Brother – better known for sewing machines and printers - has entered the web-based, remote conference and collaboration market with boardroom quality products suited to small to medium business and even enterprise use.
Last year it purchased Nefsis and has now launched a new Brother brand – OmniJoin.
If you have used Citrix GoTo Meeting, WebEx, Lync, or multipoint video conferencing, you will understand cloud-based multipoint video and collaboration. If not read on.
First, no special client hardware required - it uses standard web cameras and microphones in notebooks or tablets. Call this a single user scenario. It can also use higher-grade, USB based cameras, microphones, and speaker phones in larger multi-user boardroom situations.
Next, the host (presenter or organisation with the OmniJoin account) downloads a client for Windows or Mac OS X. It uses an Opus codec that has good audio and video quality without sucking up too much bandwidth. For maximum user number support the Host computer requires bandwidth of 4mbps downstream and 1mbps upstream and the clients can use 512mbps upstream so it will work over ADSL2+, Cable, SHDSL, Ethernet, and even 3G/4G. It has user selectable bit rates to slide between bandwidth and quality. Remember it is cloud-based and really just needs a local browser to work. Participants just need to click on the meeting invitation link and it will open in a web browser.
It integrates with Outlook (exchange) contacts and allows for scheduled or ad hoc meetings and collaboration. It has end-point encryption for the presenter and all participants.
Then you pay a monthly access fee that best suits your needs. It has two standard plans that include unlimited frequency and length of meetings, file sharing, and collaboration.
Software features and RRP:
Enterprise users can request a customised package to suit their needs.
The optional AU$129 VT-1000 speakerphone has USB connection (for power and data), a digital signal processor for (noise and echo reduction), a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Up to four VT-1000s can be connected via USB to the one PC.
The optional AU$129 USB based NW-1000 autofocus webcam supports up to 1080p and uses H.264 video compression. It has dual microphones.
Opinion
I have been a big cloud-based video conferencing user and a fan of GoToMeeting. OmniJoin is as good, and perhaps a little more flexible. It seems to cover the base functionality of GoToMeeting, GoToWebinar and GoToTraining, all of which are more expensive to use. Only time will tell if this new player is as robust as the industry leader.
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Article Source: Brother – let’s talk about web conferencing