Manx Telecom has launched a range of new video and audio conferencing products designed to cut travel costs, increase productivity, and reduce a company’s carbon footprint.
The new products were premiered at Manx Telecom's recent Open Day, where they were demonstrated to visitors.
Leading the pack, is a suite of products from leading manufacturer, Tandberg, which offers high definition video conferencing at a price which most companies can afford.
“Things really have moved on from the old days of video conferencing,” says, Manx Telecom Product Manager, Andy Pirie “when the equipment was bulky, not very user friendly, and the connection wasn’t that reliable.
"The results tended to be jerky picture quality and bad sound. However, with today’s technology, we believe that video conferencing is, for the first time, a truly viable alternative to meetings.”
The 'highest spec' of the new suite of Tandberg high definition video conferencing products introduces the concept of 'teleprescence'.
With this feature, organisations can conduct their meetings, discussions and negotiations 'face-to- face' across a virtual table: participants appear lifelike and life-size, and feel as if they are in the same room.
Launching a meeting using all the new Tandberg video conferencing products is as simple as making a phone call.
“While there will always be a place for face to face meetings,” says Andy, “I’m sure that many business people will welcome the opportunity to cut down their visits to airports, with all the attendant hassle and security issues which comes with flying these days.
"Being based on an Island means many Manx business people have to travel more than most; that’s why we believe that the new video conferencing product has a special relevance for local companies.”
Manx Telecom claims that one of the biggest advantages of video conferencing is the cost savings it can offer.
“A conservative estimate,” says Andy, “of one overnight trip to or from the Island (return flights, hotel accommodation, taxis, meals, airport parking, etc) can easily come in at around ?300.
"Multiply that by two or more people travelling to a meeting and you can see how the costs mount up. Multiply it across year, and business travel soon becomes a considerable part of any company’s annual spend.
"These are challenging economic times and we believe that, for many companies, video conferencing can be a viable and cost effective alternative to business travel.”
Video conferencing also delivers both eco and lifestyle advantages.
“Any socially responsible organisation these days has to look at ways to reduce their environmental impact, and the use of high definition video conferencing can cut an organization’s carbon footprint considerably.
"Not having to travel so much also improves employee work/life balance,” says Andy.
Manx Telecom is also offering a new audio conferencing service , 'Meet Me', which enables up to 40 people, in up to forty separate locations anywhere in the world, to take part in a tele-meeting.
Unlike many similar audio conferencing products, Meet Me requires no monthly subscriptions and no pre-booking: companies can just sign up, and only pay when they use the service.
Pictured: Manx Telecom Product Manager Andy Pirie
