higher ed.  Instant
Messaging is a given to students today and all of that traffic now
goes off-campus to a commercial server (and may come straight back
on-campus.)  An IntCom working group can easily produce documents
detailing differences among proxies and clients, and configuration
guides which would encourage standardization among Internet2 members.

  One specific application worth noting is that Messenger is capable
of being configured with an open source local proxy.  This means that
for very little cost every individual connected to an Internet2 member
network with a windows-based PC and a headset can have toll-free IM and
voice connectivity to similarly connected machines.  That's potentially
money saving for both the user (toll-bypass) and for the institution
(local traffic stays local.)

  The biggest opportunity though is in the potential for application
development.  Everything from address books and calendars to find me,
follow me services are possible.  There is considerable interest in
new application-level features. 

  This BoF will be held on Thursday, April 10 from 8:00 to 9:30pm.

  There is no set-in-stone agenda.  If it's helpful, I'll do a
few Powerpoint minutes working through the elements of IntCom and how
they work.  I hope that most of the time is spent in a round-table
discussion of the possibilities.
 
  Please feel free to send comments, questions or suggestions.

- Jeremy

email: 

 
  sip: 

 
  tel: 203 / 436.4507

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