It was only a matter of time before Cisco's Umi and TelePresence services got together for some HD video calling synergy, and the company has finally enabled "full interoperability" between the two. Not only that, but the networking giant is also rolling out a free HD calling client called Umi Connect for PC and Mac (think SkypeHD) and a new Umi 720 system that works with slower broadband connections. The 720 will cost $399 upon its market arrival this summer, while the already available Umi 1080 gets a much-needed-yet-still-underwhelming hundred dollar price drop to $499. Service fees have also fallen from $275 to $99 a year and from $24.95 to $9.95 monthly for those who are commitment-averse. Maybe now you can persuade the bossman (or bosslady, as it were) to finally let you work from home -- though pants-free employment will undoubtedly remain off, or maybe just under, the table. PR's after the break.
[Thanks, Adam]
[Thanks, Adam]
Cisco Connects Businesses to Consumers via Video; Announces Seamless Connectivity between ūmi and Cisco TelePresence and Expansion of Consumer TelePresence Portfolio
SAN JOSE, Calif. – March 7, 2011 – Extending the company's success in telepresence, Cisco today announced that it is enabling businesses to connect with consumers via full interoperability between Cisco ūmiTM and the Cisco TelePresence portfolio for businesses. Cisco is also announcing an expansion of its ūmi product line with a range of options, from free HD desktop video to high-quality immersive telepresence experiences on an HDTV.
Business Services in the Home
As video communications becomes pervasive, businesses and consumers are increasingly looking to augment in-person meetings and interactions with lifelike video experiences. With today's announcement, ūmi users in the home will be able to connect with businesses over telepresence, paving the way for innovative new video services such as distance learning, tele-health, virtual professional services and community services.
Expanded ūmi Product Line
Key to today's announcement is the extension of the ūmi product line, making home telepresence experiences available to more consumers. ūmi is a first-of-its-kind, easy-to-use consumer product that delivers a high-quality, immersive video calling experience that goes beyond just seeing the people you talk to. The expanded portfolio includes:
Cisco ūmi Connect, a free HD calling client for PC and Macs (currently in trials);
Cisco ūmi 720, a new product that delivers an immersive telepresence experience with lower broadband requirements, which will be available at $399;
Cisco ūmi 1080, the original breakthrough telepresence offering for the home now available at a reduced price of $499.
The service fee for Cisco ūmi 1080 and 720 is now $99.00 a year, or $9.95 a month. There is no service fee for ūmi Connect for PC and Mac.
ūmi 1080 and 720 include an HD camera, a console and a remote. Unlike video chat, ūmi telepresence was specifically designed for the living room and group-to-group conversations, delivering a truly immersive and lifelike video experience that fits into every home, automatically adjusting to lighting conditions and background noise to provide the most natural communications experience possible. Both ūmi 1080 and 720 products offer optical zoom and automatic pan and tilt to deliver close up and room size experiences.
ūmi 1080 and 720 connect to any existing HD television and broadband internet connection to deliver a high-quality, HD video calling experience in the home. The new Cisco ūmi 720 requires less bandwidth, 1.5 mbps upload and download speeds which are readily available across most of the U.S. Both versions of Cisco ūmi intelligently adapt to the quality of the broadband in the home.
Sharing Video Experiences
In addition to its immersive and lifelike experience and incredible ease of use, ūmi also offers HD recording and sharing on FaceBook, Flipshare and You Tube. In the case of a missed call consumers can leave video messages for one another. Both recorded videos and messages can be retrieved from a PC, Mac or smart phone. In addition, with Cisco ūmi telepresence, users can also place and receive video calls from anyone with a computer (PC or Mac), webcam and ūmi Connect or Google Video Chat.
"With today's announcement, Cisco is continuing to deliver innovative, market-leading video and telepresence solutions that enable consumers to connect and transact with businesses from the comfort of their home," said Marthin De Beer, senior vice president, TelePresence, Emerging Technologies & Consumer Business, Cisco. "By offering a range of video solutions – from high-end Cisco TelePresence for business to the free Cisco ūmi Connect product, we are extending our leadership in telepresence and driving the pervasive use of HD video."
ūmi for Service Providers
Today's announcement gives consumers, businesses and service providers the industry's widest choice of high-definition telepresence video communications options. Verizon will be launching ūmi for its FiOS network this year. In addition, ūmi is in field trials with service providers in Europe, Latin America and Asia.
Availability
Cisco ūmi 1080 is now available for 499.00 at Best Buy Magnolia and at bestbuy.com; Cisco ūmi 720 is scheduled to be available for $399.00 early this summer. Cisco ūmi Connect is in beta trials and is scheduled to be available via free download this summer.
SAN JOSE, Calif. – March 7, 2011 – Extending the company's success in telepresence, Cisco today announced that it is enabling businesses to connect with consumers via full interoperability between Cisco ūmiTM and the Cisco TelePresence portfolio for businesses. Cisco is also announcing an expansion of its ūmi product line with a range of options, from free HD desktop video to high-quality immersive telepresence experiences on an HDTV.
Business Services in the Home
As video communications becomes pervasive, businesses and consumers are increasingly looking to augment in-person meetings and interactions with lifelike video experiences. With today's announcement, ūmi users in the home will be able to connect with businesses over telepresence, paving the way for innovative new video services such as distance learning, tele-health, virtual professional services and community services.
Expanded ūmi Product Line
Key to today's announcement is the extension of the ūmi product line, making home telepresence experiences available to more consumers. ūmi is a first-of-its-kind, easy-to-use consumer product that delivers a high-quality, immersive video calling experience that goes beyond just seeing the people you talk to. The expanded portfolio includes:
Cisco ūmi Connect, a free HD calling client for PC and Macs (currently in trials);
Cisco ūmi 720, a new product that delivers an immersive telepresence experience with lower broadband requirements, which will be available at $399;
Cisco ūmi 1080, the original breakthrough telepresence offering for the home now available at a reduced price of $499.
The service fee for Cisco ūmi 1080 and 720 is now $99.00 a year, or $9.95 a month. There is no service fee for ūmi Connect for PC and Mac.
ūmi 1080 and 720 include an HD camera, a console and a remote. Unlike video chat, ūmi telepresence was specifically designed for the living room and group-to-group conversations, delivering a truly immersive and lifelike video experience that fits into every home, automatically adjusting to lighting conditions and background noise to provide the most natural communications experience possible. Both ūmi 1080 and 720 products offer optical zoom and automatic pan and tilt to deliver close up and room size experiences.
ūmi 1080 and 720 connect to any existing HD television and broadband internet connection to deliver a high-quality, HD video calling experience in the home. The new Cisco ūmi 720 requires less bandwidth, 1.5 mbps upload and download speeds which are readily available across most of the U.S. Both versions of Cisco ūmi intelligently adapt to the quality of the broadband in the home.
Sharing Video Experiences
In addition to its immersive and lifelike experience and incredible ease of use, ūmi also offers HD recording and sharing on FaceBook, Flipshare and You Tube. In the case of a missed call consumers can leave video messages for one another. Both recorded videos and messages can be retrieved from a PC, Mac or smart phone. In addition, with Cisco ūmi telepresence, users can also place and receive video calls from anyone with a computer (PC or Mac), webcam and ūmi Connect or Google Video Chat.
"With today's announcement, Cisco is continuing to deliver innovative, market-leading video and telepresence solutions that enable consumers to connect and transact with businesses from the comfort of their home," said Marthin De Beer, senior vice president, TelePresence, Emerging Technologies & Consumer Business, Cisco. "By offering a range of video solutions – from high-end Cisco TelePresence for business to the free Cisco ūmi Connect product, we are extending our leadership in telepresence and driving the pervasive use of HD video."
ūmi for Service Providers
Today's announcement gives consumers, businesses and service providers the industry's widest choice of high-definition telepresence video communications options. Verizon will be launching ūmi for its FiOS network this year. In addition, ūmi is in field trials with service providers in Europe, Latin America and Asia.
Availability
Cisco ūmi 1080 is now available for 499.00 at Best Buy Magnolia and at bestbuy.com; Cisco ūmi 720 is scheduled to be available for $399.00 early this summer. Cisco ūmi Connect is in beta trials and is scheduled to be available via free download this summer.
I've done video conferences in a Cisco Telepresence room. It's pretty damned impressive. You don't think "internet video chat", you think "they're in the same room". The audio comes from the right places, the people are pictured life size. You really do forget that you're talking to a TV screen. You've seen them on "24" when the President talks to other world leaders. It really does look exactly like what you see on TV.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, you'll hear about how the next wave of working from home means telepresence in 3D. It'll come, mark my words.
ReplyDelete