Let’s con-call!
The camera on the mobile phone has whetted the appetite of millions of users for video. Coupled with the availability of free calling apps like Skype, Google Duo and Facebook Messenger, it has made it easy and affordable to ‘see as you speak’.
Since so many phone owners are ‘prosumers’ — professional consumers — this has led to a sort of reverse osmosis: instead of professional tools ‘trickling down’ to lay users, consumer apps like Skype are seeing an upward mobility into corporate corridors and have seen a new wave of attractively priced video conferencing tools. These are aimed at ‘huddles’ — small groups of three to four people connecting wirelessly with similar-sized teams at multiple locations, anywhere, anytime.
Indeed, surveys show that over half of all corporate conference calls involve such small numbers of participants whose interactions are short-and-sweet, frequent, spontaneous and unstructured. This rules out the old-style, pre-planned video conferences using third party networks, proprietary software and passwords.
Logitech, who many of us may recognise more easily as a maker of keyboard and mouse, has emerged as a leader in this New Age videoconferencing business. Some tools in their video collaboration catalogue can be as simple as a `12,000 tabletop speaker phone into which you can stick a mobile phone and get started — or as elaborate as a `1.2 lakh ‘Group’ video-conferencing system for mid-to-large rooms. I had the opportunity to tryout their latest product which is ideal for the huddle room which seems to be a feature of new style open-plan offices. The main unit is about 40 cms wide and weighs one kg. It incorporates an ultra HD (4K) video camera with a 120 degree field of view, which can be panned, tilted or zoomed from a separate remote unit; three echo cancelling microphones and a speaker. If the room is bigger, you can add more mics. A 5-metre USB cable connects the main unit to PC, laptop or a Chrome-based device and you can also connect to a large screen via HDMI.
The beauty of the MeetUp software is that it works with standard video-calling software like Skype for business or Cisco Jabber without imposing its own proprietary tool. So you can do a conference with other platforms as long as all use the same software. It needs to be said
NowConfer is a new audiovideo conferencing app for mobile users that has seen nearly 1 lakh downloads, to become a part of the Top Ten conferencing tool in Google Play. Developed by Indian engineers that none of the currently available software solutions support 4K video. Think of it as future proofing! MeetUp was recently launched in India and costs `99,995, something most small business might consider a good investment. for Singapore-based Comverg Technologies, it appeals equally to common people and corporate users with its stark simplicity: no dial-ins, PINS, pass-codes, just download the Android or iOS app and get started. Unlike Skype, where all participants need a Skype account, only the call organiser needs to have NowConfer app, the call participants need not have the app; NowConfer will dial to each of the participants on their number. Just wait for the ring on your phone, accept the call and join the conference. You can use phone, tablet or PC and any form of connectivity — phone or data. Up to five persons can join in a video call. While it is great for getting together with friends or for those increasingly popular we think even professionals on the move will appreciate NowConfer for its no-hassle set up. The free version which you can find at is good for conferences up to an hour long; 9,000 minutes of audio or 3,000 minutes of video in a month. For unlimited usage, there are paid versions at around $10 (`650) per month. Last week at a summit in Hong Kong, the world’s largest maker of mobile phone processors, Qualcomm, demonstrated the first-ever 5G data connection made by a single chip — the Snapdragon X50 5G. The chip is capable of download speeds of up to 5 GB per second — five times faster than the fastest 4G we enjoy today. Now, thanks to this 5G modem, anyone looking to deploy a 5G wireless product has a ready-made solution. The switch from 3G to 4G resulted in smart phones offering higher data speeds, higher call quality, fewer call drops, and enhanced multimedia. Having the ability to utilise the band of spectrum between 30 GHz and 300 GHz (popularly known as millimeter wave), the 5G spectrum is wedged between microwave and infrared frequencies, allowing even higher data speeds, better reliability and faster connectivity. This also means a smaller, low power multiple antenna system built into the device. The stimulus for all this is Internet of Things (IoT) — which is a buzzword for a collection of devices or ‘things’ connecting to your smart phone wirelessly. From your air purifier to your home lighting to your car music, everything is ‘connected’ these days, and can be centrally controlled just by your smart phone. With more and more devices expected to go wireless in the months to come, your smart phone has to gear up and ensure that these connections are fast and more efficient. Hence 5G.
Mobile applications increasingly use augmented reality and virtual reality to give users, a near real-life feel to things. These are power guzzlers — so Qualcomm’s 5G chip has been designed with power management as the focal point, so that lesser heating, lower power and maximum energy is available. Technologies like Quick Charge today will be further enhanced on 5G handsets.
The possibilities with 5G are endless, from local government tasks smart lighting, smart utility metering and general road safety enhancements; as well as a full slate of home automation tasks...while your car dashboard transforms into a personal and professional computing monitor. All aboard for 5G!