IOCOM, a leading provider of universal video conferencing solutions, today announces its partnership with the A la Carte Culinary Services (A la Carte), prominent Long Island cooking school. A la Carte, through the collaboration of IOCOM premier partner, International Collaboration, will use Visimeet, IOCOM’s cloud-based communication software, to offer their classes to anyone who wishes to attend, regardless of their location.
“My vision is to use Visimeet to teach America how to cook,” explains Polly Talbott, CCP, Chef and Owner of A la Carte. “We’ve been teaching students how to cook at our recreational, hands-on cooking school in New York for over 12 years. Now, thanks to Visimeet, students don’t have to be in our kitchen to partake in our classes, they can be in their homes around the world.”
A la Carte’s kitchens will be equipped with cameras and microphones, allowing online students to have a hands on experience during classes. Viewers will be able to ask questions and give comments during the classes. In addition, every class will be recorded and saved, providing users the ability to come back and view at any time.
“We’re very excited to be partnered with A la Carte,” says Tim Hackett, IOCOM CEO. “I can’t think of a better way for America’s top chefs to share their skills with a potentially infinite audience of connoisseurs.”
Visimeet keeps students and instructors connected to their classrooms through video, audio, and data conferencing. Visimeet works with many internet-enabled products, including room systems, desktop PCs, notebooks, and mobile devices. IOCOM focuses on delivering high performance solutions that provide superior quality audio and video without the cost and complexity of proprietary systems.
Recently there has been quite a bit of chatter about the security of videoconferencing end point systems and how their availability to the public network can allow the nefarious type to eavesdrop on private meetings. Users of traditional videoconferencing systems often leave their systems on and in auto answer mode so the system can easily be joined to a meeting by a more technically capable person so as to reduce the burden on the untrained participants. This works to solve that problem but allows other, uninvited guests to connect to the systems and view the room without having knowledge of this. This of course causes a security breach where an unknown person has joined into the corporate boardroom while critical company decisions are being made.
There are a few reasons why the systems are left in an unsecured manner but the overriding element is that the traditional H.323 style systems that are being used were not designed or intended to be used on the public internet. The technology has grown out of standard telephone call technology and is meant for point to point to point calls on a private network or leased lines that are known only to the participants. As demand from users has mandated the move to the internet, the same technology has been adapted, but works as the original concept. The systems are difficult to operate so are often managed by a technician or a service that begins and ends the meeting for the users. To reduce the costs of needing a technician in each room, many systems are set to auto-answer so that one technician in a control center can manage the meeting and start multiple endpoints at once. This does make using the system very easy but also leaves the endpoint vulnerable to other, unfriendly users to join as well.
IOCOM’s Visimeet platform was designed from the beginning to provide enterprise class videoconferencing over the public internet securely and safely. The software has an intuitive interface that runs on standard computers and operates like any software. This keeps the operation simple and is something all computer users can easily understand. The operation was modeled after another very popular communication method, Instant Messaging, which again simplifies operation and uses operations known to the users. This simple known method allows the individual users to operate the systems without a lot of training so that systems do not have to sit awaiting a call in from an outside source. Users simply find the other endpoint on their list of accepted contacts and invite the user or users to a meeting. Once accepted, the users are all joined and the images display on the video screen. Both simple and effective.
The system does allow for an automatic acceptance of meetings if desired. This can prove to be handy and can be used to remote in to specific endpoints. One big difference though is that the IOCOM endpoints can only be invited by an accepted contact and not just any endpoint device. This control allows the owner of the system to determine who can have the access and blocks uninvited guests.
Visimeet also includes other security specific functions that are incorporated in the design of the system. Client endpoints can sit securely behind the corporate firewall and have access through a single outgoing port to a specific point. Being client-cloud based, the clients do not allow point to point contact. All meeting are arranged by the central servers in the cloud so that the communication only goes to the known point. This provides greater security as the IP traffic only goes to a trusted source rather than needing to allow access to any point in the network.
At IOCOM, we often overlook these benefits as they are a basic part of the function of the system and we take them for granted. It is only when other systems are looked at does the advantage become apparent.
The buzz of cloud computing can be heard everywhere. A wide range of software applications and service offerings boast that they are cloud-based. Video conferencing can be included as a tool that can be cloud-based. So, let’s get to answering the question asked in the title of this post.
The IOCOM Visimeet software offers flexibility, scalability and low cost of ownership at the client or end user side as it utilizes commodity based audio and video components so that it can affordably scale from a laptop up to a full telepresence like room. However, the IOCOM Visimeet server is cloud-based which provides additional advantages for small or large enterprises.
An organization can avoid the high cost of hardware, infrastructure and network with the cloud-based IOCOM solution. For a few employees or a large scale organizational wide deployment, the cloud-based IOCOM solution delivers the value of high quality, immersive video collaboration without the up front costs of equipment and staff to implement it.
Other key elements of a successful cloud-based videoconferencing service are reliability, interoperability and security, all of which are the strengths of the IOCOM Visimeet solution.
Finally, the other major advantage of keeping it in the cloud is that you can connect with anyone, anywhere at any time. It is always available and accessible from any internet connection. You can literally be up in the clouds (as I was last week on a plane offering internet) and connect to your customers or co-workers.
Chicago, IL, January 20, 2012: IOCOM, a leading provider of universal video conferencing and collaboration solutions, today announces its membership and partnership with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce (CCoC), Chicago’s premier business association.
In addition to joining the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce as President’s Circle Members, the CCoC has implemented Visimeet, IOCOM’s video collaboration software, into their daily business processes. Now, instead of doing business over the phone or spending resources by traveling to offsite meetings, Membership Associates are using Visimeet to have face to face communications with existing and potential members.
“Chicago has spawned many successful technology companies in the past few years and we are grateful to have IOCOM Communications join our membership”, said Jerry Roper, ChicagoLand Chamber of Commerce CEO. “We look forward to leveraging their robust video collaboration platform to improve internal company communications as well as provide greater service to our members.”
As a President’s Circle member, IOCOM will partner with the CCoC on a number of initiatives, including providing video conferencing services for various CCoC events, co-marketing campaigns, and other networking programs. Additionally, IOCOM will offer ten free Visimeet licenses to all chamber members at the President’s Circle membership level and above, promoting more effective and efficient business practices.
“We’re very excited to be a part of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce as well as provide them our world-class video collaboration solutions to assist them with improving productivity while cutting costs,” said Tim Hackett, IOCOM CEO. “It’s one of the most influential business associations in the nation and we’re looking forward to providing them with the best service possible while educating other members on the benefits of Visimeet.”
Visimeet keeps people connected through video, audio, and data conferencing. Its solutions work with many internet-enabled products, including room systems, desktop PCs, notebooks, and mobile devices. IOCOM focuses on delivering high performance solutions that provide superior quality audio and video without the cost and complexity of proprietary systems.
Enterprise organizations across Chicago, and the world, currently use IOCOM’s Visimeet for multimedia collaboration needs of product development, project management, company briefings, training, and other business processes. Visimeet is available for a free trial at http://try.iocom.com.
About IOCOM
Founded in 1998, IOCOM develops, markets, and supports enterprise video conferencing and collaboration software and solutions that enable multi-point communication for business processes. IOCOM delivers innovative solutions that enable multiple groups or individuals to instantly collaborate anytime and anywhere over their chosen medium. IOCOM is the first collaboration software company to integrate high performance multiple data and video windows with high performance audio.
To learn more, visit www.iocom.com.
About The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
Founded in 1904, we are a private, non-profit business assistance and economic development organization. With 2,600 members, representing over 1.3 million individual employees in the six-county Northeastern Illinois region (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry & Will), we are the largest Chamber of Commerce in Illinois and one of the largest in the nation. Our mission is to make Chicagoland the most business-friendly region in America and to enhance our members’ success through aggressive advocacy, member benefits, services, and actionable information.
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Sale pros, you know our pitch here in the video conferencing industry. VC can save your organization a boatload on travel costs, increase collaboration, blah, blah, blah…
Video Conferencing (ESPECIALLY VISIMEET) can help your team by saving you time! Nothing is more valuable to you than that. Let me outline 3 specific ways:
- Getting to weekly/monthly Sales Meetings. Your team (managers or otherwise) aren’t all in the same place. Getting them together via Visimeet allows you to maintain a fully collaborative meeting with the ability to see everyone’s face and allow each member to share their sales data. With our cloud-based service, they can connect from anywhere so everyone can schedule appointments directly before and after the sales meeting.
- Shorter Sales Meetings. Because of the open collaborative nature of Visimeet, everyone is PRESENT for the meeting. No one can hide behind their speaker phone or out of view. This makes for quicker response, more engaged participants, and less need to repeat info. One hour conference calls can become 30 minute “Visimeetings”.
- Better Customer Engagement = Quicker Sale. You’ll never be able to have 100% of your interaction with customers face-to-face. But you can certainly see them more often with Visimeet. That weekly pestering by phone, can become a quick meeting invite (don’t forget you can see when they are available on the Visimeet console). The more face time you get with your prospect, the quicker you establish the rapport needed to ask for the sale.
ON TO THE NEXT SALE!
2011 was a transformational year in the video conferencing industry as cloud-based services have been launched by a number of players attempting to reach everyday users on the desktop/laptop and mobile devices. Many organizations have targeted the “democratization” of video conferencing for more than just the privileged executives with access to expensive, tricked out rooms.
IOCOM was not standing idly by – during the 4th quarter our customers held more meetings on our Visimeet platform than ever before and we had our most successful quarter yet for new Visimeet sign-ups. This inspires our assumption that the trends are in our favor as it relates to immersive collaboration amongst workers from any device and any location with high quality, affordable solutions.
Some key elements that we consistently see for any organization to get the full benefits of these solutions include clearly defined requirements and expectations, and strong executive sponsorship to get the initial implementation going. It also helps to have a go-to resource inside the organization to handle the myriad issues that come up when rolling out to a diverse user base of as many as hundreds of individuals.
It’s helpful to use the smart phone example when explaining adoption and utilization of our platform. Sometimes it’s tough to make the mental change from one modus of communication to another, even if it offers a huge improvement in the quality of life and productivity on the job, and dramatically reduces costs. Think of the likely struggles you had when upgrading your Blackberry or other mobile device to the latest Droid phone or iPhone. After a few weeks and uses, some settings and favorites adjustments, maybe a few downloads of games and helpful applications, you cannot imagine how you got by before!
Video conferencing from the desktop offers a similar experience and we are striving to make it easier for our clients to acquire, get trained and use Visimeet every day. Our new customer support pages offer quick and easy to find answers to just about any question a new user may have. Our next release coming shortly (as in within the next two weeks), will offer the most intuitive user interface ever. Our goals are to help our clients and prospects gain the benefits of video conferencing specifically at the desktop to aid them in achieving their 2012 goals. How’s that for democracy in action!
One of the tenets that can be found through the IOCOM Visimeet product is that the ability to hold meetings and bring people together should be available to everyone. Sign up services that are available to everyone with free services. Low price points for full featured clients. Utilization of existing computers and hardware bring the ability to hold conferences to everyone. IOCOM recognizes that the power of a communication platform is how well it connects the people and this requires it to be available and accessible to all.
One way to get all of the people in your organization on Visimeet is to use our API to register all users automatically from an existing system. A prime example would be the email system at a University or College. Once signed up and integrated with the API, each email account is automatically paired to an account on the Visimeet service. As each new student is enrolled at the school, they have a ready account on Visimeet. This not only allows the students to meet with each other and keep in touch with family, every professor than knows they can meet with the student on Visimeet and knows the account and availability. This is like handing a cell phone to each student with a known cell number, greatly increasing the ability to communicate. One of the great parts is that this is all available for free!
IOCOM does not charge for access to the API and the accounts can, and it is recommended, that they are all setup as free. This lets an organization register all their users and make available to all a high quality video communication platform so that they can all meet as needed. Just another way IOCOM works to bring people together.
As IOCOM reflects on 2011, we look back with fondness. This year has brought many new team members that have added tremendous value to the work we do. Their fresh ideas, eagerness to make IOCOM the best it can be, and faith in the power of our product has truly been an asset to the company and to our customers.
I am lucky to say that I am one of the new additions to IOCOM having started early in 2011. I was lucky enough to have used Visimeet for years prior to starting with IOCOM. I already believed in Visimeet and in the company and I have had the chance to see Visimeet evolve from a different perspective. I have enjoyed working the new team members, Noreen, Catherine, Casey, both Tim our CEO, and Tim our Marketing Manager, as well as the interns that have jumped right in and worked so hard. IOCOM is constantly growing and changing thanks to drive of the team and everyone’s faith in Visimeet.
We also look back at all of the events we have attended. We have been at both Interop Las Vegas and New York, ATA in Tampa, VCI Group in New Orleans, and many others. These events let us hear feedback from users as well as hear how people are looking to incorporate video conferencing in their business, hospital, or university. Each event shows us that uses for Visimeet are endless and that it makes a difference.
Most importantly we would like to thank our customers. It goes without saying that we wouldn’t be here without you, but we have some outstanding customers. IOCOM is unique in the fact that we often work closely with our customers and have the opportunity to hear from them frequently. We can guide them through setting up their conference room or make suggestions on the best way to use Visimeet. Our customers offer valuable feedback as well as words of encouragement. The biggest gratification from this job is hearing that Visimeet is working for you and improving your business, hospital, clinic, course, etc.
We hope to hear more from our customers in 2012 because feedback is what makes our product stronger. We look forward to growing the IOCOM family and to improving the products we provide. You can look forward to many new things from IOCOM in 2012.
Enjoy celebrating of the new year, but be safe, we want to see you all next year.
I’m not sure if you feel the same way, but the holidays seemed to sneak up on all of us at IOCOM. We woke up one day and it’s already Hanukkah and Christmas is just moments away. Whether or not you celebrate the holidays during this time of year, it’s always a busy time of year for both work and your social calendar. While we all work to tie up loose ends before taking those much anticipated days off, remember to take time to enjoy the season and the company you share. At IOCOM our employees are spread around the country and in the UK but we make sure to spend time with one another during this time of year. There’s no need to spend large sums of money to fly everyone to Chicago or take time away from family to travel; instead, we plan to meet for a few drinks, a friendly chat, and warm holiday wishes over Visimeet. All it takes is a click of a button and we’re all in the same room sharing holiday cheer. We all would like to wish everyone a Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year. We hope you find this time of year relaxing, enjoyable, and filled with good cheer. Have fun but be safe, we want to see you around next year!
Telehealth is a growing phenomenon that has improved patient care and quickened medical response time. Many hospitals are adopting telehealth technologies, such as Visimeet, to save money and lives. Those in the medical field will find that Visimeet suits their needs when caring for patients. Doctors can treat patients remotely allowing the patient to recover in their own home.
The use of Desktop Share allows doctors to collaborate without providing full access to patient information. Rather than emailing patient information, a doctor can present the patient’s scans or tests through the Desktop Share or Application Share, allowing the other party to view the information without obtaining it. Data that is transmitted through Desktop or Application share is sent in the native resolution, meaning it is not altered by Visimeet. A hospital can share vital information with a specialist who is far away or a patient with a stroke can be treated instantly.
The UK Department of Health found that there is a 45% reduction in mortality rates among patients that used telehealth technologies. They have also found that it reduces the cost in caring for patients in the hospital or for specialists to travel to the hospital.
As more hospitals and doctors realize the value of telehealth services like Visimeet, more lives are saved and care is improved. We think this is the best thing that can come from Visimeet.
