Vidtel Gateway Adds Skype and GoogleTalk Video Conferencing to Existing MCUs and Bridges

LAS VEGAS, June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Vidtel today announced Vidtel Gateway, an industry-first solution that adds Skype and GoogleTalk support to video conferencing multipoint control units (MCUs) and bridges. Vidtel Gateway is an add-on service that lets video conferencing service providers, VARs and enterprises maximize their MCU and bridge investments by enabling Skype and GoogleTalk participants on desktop PCs, laptops, smartphones and tablets.

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"Many enterprises and video service providers have invested heavily in video bridges, and they don't want to hear that they have to rip and replace that infrastructure just to add Skype and GoogleTalk functionality," said Ira M. Weinstein, senior analyst and partner at Wainhouse Research. "Vidtel Gateway provides a graceful alternative: a straightforward, cost-effective add-on that enhances their existing infrastructure instead of rendering it obsolete.  This is an MCU enhancer, not an MCU killer."

Vidtel Gateway has several other major benefits for service providers, VARs, enterprises, and web collaboration providers:

• Video conferencing service providers that have their own MCUs or bridges can now offer Skype and Google Talk connectivity to existing customers using existing back-end systems and generate more revenue through increased usage.

• VARs can upsell Skype and GoogleTalk interoperability to their existing enterprise customers with MCUs as a powerful market differentiator. Vidtel Gateway is a way for enterprises to extend video conferencing/calling to consumers, telecommuters and mobile workers on soft clients without adding a bridge or setting aside existing MCU investments.

• Vidtel Gateway gives web collaboration providers a fast, cost-effective way to open their largely proprietary systems to users with H.323, SIP, GoogleTalk and Skype platforms. That interoperability expands the value of their services and thus their addressable market.

"Vidtel Gateway is the latest example of Vidtel's leadership in eliminating the interoperability, complexity and cost barriers that have prevented video conferencing from becoming as common as telephony and available to nearly everyone in business today," said Vidtel CEO Scott Wharton. "Instead of forcing enterprises and service providers to scrap their MCUs and bridges, Vidtel Gateway maximizes those investments and expands video conferencing both throughout their organization and to third parties such as customers and business partners."

"Vidtel Gateway is expanding our market and revenue opportunities. We now can offer our customers a convenient, cost-effective way to use Skype and GoogleTalk without any additional hardware or bridging investment," said Brad Johnston, COO of Solutionz Inc., Vidtel's most recently announced channel partner. "That augmentation strategy is particularly valuable when selling to enterprises with tight budgets. This solution enhances the value of the video conferencing infrastructure that we've provided them without adding a lot of expense."

For more information about Vidtel Gateway and to see demos of Vidtel service, visit Vidtel at InfoComm booth No. N1613.

About Vidtel

Founded in 2008, Vidtel is the pioneer of any-to-any video conferencing service, providing compatibility between a diverse set of business-grade and consumer-grade video endpoints.  Vidtel enables even small and medium enterprises to affordably experience the productivity of high-quality video conferencing between dispersed employees, partners, and customers. Vidtel is located in the heart of Silicon Valley in Sunnyvale, CA.

Press Contact

For Vidtel:
Irena Boostani
(858) 414-1136
[email protected]

SOURCE Vidtel