Posted on Thu, May 24, 2012 @ 11:15 AM
Telecommuting is on the rise – and for good reason. Working flexibly from a home office has big benefits to employees, employers and the environment. For employees, it results in savings in expenses related to commuting such as gasoline and car maintenance, but perhaps more important, it can mean a better work-life balance, less stress and more job satisfaction. With less staff on-site, employers will save on office space, electricity and other office-related expenses and are likely to experience an improvement in productivity due to the higher employee morale of those with flexible work schedules. In a 2012 study, 83% of the 1,074 respondents said they work remotely at least part of the day, and 89% consider working remotely one of the three main perks to the job (along with salary and reputation). Further statistics reveal that 43% of all U.S. workers will be telecommuting by 2016.
And, don’t forget the benefits that telecommuting has on the environment in terms of reduced emissions (fewer cars are on the road) and power savings that result from lower electricity usage.Environmental research shows that if the 41 million Americans with telework-compatible jobs worked from home just one day a week, this would eliminate an estimated 423,000 tons of greenhouse gas, equating to taking 77,000 cars off the road for a year!Governments around the world are beginning to mandate environmental policies to help the world become more ‘green,’ so companies that implement a telecommuter strategy will be ahead of the game.
Today’s IP technologies make it easy to implement atelecommuter or teleworkerstrategy for your business, and Xtelesis partners with a number of vendors to offer you a complete solution. If you are thinking about allowing some of your employees to telecommute, the ShoreTel IP PBX has built-in ‘office anywhere’functionality that enables one phone number and one voicemail account regardless of the device used - desk phone, cell phone or home phone. Users can assign an extension and profile to another phone (including an external phone) so that Caller ID information displays the employee's office number. ShoreTel also offers license-activated ShoreTel Communicator client applications that are easily installed on PCs or mobile devices, including a ‘personal’ version at no extra cost, a ‘professional’ version with advanced features like IM, softphone and video and ‘mobile’ clients for access to PBX features from BlackBerry, Nokia, Motorola, Windows Mobile or Apple iPhone devices.
Even more advancedmobility is available with ShoreTel Mobility, an integrated WiFi-cellular solution that extends office phone functionality to a smartphone or tablet device, but also addresses important business challenges in terms of security, cost and coverage. For collaborative needs, consider face-to-face communications with Vidyo or LifeSize video conferencing solutions. Xtelesis can help you combine a video endpoint with your PC monitor to optimize the space on your desk.
It’s hard to argue with compelling statistics that show the benefits of telecommuting to employees, employers and the environment. Contact Xtelesis today about deploying a mobility solution from ShoreTel and/or a video solution from Vidyo or LifeSize to add flexibility to your organization, allowing your employees to work remotely as needed. You will experience huge benefits to your overall organization that will ultimately boost customer service and your bottom line.
Posted on Wed, Mar 21, 2012 @ 11:18 AM
“Enterprise mobility is rapidly transitioning from a tactical benefit to Strategic imperative. The benefits of this strategy are instant & measurable, with studies showing that mobile employees work 240 hours more per year than non-connected ones.”
We understand the need for your business communications’ mobility and have partnered with dedicated communication companies and brands such as ShoreTel, Mobile Iron, Vidyo and LifeSize to bring you the technology that provides accurate and immediate information with real time results and communication.
When a business deploys employees the need for security, integration and manageability is imperative. With the collaboration of Xtelesis and these partnered brands we are able to support mobility clients with our Enterprise Mobility program. This program offers unified communications with mobile devices and management, video telepresence on demand, data security and a drastic wireless reduction. We seamless extend the use of applications on mobile devices by providing the same capabilities as PC’s and desktop phones.
Because we are the leader in providing exceptional business communication systems for small to mid size businesses it’s no surprise that we are able to bring our knowledge of technology to use on the field and away from the office. With solutions provided by ShoreTel Mobility employees have access to a wireless network wherever they play a call. This reduces the costs of usage, roaming and data charges as well as long distance. Domestic calls can be placed at a normal pace without rushing, overage charges are no longer a factor and because of the access to WiFi there is an average of 40-60% reduction in your wireless bill.
Here at Xtelesis we’ve made it important to our business to provide our customers with unified communication solutions that are not only reliable but affordable. More often than not our customers see a huge reduction in their communications plan in comparison to their previous services.
As our world continues to change and our lives get even more mobile it’s time to think about integrating a mobility plan into your communications plan. Choose Xtelesis’ Enterprise Mobility.
Posted on Tue, Mar 13, 2012 @ 11:09 AM
As more and more companies want to save money and boost their customer experience and productivity the transition from land lines telephone service to VoIP and internet telephony is more common than not. Companies are quickly learning about the reliability of internet based communications, the drastic cost reduction in monthly services and the increase in time and efficiency for their employees.
At Xtelesis we want to fulfill these companies growing needs for the best unified communication solutions. Since VoIP phone systems help more companies enable remote working opportunities for employees and integrate with worldwide partners it isn’t a surprise that HD Videoconferencing and video teleconferencing is becoming a popular trend within business communications.
Skype a popular video conferencing service has been used from a number of personal computers for face to face interaction and the integration into mobile devices has reached a large base of users. The same idea was brought into play by major communication brands like LifeSize and Vidyo, who have focused their efforts on providing video teleconferencing for businesses’ need for face-to-face communication across the globe. With high quality HD videoconferencing solutions individuals and businesses can communicate through a planned network infrastructure with high quality video and reliability.
With Xtelesis we can help you design your data network to accommodate video conferencing. This service provides exceptional images and a new sense of realism, giving communicators almost a three dimensional atmosphere. We also make it easy. Participants can join a conference without a technical background, training or IT support. We provide a new generation of communications with the advantage of intelligent software that makes connecting as easy as a phone call, but that doesn’t mean we’re not available to assist you.
We provide technical support to all our customers as well as online video trainings and programs to assist your team with their choice of products and services. Imagine connecting across the globe with a few clicks. Imagine how much time and money will be saved. HD Videoconferencing provides the ease to negotiate business deals face-to-face, share presentations, share product packaging and displays, get feedback and collaborate with partners in various locations all without leaving the comfort of your office.
Save Money. Save Time. Xtelesis has the best communication solutions for your business.
Posted on Tue, Feb 07, 2012 @ 05:20 PM
We provide our customers with a variety of communication solutions for small to mid-sized businesses. Whether you are looking for VoIP business systems to provide your company with more unified communication, HD Video conferencing for the ease of connecting with remote offices and employees or a simple business phone service, Xtelesis has all the resources you need to build your network.
VoIP business phone systems revolutionize voice communications for businesses. Instead of a public switched telephone network business VoIP systems are transported over the internet providing faster and clearer service. Not only will you be able to consolidate your monthly communication bills and see a significant reduction is charges, but VoIP business phone systems offer simplified management systems and minimal hardware. The same features you would receive from a local network provider such as three-way calling, conferencing, forwarding, can be easily integrated with business VoIP systems.
If your company operates in different office locations HD Videoconferencing may be a solution to consider. With HD Video conferencing companies can communicate face-to-face with ease and convenience. Instead of booking costly flights for company meetings take advantage of video teleconferencing which allows individuals to connect using HD video conferencing cameras. This high quality picture provides realistic images and real time communication. With our new generation of video communication software we make connecting as easy as placing a phone call. We feature top of the line video conferencing providers like LifeSize and Vidyo.
Don’t get left in the past with your public switched telephone network (PSTN) phone system. Upgrade to a business phone service that provides you with exceptional communications at a fraction of the cost. With VoIP business phone systems and HD video conferencing you are expanding your network with internet technology.
The best part is if you are unsure if VoIP business systems or Video conferencing if right for your business, we can schedule free demos. We also offer video conference and non-video conference business room rentals. Let Xtelesis improve your business communications and help save you money.
Posted on Thu, Sep 29, 2011 @ 01:10 PM
Studies have shown that human Vision and the human brain are the two most important ways by which humans perceive and respond. Our vision is constantly updated seamlessly with all the details of images, color and motion of what is before our eyes. The scenes and images we view fascinate us and shape our responses and psyche, which results in the human need to watch television, a movie screen, and to communicate with imaging devices such as mobile phones, iPads, etc. Images truly shape our lives.
Video has become an accepted and demanded form of communication. Lately TV news stations are publishing video clips they obtain from pedestrians that unexpectantly find themselves witnesses to a disaster. Therefore, businesses using a visual communication system such as Video Conferencing that generates public trust and confidence, and increases customer satisfaction provides an excellent business solution.
On September 12, 2011, Vidyo, Inc. was the recipient of the Frost & Sullivan “Global Product Differentiation Excellence Award in Videoconferencing Infrastructure Systems”.
“Vidyo’s technology allows new entrants a low barrier of entry to create new, differentiated and cost-effective applications at a desired price performance.” In its best practices report on Vidyo, Frost & Sullivan cites that currently, several products in Vidyo’s portfolio, the VidyoRouter, VidyoRouter Cloud Edition, VidyoPanorama and VidyoMobile enjoy a “first mover advantage” in terms of a high quality solution at a reasonable price point.
Another area where the use of video can improve overall communication effectiveness is communication for limited-english speaking people in Healthcare and Education. A wide range of cultural and language differences in hospitals and schools between staff, patients and students present an urgent need that has been filled. A Vidyo, Inc. system was chosen as the most cost effective, easy-to-use solution with the proven high definition that was needed to make this service work. It is running in Minnesota and will be rolled out nationally over time. The service Dovi, (Dialog One Video Interpreter) allows customers to interact face to face with accredited language experts through a video conference interpretation over the Internet. Vidyo systems is a big selling point to the healthcare industry since it meets the strict regulatory requirements such as HIPAA and other privacy Healthcare laws.
Another company in Video Conferencing is LifeSize, a division of Logitech which recently launched LifeSize® Connections™, a cloud-based HD video conferencing platform which delivers seamless, encrypted HD video calling across the enterprise connecting LifeSize in conference rooms to desktop users on PCs or Mac computers. Craig Malloy, CEO of LifeSize stated that “our cloud-based platform is introducing a new way of working by enabling employees to improve productivity and collaborate in ways they never thought possible.” LifeSize Connections features nine-way HD video bridging, data encryption and management. It automatically configures endpoints and software clients to instantly traverse firewalls, ensuring connection on any network, every time.
To recieve more info about our Video Conferencing and other services, please contact us or request a demo today! Xtelesis helps businesses of all sizes move forward with our popular business solutions.
Posted on Tue, Aug 09, 2011 @ 12:40 PM
Communications capabilities are revolutionizing how we do business and are permeating all areas of the workplace. Through the use of Unified Communications and effective implementations, businesses are cutting through the bottlenecks and rapidly moving forward.
ShoreTel is the provider of brilliantly simple Unified Communication (UC) solutions based on its award-winning IP business phone system. ShoreTel offers organizations of all sizes integrated, voice, video, data, and mobile communications on an open, distributed IP architecture that helps significantly reduce the complexity and costs typically associated with other solutions.
The feature-rich ShoreTel UC system offers the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) and the highest customer satisfaction in the industry, because it is easy to deploy, and manage. Companies around the world are finding a competitive edge by replacing business-as-usual with new thinking, and choosing ShoreTel to handle their integrated business communications.
Videoconferencing has come a long way in the past few years. Technology that began in sci-fi movies is now used regularly in office buildings around the world as a business support tool. Setting up conferences and adding additional users is much simpler with Unified Communications based solutions.
Full HD Clarity with No Compromises
Enjoy a full HD experience with bandwidth requirements starting at only 768KB. With LifeSize® Advantage you can expect HD quality at less than 1Mbps. LifeSize’s patented technology adjusts to your bandwidth - within a call - so there's no compromise in quality.
With HD displays and IP networks quickly becoming "the norm" in business settings, companies are experiencing vivid "in person" meetings with colleagues who can be globally dispersed. The right HD video communication investment pays for itself over time.
The Ontario Telemedicine Network has 3,000 health care professionals working at 1,175 sites around the province, and its Web site says it will deliver 135,000 patient visits this year. That works out to more than 500 visits per business day. The plan is to expand the service so that patients can see a doctor from the comfort of their own homes. And that’s where Vidyo comes in.
Vidyo has a rich set of APIs that allow programmers to implement it up with workflow and scheduling systems already in place. It’s not that simple to take a call and connect the patient with the doctor. The call has to be scheduled, and logged and has to be totally private with compliance issues that must be considered.
Vidyo is also showing up in a consumer background as one of the technologies behind Google Hangout on the social network Google+. Check it out.
Xtelesis helps businesses of all sizes move forward by making it all happen with our suite of Unified Communications Solutions. To request more information, please contact us today!
Posted on Wed, Jul 27, 2011 @ 12:33 PM
During a panel at the recent “Streaming Media East” conference in New York City, Wall Street Journal and New York Times reporters stated that mobile phones and streaming video advancements are changing the way reporters gather and distribute their news. The portability of the phone means that it can easily go where a full camera crew can't, resulting in print reporters shooting video.
Kevin Delaney, managing editor for the Wall Street Journal, also explained “that IPTV and tablet platforms and things like that, are real opportunities, there is a real business here, there is a real business today, and there is a real business which we expect to be much larger down the line.”
The acquisition of Italy-based Mirial by Logitech was a reaction to customer requests for a mobile video conferencing platform. LifeSize Communications Inc. an Austin Texas base company was acquired by Logitech in December 2009.
According to LifeSize senior manager of product management Rafi Anuar, LifeSize became aware of “a lot of demand in the marketplace for mobile video calling applications.” Through the acquisition, LifeSize added two new products to its video teleconferencing offerings: Mirial ClearSea, a powerful video conferencing desktop client and mobile teleconferencing multi-point solution and Mirial Softphone, a client software application supporting both H.323 and SIP on Microsoft and Apple desktops.
Anuar calls the mobile teleconferencing platform both incredibly flexible and “the best capability mobile video calling in the world.” He also said that what drew LifeSize to Mirial, and what sets them apart from competing video conferencing software and hardware makers, Cisco and Polycom, is “not just the mobile offerings, but the (fact that the) desktop offerings also are higher quality. Mirial can do up to 1080p resolution.
The good thing for existing LifeSize and Mirial customers is that upgrading is relatively easy, thanks to the interoperability inherent in the Mirial system. From day one, Anuar said Mirial products can call LifeSize products and vice versa, as well as they can interact with competing brands too.
Anuar said every company has some interest in video conferencing as “once you’ve used video conferencing and you go back to teleconferencing, you feel like you’re missing something, because you are.”
Ira Weinstein, senior analyst and partner at Boston Mass.-based Wainhouse Research LLC, said “this is a very interesting and strong move for LifeSize,” which “essentially, fills in the product portfolio. It fills those gaps.”Weinstein said buying Mirial will “jumpstart (its) efforts into desktop and mobile” and “address an area of weakness that LifeSize needed to address.”
Weinstein also said that the move is a really fantastic one for Mirial as, “traditionally, Mirial has been OEMed through others.” This is the first time it will be recognized as a name in the video conferencing market and not just be used to background-power existing devices and solutions.
To recieve more info about these new and exciting services, please contact us today!
Posted on Fri, Jul 08, 2011 @ 02:00 PM
Since your company has the state-of-the art Video Conferencing systems installed in all locations, and the technology is straight forward and easy, now what?
How do you create a successful video conference meeting? What are the crucial elements? Consider the fact that everyone can be seen at all times. It’s not rocket science. “Lights, Camera, Action” is a phrase used in the movie industry. Well this is hardly a movie, and not a phone call either, but it is important for all participants to look good, natural, interested and involved.
Lighting is always the critical element, whether outdoors in sunlight or indoors in artificial lighting and Video Conferencing. A camera is not very tolerant of unfavorable lighting. It is important in communication for facial expressions, and body language to be seen. No one wants to look at a face in complete shadow or with any harsh shadows. Quality lighting is required which need not be expensive.
Color-correct, low-heat, energy-efficient lighting fixtures for Video Conferencing that includes business, corporate, government, distance training, telemedicine, and all other uses of VideoConferencing. The most sophisticated room design, cameras and audio/data transmission networks will not create good images if a sufficient quality of light does not exist and the room is poorly lit.
The lighting in an office is not usually designed for Video Conferencing. Good Lighting fixtures can be ceiling mounted, stand or wall mounted and can easily be added to offices and boardrooms. Wall lighting is room lights that illuminate the walls to separate the people from the background. Key lighting are main front lights focused at a 40 degree angle below horizontal and should not be dimmed. These lighting techniques illuminate faces and eliminate shadows.
Remember all embarrassing moments can be seen and heard. Do not have lunch served and eat during a Video Conference. Do not have extraneous conversations within your room that you do not want shared with the remote office. Now you’ve set your Stage for Success!
Check out our LifeSize® Video Center™ or download a free 30 day trial of LifeSize® Desktop™ today!
Posted on Tue, May 31, 2011 @ 10:09 AM
Microsoft users now will have more flexibility to use LifeSize HD video conferencing systems, thanks to new interoperability between the two companies’ products.
LifeSize Team 220 was qualified within the Microsoft Office Communications Server platform. This is the first of many qualifications LifeSize is pursuing with Microsoft. Later this year, the company expects to win approval for its Passport, Room 220 and Express 220 products as well.
This further strengthens the ties between the two companies. Recently, Skype qualified the LifeSize Passport HD video conference product to be the first room-based, business-class video conferencing solution to be plugged into Skype. Weeks later, Microsoft acquired Skype with the intention of integrating its products into desktop computing and other applications.
With the new qualification, Microsoft customers can now experience seamless video calling across the enterprise by connecting LifeSize video systems in conference rooms and meeting spaces to the PC, and vice versa, delivering a unified communications (UC) experience.
Today, customers are able to make calls between Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 desktops and LifeSize endpoints, ensuring genuine, face-to-face interaction within their existing Microsoft environment and workflow. Later in 2011, LifeSize will seek qualification to interoperate with Microsoft Lync. This flexible interoperability will also enable customers to upgrade from Microsoft Office Communications Server to Lync on their terms.
Moreover, LifeSize has licensed the Microsoft RTVideo codec and is planning a future server-based product to enable high-definition interoperability between Microsoft Lync and LifeSize video systems. Later in 2011, LifeSize will seek Microsoft Lync qualification with true HD interoperability.
“LifeSize delivered the first HD video conferencing system in 2005, the first sub-$2,500 HD video product in 2009, and our commitment to innovation is realized today in yet another first – delivering on our promise to reach true interoperability across UC platforms,” said Craig Malloy, chief executive officer of LifeSize and Logitech senior vice president. “Through LifeSize and Logitech’s relationship with Microsoft and deep dedication to UC, we’re delivering on our vision to extend high quality communication capabilities to anyone, anywhere.”
LifeSize solution qualification for Microsoft OCS 2007 R2 includes support for:
- Authentication and encryption (TLS/SRTP) for secure, reliable communications
- Firewall/NAT Traversal via Microsoft Edge Services to ensure issue-free calling outside organizations
- Auto-configuration of systems as they are registered to Microsoft Office Communications Server, helping simplify deployment to users
- Unified presence status with the ability to place and receive calls from one Office Communications Server account between multiple devices (PC or a LifeSize system)
- Addition of LifeSize systems to contact lists in the Microsoft Office Communicator view and vice versa
- Easy placement of calls from LifeSize systems to third-party systems within the Microsoft OCS 2007 R2 environment, using commonly supported video and audio codecs
“Microsoft is pleased to be working with Logitech and LifeSize as a qualified partner to offer customers more comprehensive UC solutions through interoperability with Microsoft Office Communications Server and soon, Microsoft Lync,” said Yancey Smith, director of product management for Lync at Microsoft Corp. “The combination of LifeSize technology with Microsoft UC platforms will enable customers to extend their video conferencing ecosystems from the desktop to the boardroom, and everywhere in between.”
Posted on Mon, May 16, 2011 @ 08:42 AM
This blog first appeared on Best in UC.
The buzz at this week's LifeSize Americas Partner Conference was around the company's announcement of the LifeSize Learning Exchange. Wayne McCulloch, global director of education services, received an enthusiastic round of applause after his demo of the company's new social platform to learn, collaborate and share knowledge via video.
McCulloch and Kevin Buechler, program manager of sales enablement, told Best in UC how LifeSize partners and their clients can use Learning Exchange to receive training, solve problems, and enhance their results with LifeSize Learning Exchange.
The LifeSize Learning Exchange (LLX) mobile app is an interactive portal for the sharing of knowledge -- and the discussions that surround that knowledge -- on the full line of products from LifeSize, a division of Logitech. Inside the LLX, you can learn about the latest product features, ask questions of product experts, access videos on product training, and even follow your favorite contributors. The mobile app allows you to view recent and popular content updates, as well as search for and specific content on LifeSize learning Exchanage - anytime, anywhere. The mobile app is available for free at the Apple App store. (You must have an account on the LifeSize Learning Exchange to get full use of the app.)
For new LifeSize buyers, the Learning Exchange includes an adoption kit with a series of three-minute training videos on the most-requested topics. New users are also given opportunities to practice using their LifeSize solution, eliminating the fears and concerns about a new technology.
For LifeSize resellers, the Learning Exchange includes certification training and testing, as well as a knowledge base that can be leveraged to solve problems. This will allow for peer-to-peer collaboration and problem solving by people on the ground who use the solution every day.