Seeking to keep pace with videoconferencing competitors such as Cisco Systems, HP today rolled out a new set of hardware and software products that sell for a fraction of the cost of HP’s existing high-end videoconferencing studios.
HP introduced four new videoconferencing products, all of which can operate over existing corporate networks and are based on scalable video coding technology from Vidyo Inc. The Vidyo technology enables high-quality, low-latency video transmissions over the Internet and wireless networks.
HP introduced two desktop videoconferencing products based on the Vidyo technology as well as two products designed to be used in conference rooms. The new HP Visual Collaboration Desktop can be deployed on PCs and notebook computers. The company also rolled out the HP Visual Collaboration Executive Desktop, an HP TouchSmart 600 Quad PC bundled with the Visual Collaboration software, a camera, and headset.
The software for the HP Visual Collaboration Desktop can be downloaded at a price of $5 per user. Licenses for the software are downloaded in packs of 25. In addition to the software, users will need to add a Webcam and headset. HP officials estimated the cost of those accessories at less than $150. The HP Visual Collaboration Executive Desktop package sells for $2,599.