IIM-S Opts Vennfer For Video-Conferencing

Connecting a remote location to the world outside through video conferencing
is the best way to showcase the benefits of this technology. And the Indian
Institute of Management (IIM)-Shillong is a great reference point for such a
deployment.

The institute, located remotely in the hilly terrains of the North-east, was
in the need of incorporating video conferencing solutions which was at par with
global standards. In the first instance, choosing the right kind of solution was
crucial as flexibility of conferencing operations and handling of the software
needed to be apt and suited to needs of the students as well as the faculty.

Deciding on the move, the institute opted to select Vennfer, the
software-based video conferencing solution from Intellysis, rather than the
normal hardware based lab portal.

"We had video conferencing platform based on Polycom, but platform
compatibility issues were there. Since Vennfer promised flexibility of
operations with ease of use, we decided to go for it," said Parthav Roy
Chowdhury, Incharge-IT, IIM-S.

Why Vennfer?

One of the key reasons why IIM-S decided to go for Vennfer is that it
facilitated videoconferencing between users from multi-point locations spanning
board rooms, meeting rooms, desktops and mobiles simultaneously in one single
screen. At the same time, while conferencing on the go, users could share Word,
Powerpoint, Excel, Internet Browser, Adobe, whiteboard, Instant Messaging and
other applications in real-time mode.

Commenting on this, Saumen Chakraborty, CEO, Intellysis said, "These features
were previously unheard of in the realm of the global video-conferencing market.
And since IIM-S was specific they wanted a global standard for their
communication needs, we thought Vennfer was the ideal solution for them."

Vennfer enables real-time audio, video, and data communication over LAN, WAN
(leased lines, VSATs, VPNs), broadband and datacards by using TCP/IP
multi-casting technology for many-to-many multi-party videoconferencing.
Currently it claims to seamlessly conduct 2 —17 / 37 / 200 /unlimited way
video-conferences in a flash.

To ensure that the solution could be employed to its fullest capacity, IIM
Shillong, after floating tender requests appointed Techniche to deploy it. This
is when the SP realized one challenge during actual implementation.

"IIM-S is placed remotely and the institute required the solution primarily
for two reasons. Firstly, they needed access to virtual classrooms globally
which would facilitate providing lectures to students who were unable to attend
the classes physically. Secondly, since some professors were unable to come down
to the institute due to poor access, the institute wanted these professors to
conduct the class virtually," said Satish Choudhary of Techniche Consulting
Services (TCS).

The nitty-gritties

Since the deployment was on the software platform rather than its hardware
counterpart, the deployment was done as smoothly as was possible without
disruption to any of the other peripheral IT infrastructure.

The institute opted to buy 6 licenses of Vennfer and is currently using it to
connect the system to classrooms and its students. "Primarily, we selected the
solution for our students while conducting classes. However, soon we found its
use in the internal meetings as well and are using it for the same purpose. The
usage of the product is quite simple and only a broadband connection with a
webcam is needed to conduct the conference," Roy Choudhury added.

Since the deployment was concentrated on software in the existing IT frame,
there was no need for the institute to opt for additional IT hardware purchases.
Another reason why IIM S selected Vennfer, besides this price advantage, was
also because of the low bandwidth it consumed.

Vennfer is technically strong and configuring the application is easy. With
connections across all the classrooms implementation of the software on the
laptop platforms using file share mode, it offers H262 compression in the output
video.

In the campus, in normal mode, the conferencing is established through normal
embedded webcam in laptops connected to a VGA port through the USB. On the audio
mode, normal speakers are also connected for audio output. In addition, the
college has also purchased a handycam for wide angle view of the classrooms.

A happy client

The total project was estimated at Rs 8 lakh and it has since transformed
the campus into a brilliant reference point on how video conferencing can be
deployed with minimal technical hassles.

Although it took around 3 months time for the institute to understand the
operational mode of the software and override the integrated firewall system in
the embedded OS and servers, the IT team in IIT Shillong was quick enough to
implement the solution soon after the deployment.

"With Vennfer, our customers like IIM-S can reach employees, customers and
partners in new ways, improve information exchange, encourage idea sharing, and
facilitate collaboration while reducing costs and increasing productivity and
that means rapid return on customer investments," Chakraborty illustrated.

Vennfer claimed that it saved between 50-65 percent of the total capital cost
of acquisition as compared to any traditional hardware based video conferencing
system for IIM-S along with saving 40-60 percent of the recurring bandwidth cost
as compared to any traditional hardware based video conferencing system.

"The improvement in technology and the global economic slowdown are making
video-conferencing a must have tool for organizations around the world. One of
the major expense columns for today's globalized businesses is travel costs of
their employees," Chakraborty added.

Satisfied with the deployment and the success of the application, Roy
Choudhury is considering additional licenses in case there is a further need for
expansion.

Avishek Rakshit

avishekr@cybermedia.co.in