Video Conferencing? Choose Between Open to InteroperableVideo Conferencing? Choose Between Open to Interoperable

It's sad. You just can't have both these days--either go for interoperable or go for open.

It's funny how the video conferencing industry works. You can either choose an interoperable solution or an open one. Can't have them both.The Interoperable Solution Enterprises tend to prefer interoperable solutions. They want their systems to support H.323 (or SIP). They focus on those long RFPs with tons of requirements (including those old video codecs that they will never use). They want connectivity to ISDN, as if you can't just use a desktop client and get the same level of video quality there (can't get HD over ISDN anyway).

But then most enterprises can't do B2B video calls--it requires too much configuration, or costs way too much--both mean it's available only to the largest of enterprises. Enterprises end up using video conferencing as a means of communication inside the organization - and with a lot of success.

Businesses will also usually end up focusing on a single vendor solution. So interoperability might not even be an issue there. At least not in the short term.

If you choose the interoperable solution you will get all the relevant bells and whistles for your IT manager, security officer and their friends. And you will probably get the best video experience money can buy.

The Open Solution The other path to go is an open solution. The kind that is easy to use and adopt. That doesn't require a lot of effort, but for some mundane reasons is quite un-interoperable. These may be based on Skype, Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, GTalk and the likes of them--they are the consumer instant messaging services. They are not interoperable because they don't follow standards, or because you can't hookup into them. Hell, Google even provides the basic library so people can plug their own applications on top of it; and they use a standard.

But if you go open, the only people you will be able to interact with are those that use the same system as you. No real connectivity to other systems. Skype, for instance, might tout having SIP solutions with Skype for SIP, but it's still very limited. No video there. Not good enough codecs.

Do you need that connectivity to other systems? Skype has more users than the number of room systems sold worldwide throughout the existence of the video conferencing industry. And it does B2B from day one.

And why do I call Skype open? Because this is how end users view them when they use Skype to get their calls connected internationally (and with video!) for free.

It's Sad You just can't have both these days--either go for interoperable or go for open.It's sad. You just can't have both these days--either go for interoperable or go for open.