Cisco Networking Simplified

Chapter . Videoconference

Conducting Videoconferences Across the Net

Videoconferencing is similar to a voice conference call in that multiple people connect to a central site to communicate with each other. Videoconference networks are converging onto IP networks, thus allowing greater flexibility and lower cost.

Traditional videoconferencing systems use a protocol called H.320, which allows the transmission of video across public telephone lines using ISDN. Typically, companies build expensive videoconference rooms that are shared, requiring reservations in advance. During the videoconference, people want to share presentations and images and view notes or whiteboard scribbles. The cost of videoconferences was high both in the investment in equipment ...