Video conferencing best practice forum coming to SA

The international Point 9 User Forum, a key driver of video conferencing (VC) world best practice, is to be staged for the first time on the African continent at co-locations in Cape Town and Johannesburg on 2 November, courtesy of a high definition video link.

The African first was announced by Clint Cronjé, managing director of Imago Communications SA, a provider of VC technology and the company that helped bring the event to South Africa via a partnership with Wainhouse Research, initiator of the Point 9 concept.

The research firm’s previous VC user forums were staged exclusively in North America and Europe. Massachusetts-based Wainhouse Research is the world’s leading independent authority on video conferencing. The simultaneous Cape Town and Johannesburg forums on Tuesday, November 2, will attract technology industry players and senior corporate executives that have championed VC solutions in numerous industries.

Modern VC technology creates virtual, high quality ‚facetime’ across multiple remote locations, permitting executive interaction at a time when carbon footprint constraints and travel cost cutbacks spur demand for smarter business meeting solutions. Clint Cronj√© noted: ‚Timing could hardly be better. Investment in VC has been dramatically vindicated by the recent recession and corporate economies. As

a result, many corporates are looking to expand their VC footprint while other companies are embracing these solutions for the first time.

‚The Point 9 forum enables local adopters to share their knowledge while we tap into the latest developments from America and Europe. At last, African company experts will get a first-hand briefing from the international experts.

‚The forum also enables solution providers like Imago to hear from users about their needs and expectations. So many exciting scenarios are opening up: for instance, the use of VC as a tool to help local companies drive international and Africa-wide expansion. These firms need closer interaction with offshore partners and associates to the north. VC provides an affordable

platform.‚

International speakers at the event are:

Andrew Davis, senior partner, Wainhouse Research: Ian Vickerage, managing director of UK-based Imago Group PLC, one of the world’s leading VC technology suppliers: and Richard Norris, Point 9 executive director, Wainhouse Research.

Local presenters are:

Stephen Kellaway, managing director of Omega Digital Technologies: Danie Gordon, product solution manager, Microsoft: Gary Sweidan, managing director of VOX Datapro: Gavin Hill, business development manager, Unified Communications, Dimension Data: Marc Atkinson, national sales manager, Teljoy Audio Visual: Frikkie Nel, facilities manager, the Road Accident Fund: Craig Molloy, CEO and co-founder of Lifesize: and Pieter Le Roux, head of Group IT, Bateman Engineering.