New technology for remote meetings used to connect Prague and Brno
ANECT and Cisco Systems today officially launched the first implementation of the solution Cisco TelePresence in the Czech Republic. This new technology enables meetings to take place over any distance for up to twelve people at once and it faithfully simulates an "in-person" meeting experience around one table. The first implementation, which connects Prague and Brno, is primarily intended for presentation to potential clients. For those interested, the total cost of this solution worked out at around 15 million crowns.
„The solution Cisco TelePresence creates the perfect illusion of an "in-person" meeting. It achieves this using large plasma screens that produce life size images of participants in high-quality HDTV, by providing genuine eye contact, the transmission of all movements and gestures in real time and special audio" explained Marek Šoltys, Business Director of ANECT, who will be responsible for implementing this solution in Central and Eastern Europe.
A meeting takes place in specially prepared rooms that are identical copies of each other. The dominant feature of the rooms is a large oval table with six chairs. The table is connected to three plasma screens with diagonal 65 inches (160.5 cm) and these give the illusion of the table optically continuing into the remotely connected room. Each room is filmed by a camera with definition 1080p using a method that simulates direct eye contact. A multi-channel system is used for transmitting sound and this creates the impression of voices coming directly from the mouths of those speaking. The sound system also faithfully reproduces quiet comments as well as the speech of a participant who is walking round the room whilst talking.
„An advantage of the solution Cisco TelePresence is that it operates on the basis of IP technology, which is now standard for the communication infrastructure of all large companies. The implementation of TelePresence is therefore just a further logical addition to the company telecommunication network, the same as in the case of IP Telephony, the connection of data centres, the implementation of network security elements and the addition of WiFi to the computer network" added Juraj Rakovský, Business Development Manager of Cisco Systems, CR.
In addition to the standard features of this solution, such as establishing the connection using just one button, the sharing of documents across the network with a simple computer connection and the simple planning of meetings using standard applications, new features will be added over time. For example, during 2007 it will be possible to connect three or more rooms with the solution Cisco TelePresence or use the solution to communicate with other equipment utilising IP Telephony. In the first half of 2008 it will be possible to connect this solution with other equipment for remote meetings using screens with high definition and the standards SIP and H.264.
The first Czech implementation of the solution Cisco TelePresence, which connected the Prague and Brno offices of ANECT, facilitates a meeting for up to 12 participants at once. In addition to this version that is intended primarily for wider group meetings and team consultation, another smaller version is also available for a maximum of 4 participants. This is ideal for customers with space limitations such as bank branches, management offices or medical practices.
Contact persons:
Šárka Beránková - PR Manager ANECT a.s.
sarka.berankova@anect.com, tel.: +420 724 427 246
Vladimír Komjati - Press Officer, Madison PA
komjati@madisonpa.cz, tel.: +420 724 505 309
