2010 and Beyond

 

  

 

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As the end of a tumultuous 2009 draws to a close, Kathea keenly looks towards 2010 and beyond in anticipation of the growth of new trends currently emerging in the market. In this edition of Yezindaba we focus on these trends, what their benefits are and why enterprises should consider their incorporation into company strategy.

 

Currently the industry market is heralding several new advancements which promise a digital revolution that is set to transform how we presently utilize our IT infrastructure. Processing of information in our current day is following rapidly in the footsteps of the evolution of the generation of power 100 years ago. Paralleling the traditional public utility, like large electricity utilities, several companies have begun to package computing resources into a metered service referred to as “cloud computing”.

 

As companies seek more cost effective ways to conduct business, trends have shown a growing interest in centralised management capabilities and outsourced managed service offerings. Such interest, points to the enterprise video network operations centre, commonly known as VNOC.

 

Yezindaba highlights the benefits of cloud computing in the article “The Benefits of Cloud Computing in the Hotel Industry”, and how this resource virtualization tool can be used as an investment strategy.

 

 Though signs of economic growth are indicating positive movements for the year to come, companies are still cautiously continuing to monitore their financial strategies. With enterprises constantly seeking more cost effective ways to conduct business, trends have indicated a growing interest towards centralised management capabilities, commonly known as VNOC. “Business Trends Towards Outsourced Managed Services” focuses further on the virtualization tool and the advantages of this service.

 

As we conclude an eventful year, we at Kathea wish you the best of the festive  season and a 2010 filled with prosperity for both you and your company. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season’s Greetings
Greg Darke

CEO - Kathea

 

Kathea News and Events

Kathea-Polycom Mini-Conference & Awards Dinner:

 

On 11th November 2009, KATHEA & POLYCOM hosted a mini-conference and 2009 annual awards evening in Johannesburg. 

 

The mini-conference was an opportunity for our valued Partners to interact with the KATHEA team as well as a delegation of POLYCOM representatives which included:

 

 



 

 

Daniel Schmierer: Vice-President of Sales for Middle East & Africa
Dan Engel: Regional Sales Manager
David Stirling: Telepresenece Business Development Manager
Dave Brown: Sales Training Manager Europe, Middle East & Africa
Stanton Naidoo: South Africa In-country Representative
Hand Paulsen: Technical Trainer Europe, Middle East & Africa
Oliver Wick: Solution Architect  Europe, Middle East & Africa

 

During the event, POLYCOM provided a comprehensive overview of the recently launched RMX4000 and RSS4000, as well as a briefing regarding the 2010 technology roadmap.
Thereafter, the KATHEA-POLYCOM annual awards evening was held to honour those Partners & Individuals who has excelled in positioning POLYCOM as the ideal Voice & Videoconferencing solution throughout South, and Southern, Africa.

The event was very well supported with over 100 delegates present and festivities continued well into the night with live entertainment, good food and great company.

 

 Kathea’s CSI Initiative - Ithembelihle Lsen School 

 

 This Christmas Kathea as a company will be visiting our social outreach school in a bid to give back to our community during this challenging time of year.

 

The Ithembelihle Lsen School is a school for disadvantaged and physically handicapped children, most suffering from HIV/AIDS. The staff at Kathea have raised money internally to assist with much needed items for the school. 

 

The staff of Kathea came together to visit the school and share in the giving of Christmas gifts to the 185 children and 63 staff that keep the school functioning.

 

We are proud to support the Ithembelihle Lsen School and should you be interested in finding out more about our corporate social responsibility initiative click on the link below to watch our video on the school.

 

Kathea Go Green Winners

 

Kathea’s continued effort to promote Green Sustainability within the workplace introduced the Top Performing Employee Award in October this year. Each employee receives a indigenous plant in an effort to give back to the environment and award excellent performance in the workplace.

 

Mashudu Maswanganyi was awarded the Service Excellence Award for the month of November. As part of the headset servicing division, Mashudu delivers outstanding customer service to our clients. Kathea applauds his professional attitude to his work and encourages an ongoing positive approach to our valuable customers.

 

 

 

 

 

Now a two-time consecutive winner for the Top Sales Award, we congratulate Polycom Channel Manager, Luke Marthinussen, for his excellent sales performance this month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Polycom Microsoft Collaboration

 

POLYCOM’s technology roadmap for 2010 remains strongly focused on its increasingly close integration with MICROSOFT.

The end of a turbulent 2009 has seen many changes taking place within the videoconferencing industry, promising an altered landscape as we enter 2010. These changes have been initiated through developments such as Logitech’s acquisition of LifeSize and Cisco’s purchase of Tandberg.

 

As the only independent participant in the videoconferencing industry, POLYCOM remains strongly positioned to understand and meet the unified communications needs of our customers. This position is further reinforced by POLYCOM’s close and ongoing collaboration with MICROSOFT. 

 

A key component of POLYCOM’s technology roadmap is continued through seamless integration with MICROSOFT in order to achieve a convenient, efficient workflow. Significantly increased interoperabilityand functionality between POLYCOM videoconferencing endpoints and MICROSOFT’s software is currently in beta testing and is scheduled for release by April 2010.

POLYCOM’s recent release of the RMX4000 and RSS4000 highlights an ongoing commitment to innovation and product development; enhancing the customers’ video and audio conferencing experience.

 

The RMX4000 Bridge offers double the capacity of the RMX2000 allowing for 320 Video Calls and 1600 Audio calls with up to 800 participants in a single conference. 

 

It features a tiered-access, web-based interface for administrative ease and, with its modular design and industry standards, allows your organization to adopt a “build-as-you-grow” approach to capacity and hot swappable parts for fast field service. The redundancy and scalability offered by the RMX4000 enables the delivery of more than a thousand audio calls, hundreds of desktop video deployments and process-intensive immersive telepresence. RMX will support Native Integration into the existing OCS Environment & also support the audio conferencing requirements of the Cisco Call Manager.

 

The RMX4000 is the ultimate collaboration platform and is ideal for large organizations such as global businesses, service providers, educational institutions and government departments. It offers a rapid return on investment by offering efficient call delivery options and enhanced video support which supports a smooth migration to HD.

The RSS4000 is a centralized server for recording, streaming, and archiving multimedia conferences and offers even more capacity than its predecessor, the RSS2000.

 

By utilizing the video conferencing network as the production source, the RSS4000 allows for multiple applications such as training modules, town hall sessions and is able to enhance internal company communications. The RSS4000 is perfect for corporations who want to Web-cast events such as company meetings, either live or on demand, and leverages your investment in the video conferencing systems by turning them into content generation sources.

 

One of the most obvious benefits of the RSS4000 is that it saves time and resources by recording and/or streaming audio and video conferences and extending the communications to employees, partners, and customers who cannot attend in person.

 

   An affordable, easy-to-use, dual stack business media phone for H.323 and SIP environments. The VVX1500D combines one-touch video calling, integrated business applications, and advanced IP telephony in a flexible, future-proof Unified Communications (UC) solution.

 

Product functionality and application highlights include:

• Enables managers and knowledge workers to make simple and fast touch screen video and voice calls right from their workspace

• Flexible and future-proof with easy connectivity to both H.323 video and SIP telephony simultaneously

• Enhances productivity; increases remote collaboration, helps build relationships, and easily view body language

•  Enables innovative third-party applications through a full browser and highly customizable Polycom API

• Reduces carbon footprint. Requires less than half the power of similar products

   

Features and Benefits

 

• On-device, simultaneous support for H.323 and SIP for easy connectivity and flexibility

• Intuitive, color touch-screen phone interface for voice, video and applications

• Instant, one-touch business-grade video conferencing right from the desktop

• Adjustable camera, base, and display to suit the environment and provide eye-level visual interactions

• Six-line, feature-rich touch screen phone with Polycom HD Voice™ technology ¹

• Highly customizable applications platform with open Polycom API, integrated full browser and USB 2.0 port for applications

• Integrated Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) switch for bandwidth-intensive applications

• IEEE 802.3af powered at under 11W maximum for a "green" world

• Smart motion detection allows the screen to go to power-save mode when no one is in the office

      

The Polycom Architected Telepresence Experience solutions allow more organizations than ever to improve collaboration and productivity with life-like visual communication over any distance.

 

Polycom ATX 300 components, including industry-leading codecs, cameras, microphone arrays, software and configuration tools, is powerful combination of technologies that support unique deployment requirements.

 

The flexibility of the ATX 300 solution allows meeting spaces, furniture, displays and decor to be customized to the unique aesthetic and environmental requirements of the customer and allows customers to leverage existing boardroom investments while enabling them to experience the full benefit of a Telepresence environment. Design, integration, support and ongoing services ensure all solutions fully address the customers’ existing and evolving needs.

 

With highly adaptable and flexible deployment options, Polycom Architected Telepresence Experience solutions are also completely standards-based and fully interoperable with the millions of existing video conferencing systems in use around the world today, including all Polycom immersive, room, and personal telepresence solutions.

 

Contact Us:

Contact Venessa Dewing for further information on these and other telepresence products. venessa.dewing@kathea.co.za

 VNOC is proving to be a key part of managing a global videoconferencing environment. Like a network operations center (NOC), VNOCs are responsible for supporting a variety of user requests and technical issues, resolving issues that crop up immediately. A successful video network operations centre depends upon several factors which include the knowledge and experience of the VNOC staff, the processes and procedures they follow, and the functionality of the videoconferencing management system. VNOCs can be outsourced to a videoconferencing managed service provider (MSP) and can include dedicated support staff working in a single location or distributed around the world. 

 

The advantages of using VNOC are fast activation, limited internal resource requirements, immediate access to skilled resources, access to best practice and SLA guarantees.  It has been noted in recent research that organizations seeking to improve the performance and reliability of their global videoconferencing environment should consider the utilization of a videoconferencing network operations centre. Contact Cari Drysdale for further information on the benefits of video network operating centres. cari.drysdale@kathea.co.za

Jabra’s newest range of triple convergence headsets is set to change the way we manage our communication, and the world of headsets as it exists!

 

In South Africa, headsets are viewed as necessities of the basic functioning of a call centre. It is very rare to find even the most entry level call centre without headsets for all their agents. What can be deduced from this simple observation is that where there is heavy phone usage, there are clear demands for the use of headsets in terms of both ergonomics and productivity.

 

The industry has embraced headsets usage to the point where it now has become a prerequisite for the functioning of an efficient call centre.

Despite the prolific use of headsets in call centres these productivity-increasing products are less commonly used in the office environment. The advantages of using headsets for any work environment, calls for businesses functioning in an office environment to assess the benefits of headset products both from a productivity and investment point of view.

 

From an ergonomic perspective research from Europe suggests that any person using the phone for 2-4 hours or more a day will benefit significantly from the use of a headset. Issues caused by handsets include headaches, back and neck pain and related issues. (link to Ergonomics Whitepaper)

Staff members are found to be more productive with the use of headsets due to an increased work focus and work rate simply by having their hands free to continue with other necessary tasks.

 

With the improvement of wireless technology, productivity is taken to the next level. E-Media research commissioned by Jabra shows that almost all staff spend at least 30 minutes, and some more than 3 hours, away from their desks. This can result in important calls being missed during the time away from their fixed line phones. The result is wasted time calling back clients who are then experiencing a decrease in the customer service offered. Since it is a natural expression to move around while talking the research conducted has also indicated that this movement additional aids communication.   (link to productivity white paper)

Throw into the mix the fact that almost all staff use both desk and mobile phones and the world of office communication becomes highly complex.

So what does the future hold for headset development?

 

The future of headsets lies in:

 

• Triple convergence products that give clients the benefits of hands free use, wireless freedom and manage all your channels of communication (mobile, desk and softphone) through one device.

• Touch colour screens and improved human interfaces will make headsets the communication tool of the future and not just the call centre.

• New improved noise cancellation

• These headsets will be software driven to ensure that they are future proof. Compatibly and integration to existing and new software and systems will always be current.

• Software updates with additional functionality is simply downloaded from the internet.

• These new breed of devices will be visible on the network so your IT Administrator can lock and unlock certain functionality from a central point and track their whereabouts, and distribute software updates.

• A set up wizard will walk even the least technology enabled person to set them up

• Audio settings will be automatically optimized by dialing a local phone number in SA where a server will assess and change the settings over the internet

 

Jabra have introduced two new series in the development of wireless headsets. The Jabra GO6400 and PRO9400 are set to change the way businesses employees work and communicate. Future software releases will offer the ability to switch and or bridge calls between devices.

 

For the business functioning in an office environment the use of headsets benefits its users both from an ergonomic and productivity-gains point of view. The Jabra headset product range offers a simplified work environment and improved communication capabilities. Companies looking to invest in tools to boost productivity and simplify their staff’s environment will continue to benefit from this investment.

 

The Teleadapt MediaHub

 

The TeleAdapt MediaHub™ is becoming an ever more popular way for hotel guests to enjoy their own media devices while in the comfort of their guest room.

 

The Teleadapt MediaHub utilizes a single-HDMI connection to the TV, eliminating the excessive cabling found with first generation jack packs. The portable device works straight out the box as picture and sound signals are transmitted through one HDMI cable thereby ensuring guests experience an auto-sensing environment. Hotel guests can simply move from an Xbox to laptop image just by unplugging one and plugging in the other, or using toggle buttons such as those seen on the MediaHub HD.

 

The progression in HDMI technology has changed the way connectivity panels are engineered, allowing for faster installation, a more simple compatibility outlook and easier-to-use functionality for the guest. With HDMI as the foundation, possibilities are endless in improving the connectivity panel technology over time.

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is a form of resource virtualization where the services are delivered through the Web. The “cloud” is the traditional view of the network with the internet depicted as the cloud. With cloud computing, applications are provided online and accessed through a Web browser with servers, software, databases located remotely. The three main types are Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platfrom as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS).

 

Recent surveys have indicated that enterprise IT managers have moved to deploying public cloud computing applications for their business, a trend that seems set to continue growing.

 

How can hotels utilize this tool?

 

Cloud computing could have a major impact on hotel operations in the future. As an investment strategy cloud computing saves hotels from having to invest heavily in their own private IT infrastructure. The use of public cloud computing applications also ensures space and energy savings which are largely taken up by hardware and efficiency for software and applications upgrades.

 

This resource virtualization tool would further be advantageous with customer services at times of peak demands. In addition, as more and more guests now carry their entertainment with them (the Teleadapt MediaHub) a hosted application model where guests’ entertainment content could be stored and accessed from the cloud is a reality that will prove a profitable paradigm shift.