Video Conferencing Systems for New York City

Video Conferencing SystemStreamline Telecom is a top provider of video conferencing systems for New York City.  We are your go-to source for video conferencing installation, setup, and support services in the area.  Continue reading for more information about the benefits of video conferencing, the various options we offer, and answers to frequently asked questions about video conferencing.

What is Video Conferencing?

Basically, video conferencing is a method of interactive communication between two parties. Typically, the communication is delivered using either Internet (IP) or telephone technology. Streamline Telecom partners with Polycom to install IP-based video conferencing systems in the NYC area. At its best, video conferencing will make you feel like you’re in the same room as the other person, allowing you to collaborate effectively and efficiently.

Advantages of Video Conferencing

There are a number of reasons that businesses are turning to video conferencing now more than ever. Here are just a few of the ways that video conferencing can change the way you do business.

  • Cost — As the cost of travel continues to climb, it makes better fiscal sense to simply install video conferencing capability. It’s cheaper to pay for the people in different branch offices across the country (or even around the globe) to set up video conferencing than it would be to fly them to the main office for meetings.
  • Ease of Communication — Video conferencing enables people to communicate with anyone, anywhere. This service could expand your business exponentially, as you can meet and collaborate with clients anywhere, anytime without the time and money consuming travel that once kept you from growing to your maximum potential.
  • Productivity — Now, the fact that not everyone is present in the office won’t halt productivity. If someone is working from home, or if they’re traveling, you can still hold vitally necessary meetings. Video conferencing and the collaborative tools that are frequently paired with it allow teams to work faster and more efficiently than ever before.
  • Time — Travel constraints can cause endless issues when you try to schedule meetings. You want to get in, get out, and move on with your day, but you have to wait until late afternoon to make sure everyone has been retrieved from the airport. (Not to mention the waste of time that the people who’ve halted their lives to fly in for one meeting are experiencing.) Video conferencing will allow everyone to stay productive by conducting the meeting at a time that works for everyone.

Video Conferencing Equipment

You’re ready to make your business as efficient as possible, but you’re not sure how to start. Streamline Telecom can help you determine which video conferencing equipment is best for you.

Here are just a few of the options available to you and your company.

RealPresence Group Series — Polycom’s enterprise-grade video, voice and  collaboration equipment allows users to experience high-quality video and audio for teams, no matter how large they are or how far-flung the members might be. This is a top-of-the-line system that can be used in a room of any size without losing any of its quality.

RealPresence Group Convene — This offering from Polycom is specially designed for a smaller group, and it would even work for a personal workspace. If your company is on the small side, this could be the best solution for you.

RealPresence Trio — Polycom’s RealPresence Trio is a smart hub that’s ideal for collaborating as a group. It’s the only modular smart hub available in the market, but it doesn’t rest on its laurels. RealPresence Trio is designed to deliver an amazing audio experience as well as excellent visual collaboration.

RealPresence Debut — This simple enterprise grade video conferencing solution from Polycom is designed specifically for small spaces. It’s elegant design belies the fact that it’s incredibly cost effective, a great option for small businesses who are seeking to boost their professionalism.

Video Conferencing Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why can’t we just use Skype?

A: Well, you can use Skype, but by itself it’s not going to offer you the professional quality that most companies want to convey, particularly when you’re conferencing with clients.  Also, Skype for business use requires a license, so it isn’t completely free.   Lastly, even if you use Skype you will still need good speakers and microphones as well as high-quality cameras.  So, essentially, you shouldn’t think of Skype as an alternative to video conferencing but rather as a video conferencing tool that can be enhanced with the right equipment.

Q: Do I have to use my phone to call the person I’m videoconferencing?

A: No! Streamline Telecom offers video conferencing equipment that uses high definition audio, which means that your audio will be crisp and clear and completely intelligible.  We can hook up your video conferencing equipment to a wall-mounted television so that you can see video of the party you are calling.

Q: How do I “set up” the room for a video conference?

A: Be sure that the camera is focused on one thing — the person speaking. A solid, dark backdrop is ideal, but you can use a whiteboard so long as you’re aware of the potential for a glare. Be sure that the microphone and the speakers aren’t too close to each other, or there will be some weird audio loop back.  When we install a video conferencing system, we install a very user-friendly plug-and-play system that requires little or no additional set-up on your part.  Typically, we install a wall-mounted television with a camera mounted either above or below the TV and a microphone located on a conference table in the room for high quality audio.

Q: Can I conduct a video conference from my home? My office? My hotel?

A: You can, depending on which system you’ve purchased. But with many systems, you can use them anywhere, anytime, including on your tablet or smartphone. Streamline Telecom would be happy to discuss your needs and recommend the system that’s best for you.

Q: Can you use video conferencing systems from different vendors on the same call?

A: Yes, but you will need a bridge, which is a software platform that connects different systems.  Streamline Telecom can purchase the license and set up the software for you when we install your video conferencing system.