Nemertes Impact Analysis

The Impact Analysis is a weekly quick-take on breaking IT news.
Nemertes provides expert insight on how recent IT news affects you.

Is It Real or Is it HD-VC? 

Both Polycom (NASDAQ:PLCM) and privately held LifeSize Communications
introduced new low-cost 1080p and 720p high-definition video conferencing
products, underscoring growing enterprise demand for high-end room-based video
conferencing and telepresence systems.

Fifty-four percent of participants in Nemertes' Unified Communications and
Collaboration benchmark say they use or plan to deploy room-based video
conferencing to reduce travel costs and improve collaboration among virtual
workers. Thirty-eight percent say they use or plan to use telepresence. These
announcements provide a lower-cost option compared with high-end telepresence.

Impacts:

Enterprises: Telepresence is not the only option for high-definition
conferencing. Evaluate less expensive HD systems as an alternative to immersive
room-based telepresence.

Vendors: Growth opportunities exist across the VC market, deliver products
and services at both the high-end, and the low-end.

Investors: LifeSize's move helps resellers and partners, such as ShoreTel
(NASDAQ:SHOR) and privately held Siemens Enterprise Communications, while
putting downward pricing pressure on Cisco (NASDAQ:CSC), and Tandberg
(UK:TAA.OL).

Irwin Lazar, Principal Research Analyst and Program Director

http://www.nemertes.com/benchmarks/unified_communications_and_collaboration

http://www.lifesize.com/pr.php?prid=119

http://www.polycom.com/usa/en/company/news_room/press_releases/2008/20081020_2.html