Nortel adds video to MCS
Release 3 of firm's server software to launch in September
Nortel is aiming to slash the cost of videoconferencing by bundling it with the next version of its MultimediaCommunication Server (MCS) 5100 software.
MCS 5100 Release 2, which was launched in March, will be superseded in September by Release 3. This features videoconferencing, web collaboration and group instant messaging.
Nortel has said it will make the bundle available to VARs. MCS 5100 was previously available only through telecoms partners such as BT and Swisscoms.
The firm added that the new version of MCS 5100 will require a minimum of only 25 users. The current release requires at least 100 users.
"We are seeing a growing demand for videoconferencing," said Charlie Wade, director of enterprise multimedia systems at Nortel. "Because our videoconferencing tool is software-based, there are no extra hardware costs beyond £10 for a web camera."
Chris Whiteley, product manager at Clarity, said: "Adding videoconferencing and lowering the user-number requirements will make MCS 5100 very attractive. Companies with a few hundred employees are bound to have people with a need for videoconferencing."