Cloud computing has become one of the hottest topics on IT executives minds in recent years. Internet-based computing has provided companies with cheaper and scalable resources for a variety of services, including software, data storage and servers.
One key area where cloud computing is starting to see waves of innovation is communication.
As a recent Computerworld article discussed, online service providers such as Skype, Google and Cisco now allow businesses to connect to one another using voice, video or video conferencing through basic internet connectivity.
Skype has been the largest online internet telephone provider for years and introduced video conferencing support in 2006. Meanwhile, Google and Cisco have recently introduced features to further communications through cloud computing, such as Google Voice and Cisco’s Umi personal videoconferencing service.
To enhance video feeds, many companies will set up a computer in a meeting room and connect it to an HD-TV, LED monitor or
USB projector. Companies often find this allows more employees to participate in the conference and helps build employee responsiveness.
As budgets tighten, companies are relying on videoconferencing as an essential tool to reduce travel costs. A recent study found nearly 77 percent of businesses have access to a dedicated videoconferencing system in their company’s conference room, while 53 percent use PC-based systems.
