Results from Australia Desktop Videoconferencing Project Group

I learned from a post on the Megaconference listserv about this work that was just completed in Australia. Quoting their website:

The Desktop Video Project Group (DVPG) was formed to evaluate desktop based video conferencing solutions to be used in Australian Universities and Research institutions. This group believes that there is no “one‐size fits all” when it comes to desktop video conferencing. … This group has completed a review of a broader range of “off‐the‐shelf” applications that are grouped into particular “types” that have been evaluated to offer a broader and greater relevance for institutional users and support teams.

Tools
Their project evaluated the following tools:

• Mirial Softphone
• Polycom PVX
• Xmeeting 0.4P2
• Emblaze-VCON’s vPoint HD
• Kedacom PCMT
• EVO
• Vidyo
• Tandberg Movi 2.0
• Microsoft Office Communicator
• Polycom Converged Management Application

Definitions
The project also includes some very helpful definitions of different types of conferencing. Given the blurring of lines between room, desktop, H323, nonH323, etc. and the growing casual undefined use of the term telepresence, these definitions are very helpful.

The project includes lists of different scenarios of use for desktop videoconferencing -the scope and range of the list is very comprehensive!

Checklist

• The checklist used to evaluate each product is very helpful and can be used adapted by any organization.

The full report is online here in PDF.

A picture of the workgroup testing is posted on twitpic: