Managing Offshore IT

This flakiness of videoconferencing technologies was inhibiting Project Managers, Engagement Leaders and other client facing folks from even proposing “tools” in a competitive landscape. Most feel that it is still worth the effort for the expert (or team) to be co-located in the same conference room during crucial meetings, sessions, presentations and the like..Needless to say, the cost of such travel is ultimately borne by the client, many of whom -- like Bob I was talking with in Boston – are beginning to seek out alternatives.

And this is where American Innovativeness is beginning to play out. During our conversation, Bob mentioned how some executives at his company were sold on HP’s Video Collaboration technology.

HP Halo Collaboration Studio, developed with Dreamworks, the multimedia and animation company. An article in InfoWorld says “Conceived by Dreamworks as a response to travel concerns after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Halo allows meeting participants to make eye contact, share files and documents, and shout over each other in an attempt to be heard, just like a real meeting.”

Not to be left behind, CISCO, recently announced the launch of video-conferencing solution that a WSJ article says “Its so-called Cisco TelePresence Meeting Solution has been in the works for nearly two years.”

The maturing of such remote conferencing technologies that can be comfortably and conveniently used will hopefully reduce, if not eliminate business travel for road-warriors like me. [note to self: you are going to loose a valuable perk: frequent-flier miles…. Note to wife: will be back home for dinner tonight, not just this weekend]