OVCC targets videoconferencing interoperability

The videoconferencing sector took a step toward greater interoperability last week with the creation of a new group, the Open Visual Communications Consortium (OVCC). The OVCC's development was spearheaded by Polycom, and news of its arrival may have been somewhat lost amid the news of Polycom's acquisition of HP's Halo visual collaboration assets last week.

What is perhaps most significant about the OVCC is that several major international service providers have signed up right out of the gate to help work on mitigating what has always been one of videoconferencing's biggest problems--in most cases, companies using videoconferencing services from different service providers have not been able to communicate. Part of the group's aim is to include HD and telepresence services, as well as voice conferencing. The carriers involved include AT&T, Verizon Communications, BT, Telefonica, Global Crossing and others.

Polycom has worked with other vendors on telepresence interoperability efforts, including Tandberg and Lifesize, in the past. Cisco Systems also has worked with carriers like AT&T on telepresence interoperability.

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Polycom announced the HP Halo acquisition last week
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