In a move that underscores the importance of both video and mobile devices to stay connected within companies, Logitech is extending the LifeSize video streaming system, iPad, iPhone and iPod.
Video is coming to more enterprises as a means of communication, even while more people are relying on mobile devices. Cisco, Polycom and other vendors are committed to reach mobile users with video, a task that requires the content to be adapted to different screen size and processing power.
Logitech is beginning to address this problem with the latest software version for its appliance LifeSize Video Center, a platform for the delivery of live and recorded streams from such as training sessions, corporate meetings and Executive messages. Logitech began with Apple iOS due to the large installed base of such devices, but the company is looking for future bids for Android, BlackBerry and other platforms, said Mary Miller, Director of product marketing.
Video Center is designed strictly for deploying one-way, one-to-many of the video. Logitech does not extend the two-way videoconferencing system for mobile devices yet, although it continues to look at the need for such skills. LifeSize on road users should use laptops for videoconferencing.
Logitech is leading streaming video for iOS devices through the Web browser rather than an application. Logitech has tested the software with the browser native iOS, said Travis McCollum, a product manager to the Logitech.
Companies can record video or live streams start on your LifeSize endpoints as the LifeSize 220 series at their facilities, with resolutions up to 720 p. The content is transcoded into endpoint for different devices to which it may be consulted, including laptops, desktops, big screens and devices of iOS.
The LifeSize Video Center software version 1.2 includes a mechanism to automatically change the bit rate of a stream for certain types of clients when they are discovered on the network. Using the right bit rate for the network and devices can eliminate the need for the buffer, Miller said. Administrators can set as many as four different bitrate and assign to those types of systems based on policies.
This "Auto-adaptive streaming", and be able to stream to devices of iOS, LifeSize Video Center distinguishes itself from other systems in its class, including those from Polycom and Cisco, Miller said.
Polycom Polycom said that his Video Media Center supports various video formats, including mobile, streaming on demand. The company expects to offer live adaptive bit rate streaming this year. Cisco offers automatic transcoding and workflow optimization for a wide range of mobile devices, including iOS lines of Apple, its accessory engine high-end multimedia experience.
Logitech, best known for most devices for critical business systems, agreed to acquire LifeSize Communications for $ 405 million in 2009.
The updated software will become available next month. LifeSize Video Center is available globally for a list price of US $ 29, 999.
Stephen Lawson covers mobile technologies, storage and networking for the IDG News Service. Follow Stephen on Twitter at @ sdlawsonmedia. E-mail address of Stephen is stephen_lawson@idg.com
