Polycom announced a new alliance of telecom operators formed to deliver interoperable videoconferencing and telepresence worldwide. The Open Visual Communications Consortium will connect businesses and public organisations across service provider networks and videoconferencing systems worldwide, supporting multiple vendors, room-based systems as well as desktop clients and mobile devices. An initial test of the system in January demonstrated a multi-vendor HD telepresence call joining systems across 12 service provider networks. Sponsored by Polycom, the OVCC includes as founding members Airtel, AT&T, BCS Global, BT Conferencing, Cable&Wireless Worldwide, Global Crossing, Glowpoint, iFormata Communications, Masergy, Orange Business Services, PCCW Global, Telefonica, Telstra, and Verizon. The alliance targets the estimated 2 million standards-based video systems in use today, and will also enable interoperability with non-standards-based systems.
