If you’re interested in knowing what business professionals generally think about videoconferencing, look no further than a new report from Nancy Jamison and Blair Pleasant of Unified Communications Strategies (UCS).

According to UCS’s blog, Nancy and Blair interviewed business professionals who use unified communications-like technologies, including videoconferencing, in their day-to-day jobs. Their findings, which are detailed in “UC End User Productivity Study” (available here via PDF) reveal an absolute love affair with unified communications and videoconferencing in particular.

From “UC End User Productivity Study“:

The Growing Value of Video

Though we did not single out every UC feature in our survey, surprisingly, we received numerous comments on the value of video, even if most respondents are just starting to use it. Those that had implemented video as part of their UC solution found that it helped to build relationships, to work better as a virtual team, and to cut down on the time and expense of business travel. Specific comments included:

• “The video was most surprising. It is better quality than I expected, easier to use, and really makes a difference in relationships.”
  
• “Not only can remote people interact with people in the main office, we all get to see them. People joke and around more and build relationships faster with remote people thanks to video conferencing. Also all of our company meetings are recorded now so people who missed can go back and watch the meeting (And fast forward through the dull parts!).”
  
• “Video has made remote people seem more a part of the team and I feel closer to them.”
  
• “Ever since we put in video conferencing, I’ve used it a lot more. It cut my travel in half and I’m much happier.”
  
• “Videoconferencing lets us reduce the amount of time spent on planes, and we can
  accomplish some of the same benefits by doing videoconferencing and saving a tremendous amount of money.”
  
• “For me the video component will be massive. Often times, especially if I’m talking with my staff, the face-to-face communications is so important in building manager-employee relationship. IMs and emails can get misconstrued, as can voice messages. Visual communication is 60% of the message. For building trust and camaraderie with my team, video will be key.”
  
• “We have video conferencing which saves wear and tear from traveling. It makes my distributed teams more efficient.”

As an aside, if you’re confused by the term “unified communications,” don’t feel bad. Some say it’s just a buzz phrase while others swear it’s here to stay. Basically, “unified communication” describes the integration of disparate communications systems, media, devices and applications. Said differently (thanks to the folks at UCstrategies), unified communications is communications integrated to optimize business processes.

Regardless of the longevity of “unified communications” as a descriptor for the marriage between communications devices and systems, videoconferencing–when it works and works well–is appreciated by nearly everyone who comes face-to-face with a system of their own.

Popularity: 68% [?]

Reuters is the latest major news gather & reporting organization to weigh in on videoconferencing. In a widely distributed article published earlier today, Reuters’ Helen Chernikoff reports that as companies reduce or eliminate travel budgets in the face of higher travel costs and a softening economy, they’re “increasingly adopting technology that enables employees to collaborate face-to-face without boarding a plane.”

From Reuters:

As part of an effort to cut travel costs by 10 percent, staffing services company Manpower Inc has ramped up use of its video conference equipment in the last couple of months, said Allan McKisson, a vice president of human resources at Manpower.

“It used to be, when you can video conference, do it. Now it’s do video conference first, or maybe don’t have the meeting,” said McKisson, who must approve his direct reports’ travel requests.

In companywide e-mails, office furniture maker Herman Miller Inc has encouraged employees to use video conferencing in addition to conference calls and car-pooling to cut operating costs, spokeswoman Susan Koole said.

All very encouraging news, as is this:

But for customers who must buy the equipment, such savings don’t come cheap. News Corp has sprung for some of Polycom’s priciest systems, which cost between $299,000 and $700,000. They feature life-sized screens, surround sound and operators — so tech-challenged executives don’t need to even flip a switch. Less expensive alternatives cost between $30,000 and $45,000 and desktop systems start at about $10,000.

Why on Earth would we label the fact that Polycom’s videoconferencing systems cost an ungodly $10,000, $30,000, $299,000, and $700,000 encouraging? Quite simply because LifeSize Communication’s high-definition videoconferencing systems–as offered by Face to Face Live (that’s us)–cost significantly less (in many cases, you can pick up the versatile LifeSize Express system for under $6,000, or rent the same system without spending any money upfront).

The high end systems are nice if you can afford them, but even so, for businesses truly interested in cutting costs, increasing ROI, and making a positive environmental impact through videoconferencing, there’s only one way to go… for the same amount of money News Corp reportedly spent on its one Polycom system, we could have outfitted more 100 different offices throughout the company with jaw-dropping high-definition videoconferencing systems that would have enabled more business success stories than you can a stick at.

Popularity: 71% [?]

Securities trading and management firm Weeden & Co. is known for many things. The Weeden family’s involvement in the securities industry, according its website, spans generations and can be traced back to the early 1900s, when Frank Weeden, the son of a sea captain, signed on as the first salesman for a new San Francisco brokerage firm formed by Charles Blyth and Dean Witter. With that type of pedigree, people tend to take notice when you make bold predictions like those made by Weeden & Co. senior energy analyst Charles T. Maxwell, who recently predicted American’s may soon be paying $12 or more for a gallon of gasoline.

Educated at Princeton and Oxford, Maxwell entered the oil industry in 1957 and worked for a major international oil company for 12 years. His background has been in four traditional sectors of the industry—producing, refining, transportation, and marketing. In 1968, he shifted to Wall Street, where since 1972, in polls taken by Institutional Investor magazine, Maxwell has consistently ranked among the Nation’s top oil analysts.

What does all of this have to videoconferencing? Good question. Nowadays, whether you believe in the science surrounding it or not, everyone seems to be talking about global warming. From the conference room to the board room and in every office and cubical in between, all of us are being asked to reduce, reuse, recycle, and produce stronger results while expending fewer resources. Before you know it, your business or organization’s “carbon footprint” will be judged right alongside its balance sheet and profit and loss statement.

If you believe Charles Maxwell’s predictions about the rising price of gasoline (or if you believe the ‘talking heads’ who reference Maxwell on cable television shows like CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box‘), then perhaps it’s time to give videoconferencing another look (especially the high definition videoconferencing solutions from LifeSize, which are expertly managed by us–Face to Face Live, Inc.). If, however, you think Maxwell and his fellow analysts and pundits are full of hot air, that’s okay… just don’t let that stop you from analyzing the clear ROI afforded by a reliable high definition videoconferencing solution.

Popularity: 58% [?]

Over the last few weeks, our staff and Partners had the opportunity to interact with customers and future customers through a series of open houses. Two events took place here in Scottsdale (at our corporate headquarters), while another was held last week just outside of Boston.

As you may have read here on the blog, one of our two Scottsdale open houses featured an opportunity to win the award-winning LifeSize® Express high definition videoconferencing system, and true to our word, we gave one away… to a very nice IT director at a local educationally-focused nonprofit organization.

For information about future open house events–where you can meet our staff and participate in a live videoconferencing session–continue visiting our blog or see the “News & Upcoming Events” section on the home page of our corporate site.

Popularity: 47% [?]

Each spring, people from all over the world partake in a ritual so excruciating that some participants actually faint, or worse—throw up—during the process itself. Similar to participating in an IRONMAN Triathlon, defending a Doctoral/PhD dissertation in front of some of the smartest people in your field may in fact be easier said than done. While each PhD candidate looks for any edge they can get during the agonizing process, future letter holders of academic letters have found that what they say is actually less important than how they say it!

Noted communications guru and Professor Emeritus of Psychology at UCLA, Albert Mehrabian, discovered way back in 1971 that people communicate best through body language. According to Mehrabian, effective communication requires a careful combination of three elements, best summed up as the “7%-38%-55% Rule”:

• 7% – Oral content (what you say)
• 38% – Vocal (tone, intonation, and volume)
• 55% – Body language (non-verbal communication)

This means 93% of all communication is lost when you can neither hear nor see the person you are communicating with (i.e., emails and text messages are some of the least efficient means of communication). With phone calls, you miss a staggering 55% of the message!

To maximize business communication effectiveness and efficiency, businesses of all shapes and sizes really should consider embracing technologies that allows for the best communication possible. This is the world in which our company (Face to Face Live) exists; at the cusp of one of the most innovative business communication solutions in recent history. With videoconferencing and telepresence solutions like those available today, you can finally have an affordable face-to-face communications experience, anywhere in the world.

Remember, they just don’t award a PhD to anyone. Be smart. Join the videoconferencing revolution today!

Popularity: 62% [?]

No one disagrees that everyone has the right to a speedy trial, but by its inherent nature, the wheels of justice do tend to turn rather slowly. And when you’re facing international litigation—the type which often requires plaintiff and defendant alike to cross one or more borders only to wait for a deposition or trial to take place on someone else’s notion of time—your costs can easily get out of control.

In an article published last Friday on Law.com, Daniel Wise of the New York Law Journal writes that the “Brooklyn Surrogate’s Court has conducted seven kinship hearings in the past two years with witnesses in distant locations, six of them abroad,” saving on international travel–by both a court staff lawyer and at least one other lawyer–by using videoconferencing.

From Law.com:

Brooklyn Surrogate Margarita López Torres, who…was elected in 2005, said she had pushed to “find more cost-effective ways” of conducting Surrogate’s Court functions “without jeopardizing quality.”

Yesterday’s hearing [sic: in Manhattan] involved claims being pressed by three maternal first cousins of Ethel Mudry, who died without a will in 2005, apparently without a living husband or children. With no other apparent heirs, the three cousins claim Ms. Mudry’s estate, valued at $270,000, should be distributed to them.

Three witnesses, including one of the cousins, testified during the hearing, which lasted more than 2 1/2 hours. Mr. Valentik, an old family friend, testified about Ms. Mudry’s family roots in Slovakia, which became a nation-state when the Republic of Czechoslovakia dissolved in 1989.

According to the article, the minimum cost of sending a Manhattan court attorney–and counsel for the public administrator–abroad is approximately $10,000, which is a fraction of what it costs to own or rent a videoconferencing system of your own for a year or more. With those types of costs, regardless of where you live, you shouldn’t be too surprised if your next deposition or sworn testimony is taken via videoconference.

Popularity: 43% [?]

Take a look at the invite off to the right and you’ll see that we’re about to host our very first Open House.

For the first time ever, the doors of our Scottsdale, Arizona, corporate headquarters will be open to anyone who wants to learn more about the value and benefits of true HD videoconferencing.

Among the many great things happening throughout the day is that we’ll be giving away one LifeSize Express videoconferencing system worth $6,000, along with one year’s worth of our unmatched Managed Service, which includes:

• Telepresence Consulting
• Bridging and Streaming Capability
• 24 x 7 x 365 NOC for Worldwide Support
• Multipoint Scheduling
• Management Support
• Technical Support
• Fault Management

If you live or work in the Phoenix / Scottsdale metro area and would like to stop by for this Friday’s Open House, please give our office a call at (480) 348-3400. If attending this week’s Open House isn’t going to work for you or your colleagues, give us a call anyway… we’re always up for visiting your location or having you swing by ours for a one-on-one meet, greet and demo.

Popularity: 61% [?]

Today, we’re excited to officially announce that LifeSize Communications has been chosen as our key telepresence technology partner. If you’re unfamiliar with LifeSize, that’s about to change. One hundred percent of the products we rent and sell are manufactured and supplied by LifeSize, an Austin, Texas-based start-up with a stable of award-winning HD quality videoconferencing equipment.

For more on this exciting development, read Face to Face Live, Inc. Names LifeSize Key Technology Partner.

Popularity: 53% [?]

Today marks a special occasion in the history of our company. For the first time ever, all of our Partners are gathered in one location–here at our Corporate Headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona–for our first-ever Spring Partner Meeting. In addition to enjoying good food and wine and getting to know one another better, we’re bringing ourselves up-to-speed on the latest thinking and strategies associated with selling and managing LifeSize™ Communication’s HD quality videoconferencing systems.

Above, our vice president of corporate communications, Darla McCormick, unveils our new sales presentation kit. Other presenters throughout the day included:

• Greg Craven, Channel Manager (Western US & Canada) - LifeSize™ Communications (Greg provided an in depth overview of all of LifeSize’s videoconferencing systems).
• Al Smith, Founder and CEO - Face to Face Live, Inc.™ (Al, our ringleader, kept us on task throughout the day and did a great job making everyone feel welcome and an important part of the team).
• Jean Lancaster, National Accounts Manager - Face to Face Live, Inc.™ (Jean brought us up-to-speed on the latest videoconferencing industry buzz words and phrases and shared a lot great information about other companies in our space).
• Andrew Adams, Corporate Counsel - Face to Face Live, Inc.™ (Andrew covered the Face to Face Live contracting process, which at the end of the day is built around the notion that contracting for services doesn’t need a long and drawn out process).

Gatherings like our Spring Partner Meeting make us smarter and better prepared to help you–our customer–make informed decisions and enjoy the benefits of HD quality videoconferencing sooner rather than later.

Popularity: 57% [?]

• Average cost of domestic airfare, car rental, meals, and one night’s hotel stay for the business traveler: $1,194.00

• Amount of CO2 emissions per trip: 3.75 metric tons

• High Definition Videoconferencing that really works: Priceless… and in the case of the videoconferencing products and services we offer here at Face to Face Live, around $700.00 per month!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock these last two weeks, you know that thousands of airline flights have been canceled due to safety and maintenance concerns. On April 9, American Airlines canceled more than 1,000 flights after grounding its MD-80 aircraft to conduct extra safety inspections on wiring. The following day it canceled 900 more, causing chaos at airports throughout the United States. The cancellations–almost half of the airline’s total schedule–came after about 450 flights had been scrapped on April 8.

Meanwhile, other airlines have canceled large number of flights for the very same reasons, including United, Southwest, Delta, Alaska Airlines and Midwest Airlines. For its part, Southwest was fined over $10 million by the Federal Aviation Administration for violations regarding aircraft inspections and maintenance (a whistle blower testified before Congress that Southwest aircraft had been allowed to fly with fuselage cracks).

What’s the business traveler to do when airline after airline can’t even guarantee its own flight plans? How about taking another look at videoconferencing? Sure, you’d expect us to say that but in all honesty, what else can you do to keep your business running and employees productive when the airlines pull the runway right out from underneath you… take the train or use smaller airports? Please… that’s not a solution; that’s a hassle just waiting to happen!

Do the math—a cost/benefits analysis—to determine how much a videoconferencing system will actually cost or earn back. Total your monthly or annual travel costs and then figure in how much of that travel could be eliminated through videoconferencing. Also calculate the loss of productivity while traveling and the additional time you need to take off work because of exactly what the airlines are doing to you now.

The business benefits are clear, as are the costs. For around $700 per month, you can equip any of your business locations with an HD quality videoconferencing solution that’s a heck of lot more dependable than any airline we know of!

Popularity: 54% [?]