Videoteleconferencing (VTC) Systems
Online meetings have become the current trend for businesses to grow and survive in the current competitive business environment. The trend is to strive for expansion and improve partnerships while maintaining low travel costs and other operational expenses. Communication has to be successfully undertaken by breaking borders and decreasing distance through online meetings. With technological advancements like videoconferencing, businesses are aided to nullify distance barriers to manage work and busy lifestyle using the Internet. Videoconferencing is widely used to keep in touch with employees, business contacts and clients to bring the organization together even with low travel – related costs.
There are two existing kinds of Videoteleconferencing (VTC) Systems that can answer specific business requirements:
1. Dedicated system. It has all required components packaged into a single piece of equipment such as high quality remote controlled video camera. This camera is also known as PTZ camera. The control computer and the software or hardware-based codec is contained in the console. Attached to this console are microphones and TV monitor with loudspeakers and/or a video projector.
Following are several types of dedicated VTC devices:
- Large group VTC – non-portable, large, more expensive devices for large rooms and auditoriums.
- Small group VTC – non-portable or portable, smaller, less expensive devices for small meeting rooms.
- Individual VTC – usually portable device for single users. It has fixed cameras, microphones and loudspeakers included into the console.
2. Desktop system. This is an add-on to normal PCs. It is usually a hardware board that transforms into a VTC device. This board can be used in a range of different cameras and microphones. Most of the desktops systems are compatible with the H.323 standard. On the other hand, videoconferences transmitted via dispersed PCs are also known as e-meetings.
With these two types of video conferencing services, businesses can aptly chose the kind that can specifically provide its communication needs to assist it in its goal of a borderless business.

