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NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: NEAL WEINBERG on
PRODUCT REVIEWS 01/23/02 Today's focus: IP videoconferencing services, Part 1 Dear Wincenty Kaminski, In this issue: * Reality Fusion's SeeSaw is our top pick for Internet-based videoconferencing services * Links related to Network World product reviews * Featured reader resource _______________________________________________________________ Only the best products debut at DEMO. February 10-12, 2002 * Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort * Phoenix, Arizona DEMO introduces the products forecast to shape the marketplace and market trends in the coming year. Top analysts, developers, executives, venture backers and journalists gather to experience the best products and connect with technology's elite at this hands-on event. Visit http://www.idgconferences.com/demo/brochurenw1.pdf or http://www.idgconferences.com/demo/nw1 to register. _______________________________________________________________ Today's focus: IP videoconferencing services, Part 1 By Neal Weinberg The Reviewmeister is interested in videoconferencing, but I'd rather go with a service provider than deal with the hassle of setting up a full-blown videoconferencing network. So we tested six IP videoconferencing service providers. Four were Internet- based and did not offer quality of service; the other two used private networks, rather than the public Internet, and offered guaranteed QoS. In this newsletter, we'll focus on the Internet-based services; next time, we'll talk about the guaranteed QoS type services. The four Internet-based services we looked at were: Reality Fusion's SeeSaw, FVC's CUseeMe World, Eyeball Networks' Communicator and FocusFocus' Conference. Reality Fusion's SeeSaw came out on top in our testing. It met our expectations in terms of features, and had good-quality video and audio. We also found that Reality Fusion's service management portal gives network executives significant control over enterprise network traffic and the use of resources. All of the Internet-based services charge on a pay-as-you-go, no-contract basis, except for FVC's CUseeMe World, which is free. So if you're dissatisfied with these services, you can easily go elsewhere. With Internet-based services, the provisioning issues are borne entirely by the customer. Each end user must obtain the client application and perform routine installations. We installed client applications on multiple operating systems, and found that with one exception (FocusFocus' client doesn't support Windows XP), the vendors are prepared to support the range of desktop environments found in enterprise networks. We also were pleasantly surprised at how well each application (FocusFocus was the exception again) used built-in Windows drivers to discover and configure the camera, speakers and microphone to maximize video quality and minimize echo. The Eyeball Communicator client application is only 3M bytes in size, while the CUseeMe Pro and SeeSaw clients are about the same footprint, in the 5M- to 6M-byte range. The FocusFocus client application came in at a lean 300K bytes. During point-to-point and multipoint calls, we found that quality varied. Regardless of the bandwidth available at the last mile, the sessions began with an active chat session during which we needed to adjust audio or reposition our Web camera to produce the best effects. Some notes on each system: * We did not like the graphic design of the FocusFocus client application because it was too crowded and lacked graphic "treatments." * CUseeMe Pro was more like a "light" application, in contrast with previous software clients published by the company. * Eyeball's client was intuitive to use and elegant in the way that multiple windows could be detached from the communications application interface and then reattached. * SeeSaw's user interface is a stylish black navigation window with controls on the right and status indicators and a meeting participant list on the left of the screen. We liked the use of icons to show the moderator and speaker roles, as well as the audio and video quality produced by the codec in the application. * With the exception of FocusFocus, which did not offer a satisfactory multipoint usage scenario, the remaining service providers could support meetings of four to five users comfortably, and could support larger meetings as needed. In the case of SeeSaw, Reality Fusion says it can support up to 150 participants in a single meeting, although only six can be seen on the screen at the same time. For the full report, go to: http://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/2002/0121rev.html _______________________________________________________________ To contact Neal Weinberg: Neal Weinberg is features editor at Network World, in charge of product reviews, Buyer's Guides, technology primers, how-tos, issue-oriented feature stories and the Technology Insider series. You can reach him at mailto:nweinber@nww.com. _______________________________________________________________ NW Fusion's Buy IT provides the resources you need to make better buying decisions. Post your IT needs anonymously and FREE! Search our directory of qualified providers, review company White Papers, and select the right provider. Buy IT helps get your projects done right. Try it today! http://nwfusion.newmediary.com/nww120601nwltrb _______________________________________________________________ RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS ABCs of videoconferencing Network World, 10/29/01 http://www.nwfusion.com/research/2001/1029feat2.html Videoconferencing creeps towards the home Network World, 02/12/01 http://www.nwfusion.com/net.worker/news/2001/116717_02-12-2001.html The archive for Reviews is: http://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/index.html _______________________________________________________________ FEATURED READER RESOURCE Network World Fusion's Net.Worker site Whether your company is growing larger or scaling back, corporate managers are looking for ways to cut costs while retaining and recruiting star employees. One smart solution - at least on paper - is to let some employees work from home. Network World's Net.Worker Web site bridges the gap between the telework concept and the hardware, software and services needed to make it happen. We bring you news and reviews, sound advice and keen insight into the technologies and solutions you need to manage a remote and mobile workforce. Visit http://www.nwfusion.com/net.worker/index.html _______________________________________________________________ May We Send You a Free Print Subscription? You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered at your fingertips each day. Now, extend your knowledge by receiving 51 FREE issues to our print publication. Apply today at http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/nl _______________________________________________________________ SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World e-mail newsletters, go to: http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/news/scripts/notprinteditnews.asp To unsubscribe from promotional e-mail go to: http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/ep To change your e-mail address, go to: http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/news/scripts/changeemail.asp Subscription questions? Contact Customer Service by replying to this message. Have editorial comments? Write Jeff Caruso, Newsletter Editor, at: mailto:jcaruso@nww.com For advertising information, write Jamie Kalbach, Director of Online Sales, at: mailto:jkalbach@nww.com Copyright Network World, Inc., 2002 ------------------------ This message was sent to: vkamins@enron.com
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