April 2008
After a prolonged hiatus, the North American videoconferencing market rose substantially in 2007, largely due to the emergence of high definition (HD) audio/video and the migration from integrated speech and data net (ISDN) to IP networks. The migration to IP was triggered by obsolesce issues with ISDN, especially bandwidth constraints as well as operational and cost considerations.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, North American Video Conferencing Services Markets, finds that the market earned revenues of $117.7 million in 2007 and estimates this to reach $396.3 million in 2014.
If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview of the North American video conferencing services markets, then send an e-mail to Mireya Castilla, Corporate Communications, at mireya.castilla@frost.com, with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country. Upon receipt of the above information, an overview will be sent to you by e-mail.
"IP communications provides ubiquity, enabling a common infrastructure for the integration of multiple media," says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Alaa Saayed. "Sustained efforts for improvement in the quality of IP videoconferencing expect to bring this volatile communication concept into the realm of mainstream adoption."
Meanwhile, rapid advancements in room-based videoconferencing solutions have enabled richer communication between collaborative groups within the communication fabric of organizations. Breakthrough innovations in codec architecture, display technology, video cameras, and HD audio/video help accelerate adoption rates among users. Compared to standard definition (SD), HD provides better resolution and quality, eliminating pixelization and anomalies, which usually detract from end-user experience.
HD has helped revolutionize the concept of videoconferencing, dramatically transforming the manner in which organizations conduct business. In this scenario, video has evolved as the fundamental part of a larger product suite within the communication network of enterprises. The market gained a new dynamic with the emergence of Telepresence, which had evolved as a distinct product category. Telepresence has added its might to the overall communications experience, delivering tangible benefits by improving the efficiency of business processes and accelerating project turnaround.
Today, integrated communications solutions are the preferred options among organizations, and conferencing service providers (CSPs) accelerate the development of comprehensive end-to-end solutions. The increase in offerings and subsequent decline in prices will enhance the value proposition of CSPs, setting the stage for the creation of healthy demand and substantial revenue growth in the North American videoconferencing services market.
Though the market is thriving, some existing bottlenecks need to be addressed. The lack of awareness, the difficulty in measuring return on investment (ROI), and the skeptical attitude of users regarding the benefits of videoconferencing are the major roadblocks for service providers. It is imperative for service providers to up the ante to deliver best-of-breed solutions to stay ahead of the pack.
Another factor obstructing the mainstream adoption of videoconferencing is the misconception that videoconferencing is a high-end visual collaboration solution. For this reason, its application in the small and medium business (SMB) segment is limited. To achieve a breakthrough in this segment, service providers must offer customized videoconferencing solutions, improved ease-of-use, and competitive pricing.
"Service providers face the challenge of changing the perception of videoconferencing as a high-end visual collaboration solution for top executives and large enterprises to a grassroots communication tool that offers enhanced productivity and cost saving to all types of organizations," observes Saayed.
Apart from cutting down travel cost and time, videoconferencing services are also highly scalable and flexible solutions. Videoconferencing enables efficient sharing of knowledge at a pan-organizational level and provides a unified platform for project teams scattered across different geographic locations. Thus, videoconferencing represents a new generation of communication tools that has morphed corporate environments across verticals.
North American Video Conferencing Services Markets is part of the Conferencing & Collaboration Growth Partnership Service program. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews with the press are available.
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