Event
Summary
SAN FRANCISCO - Feb. 22, 2000 - Microsoft Corp. announced Microsoft
Exchange 2000 Conferencing Server, the newest member of the Exchange 2000 product
line, as well as the first release candidate of Exchange 2000. Exchange 2000
Conferencing Server enables knowledge workers to collaborate with anyone, anywhere
by providing data, video and voice conferencing across intranets and the Internet.
It also provides integrated scheduling and management services to help maximize
network bandwidth and availability.
The
Exchange 2000 product line is the reliable, scalable and easy-to-manage platform
for messaging and collaboration that brings knowledge workers and information
together. A cost-effective platform for "meetings without walls," Exchange 2000
Conferencing Server reduces travel costs, improves productivity and enables
any time, anywhere collaboration for knowledge workers. (Source: Microsoft)
Market
Impact
The
Microsoft Exchange 2000 Conference server is now Release Candidate One (RC1)
and is available for deployment with the released version of the Windows 2000
operating system. The conferencing component of the server is an integrated
add-on from Latitude Communications in California, a video teleconferencing
software producer. The demand for video conferencing today is growing and is
only limited by bandwidth and hardware. As bandwidth grows and video-conferencing
hardware, such as web cams, becomes more inexpensive the "big bang" of video
conferencing will take place.
Microsoft
is certainly not the first software manufacturer to produce a video teleconferencing
server to market. White Pine Software of Nashua, New Hampshire has developed
their Meeting Point server into a first class conference server. White Pine's
sales have increased significantly, indicating that they will give Microsoft's
Conference Server component some fierce competition. However, the White Pine
product will be locked into Microsoft's Exchange messaging server, negating
the need to buy 3rd party video conferencing software for most corporations.
User
Recommendations
The
need for video conferencing is not overwhelming at the present time. Microsoft's
conference server component is a pleasant addition, but will not sway sales
one way or the other. Mass video conferencing is a solid 2-3 years out, but
Microsoft is taking the correct steps to secure a foothold in the escalating
conferencing arena.