Open Visual Communications Consortium™, a group of global video exchange providers, network providers and equipment manufacturers that have united to expand video communications, formally launches today, opening membership to visual communications industry stakeholders interested in accelerating the adoption of business-to-business video communications. It also announced its board and officers. OVCC™ members are committed to closing connectivity and service gaps that have prevented video communications between companies by specifying use of standards, best practices and connectivity agreements. As early as mid-2012, service providers will be able to deliver a consistent business-to-business video experience that enables enterprise users to place and receive video calls beyond corporate firewalls and across proprietary video platforms.
OVCC founders and members include some of the world’s largest network service providers:
* AT&T
* BCS Global
* Bharti Airtel
* BT Conferencing
* Dialogic, Inc.
* Masergy
* Orange Business Services
* Polycom, Inc.
* Teliris
* Telstra
* Verizon
Members will collaborate in this groundbreaking federation that encompasses standards-based and proprietary video systems. These service providers and managed solution providers are committed to providing ubiquitous video around the world, connecting millions of users through agreements with interconnected service providers across six continents.
Service providers will develop and implement an OVCC Technical Specification Document based on industry standards, best practices and business approaches to answer the need for interconnection, addressing, signaling, interoperability, and service coordination. Interoperable, high-quality connectivity across networks and devices should allow network providers to profitably and predictably monetize their inter-enterprise video exchanges. By making interoperability requirements invisible to the enterprise, the OVCC specification enables enterprise users to leverage video conferencing investments and enable more efficient value chains — spanning customers, distributors and suppliers – to improve the speed and efficiency of doing business.
“The formal launch of OVCC will help drive greater value for customers and spur broader video adoption,” said Rich Costello, senior research analyst, Unified Communications, IDC. “True B-to-B interoperability requires exactly this type of service provider inter-connectivity as the need for inter-company UC federation, of which video and telepresence are critical components, continues to grow. “
“OVCC is the only organization of its kind addressing the requirements of enabling ubiquitous video calls by truly bridging the islands of communications users have today between enterprise, mobile and consumer applications,” said Andrew McFadzen, OVCC president. “Communications technology leaders will collaborate to enable high-quality video connectivity across any network, vendor platform and device. We invite all interested parties to join our efforts to simplify the delivery of video calls between companies with multi-network, multi-vendor video interoperability.”
In September, OVCC members elected McFadzen, Orange Business Services, president, John Poole, Polycom, vice president, and Clive Sawkins, BCS Global, secretary and acting treasurer. Board directors represent member companies AT&T, BCS Global, Bharti Airtel, BT Conferencing, Masergy Communications, Orange Business Services, Polycom, Telstra, Teliris and Verizon.
The OVCC offers three levels of membership: Participant, Sponsor and Board. Membership privileges and fees vary by participation level.
