Videoconferencing to slash govt airfare bill

[NM]

from news.com.au:

THE federal Government will deploy Cisco videoconferencing systems across 20 government sites in an effort to drastically reduce its $280 million domestic airfare bill.

The contract, which will run for four years at a cost of $13.8 million, will be managed by Telstra and will run on its Next IP network.

 

[albatross710]

from news.com.au:

I was wondering about a video conferencing angle to help with Kevin747's travel bill as well.

Since 1990 (?) VC has been promising to slash airtravel ...still waiting, although I admire Cisco's ability to produce white papers showing that the entire capital investment wil be recouped in the first three months of the three year project.

 

[NM]

still waiting, although I admire Cisco's ability to produce white papers showing that the entire capital investment wil be recouped in the first three months of the three year project.

And the capital outlay for Cisco TelePresence is not trivial :shock:.

 

[Nigelinoz]

I was wondering about a video conferencing angle to help with Kevin747's travel bill as well.

Since 1990 (?) VC has been promising to slash airtravel ...still waiting, although I admire Cisco's ability to produce white papers showing that the entire capital investment wil be recouped in the first three months of the three year project.

Kevin's not the only one splurging according to this.
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/travel-news/public-servants-virgin-blue-brush-16557.html

 

[pauly7]

Since 1990 (?) VC has been promising to slash airtravel ...still waiting, although I admire Cisco's ability to produce white papers showing that the entire capital investment wil be recouped in the first three months of the three year project.

Yes me too, waiting waiting.... haha

Fact of the matter is that F2F will win over VC anyday in maintaining, winning, servicing any kind of relationship . I see a role for it for intra-company comms but not for anything really important.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Maybe I should start up www.frequentteleconferencer.com.au :idea:

Not sure it has the same allure though as frequentflying...

There would be posts on:

• what volume is best
• how to avoid sitting next to fat or bo ridden person
• what sunnies to wear to cover sleeping
• a weblink to favourite chair positions
• and of course a major thread on to teleconference with...or without a table. bound to be contenious that one
• Should I eat and teleconference?
• teleconferencing in the nude
• AM or PM..what time is best for a teleconference
• best execuses to avoid teleconferencing
• subliminal messaging for teleconference
• how to pick up via teleconferencing
• OMG who farted?

 

[JohnK]

This shouldn't be limited only to governments. I feel many public and privately owned companies could benefit financially from the use of videoconferencing or teleconferencing.

 

[NM]

This shouldn't be limited only to governments. I feel many public and privately owned companies could benefit financially from the use of videoconferencing or teleconferencing.

The company I work for has just installed high definition VC capability in about 20 locations around the world, including 4 in Australia.

 

[Evan]

For meetings it works great i am sure, actually i have used it many times over the years but when thought about all the work trips my dept does nearly all of them are for actual semi hands on work so would never work.
But the regular managers meetings would be great i am sure... i can really see that happening !
E

 

[futaris]

 

[gibspmuh]

Our department has extensively rolled out videoconferencing and it has significantly reduced travel, especially for meetings and the like. Now there's more than enough bandwidth to run over IP between all sites it makes it especially appealing - people know they can catch up with colleagues at any time without incurring any additional expenses.

 

[Flashback]

An account that I worked on last year, had a very good VC setup; touchscreens and all to control and was very easy to use.

It certainly have saved them a lot of money, especially with projects where the project team could be offshore but constantly communicating back with management and other staff back in HQ.

Another such example was an interview needed to be conducted with a chap in Germany. Rather than our guy flying over (would have been J, as anything over 3 hours is); a simple VC was run.

 

[medhead]

IME with federal public servants, they are barely able to set up a 3 way telephone call.
So good luck with VC'ing. (they might have to fly someone to each site to show them how to use it)

 

[Mal]

IME with federal public servants, they are barely able to set up a 3 way telephone call.
So good luck with VC'ing. (they might have to fly someone to each site to show them how to use it)

Haha. Maybe I need to send a letter to each company I hold shares in and request how much they spend on staff travel, how they plan to reduce it, and what videoconferencing tools they use or plan to roll out. For extra points, I may also ask what PABX system they use, what phones are on each desk and whether the staff are trained on phone usage.

I probably have more interest in that then caring about where my tax dollars go!