This coming Friday, August 13th will be yet another Voip Users
Conference double-header. Starting at our usual 12 Noon EDT we have an
overview of the Freetalk Connect SMB PBX featuring Skype integration.

Then immediately following, at 1pm EDT, we have Chris Veazy, CTO of
Blink Mind, to discuss the current state of the industry with regard to
multi-media phones and SIP-based video calling.

Blink Mind has agreed to provide a video conference bridge (MCU) as
part of their appearance. Further, as Blink Mind are a Polycom partner,
Polycom has graciously provided a pair of Polycom VVX-1500 Business
Media Phones on loan. One VVX is at Randy’s location in California, and
the other in my home office.

As we aim to explore the capabilities of the VVX-1500 and similar desk
phones the video portion of the Blink Mind call with be limited to CIF
(352 x 240) resolution using H.264 compression.

The Blink Mind bridge will allow compatible connections from a variety
of clients. If you have access to a Polycom VVX-1500 or Grandstream GXV
series phone you will be able to join the video bridge. Also, many
larger video conference systems will drop down to CIF resolution, so
they too can join the bridge.

If you don’t have access to such hardware you may be able to use a
compatible soft phone. Rudimentary testing with the Mirial soft phone
last Friday proved successful. Mirial is available for Windows and OSX.
Mirial is a commercial product, but a 30 day trail download is
available.

Since we have a relatively low-resolution video stream this time we’ll
be issuing two kinds of connect details for the Blink Mind bridge.
There will be two SIP URIs for access to the Blink Mind bridge.

Some will be able to join in a fashion that allows them to participate
in the video stream. Others will join the bridge using a
non-participatory SIP URI that gives them a view of the video stream
but does not add their video to the MCU feed. In this manner we will
avoid having a 16+ way split where everyone looks like a tiny animated
smudge on-screen.

If you have a suitable hardware based means of joining the video
conference please let me know. While I hate to be arbitrary, there are
a limited number of participatory seats available and preference will
be given to those who have suitable hardware.

The details of the non-participatory connection and the web stream will
be announced to the VUC mailing list early in the week before the call.
We’ll also announce a SIP URI for anyone who needs to test that their
end-point is capable of joining the Blink Mind video bridge.

Of course, we will join the ZipDX wideband audio bridge to the Blink
Mind video bridge. A recording of the video stream will also be
available after the fact, along with the regular podcast.

If you don’t have a webcam or suitable soft phone you can still view
the video stream. Blink Mind will be providing a Flash-based streaming
feed of the call. Since the stream is post-processed it’s a few second
delayed from the bridge, but it includes the audio and video. This is a
“view only” feed so you would not be able to participate in the call if
this is your only means of connection.

If you are joined to the web stream and the ZipDX bridge we’d asked you
to be very careful. The audio will be out of sync between these two
bridges and it could become very confused for everyone if you allow the
delayed audio into the ZipDX conference.

Of course, we will join the ZipDX wideband audio bridge to the Blink
Mind video bridge. A recording of the video stream will also be
available after the fact, along with the regular podcast

Watch the VUC mailing list over the coming few days. As more details
get locked down things will be announced there.
--
Michael Graves
mgraves<at>mstvp.com
http://www.mgraves.org
o713-861-4005
c713-201-1262
sip:mgra...@mstvp.onsip.com
skype mjgraves
Twitter mjgraves