Telepresence Options, the #1 website following telepresence and effective visual collaboration has launched the world’s most comprehensive on-line catalog of telepresence, videoconferencing, and unified communications solutions at www.TelepresenceCatalog.com.

The new Telepresence and Videoconferencing Catalog breaks out technology solutions for visual collaboration into a variety of categories: Telepresence Stage and Podium Systems, Group Systems, Large Group Systems, Small Group Systems, Executive Systems, Telemedicine & Healthcare TP, Video Conference Systems, Video Network Infrastructure, Cameras and Codecs, Managed Services Provider, Inter-Networking Provider, TP and VC Exchange Services, Resellers and Integrators, Consultants, Recording, Streaming, and Archiving, Video Network Management, Public Telepresence and VC Rooms, Peripherals and Accessories, Telepresence Robotics, Virtual Reality CAVESs, Unified Communications, Desktop Conferencing, Webconferencing and Virtual Collaboration, Display Technologies, Publications, Conferences and Events.

Telepresence Options’ Publisher, Howard S. Lichtman explains the rationale for the new Catalog: “We are constantly amazed at how many sophisticated organizations are only familiar with a small handful of telepresence, UC, and visual collaboration offerings.  We wanted to create an on-line marketplace where buyers have the broadest view of their options including solutions that they didn’t know existed.

For companies that are taking their visual collaboration solutions to-market we wanted to create a cost-effective targeted way to reach those interested at the optimum time: When they are reaching their telepresence and unified communications options!”

The new Catalog is a stand-alone website that is already rising rapidly in the search engine rankings.  The site is promoted by www.TelepresenceOptions.com which has seen its traffic double since 2009.  The new website will also be promoted through the Telepresence Options Telegraph newsletter, the Human Productivity Lab’s website, Telepresence Industry Professionals, and banner ad and search engine advertising on other websites.

Vendors interested in having their solutions listed in the Telepresence and Videoconferencing can download information here: http://www.telepresencecatalog.com/category/get-listed/

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The Inter-Company Telepresence and Videoconferencing Conference was held on April 22nd, 2010 in Reston, Virginia.  The conference brought together experts on inter-company telepresence and videoconferencing who shared the best practices around using telepresence and effective visual collaboration to connect with partners, vendors, investors, and customers. These best practices are now available on a DVD of the complete conference proceeding and all the course materials.

Topics and Presenters Include:
Overview of the Challenges and Rewards of Inter-Company Visual Collaboration &
Overcoming Operational Hurdles – Howard S. Lichtman, Human Productivity Lab
Inter-Company Information Security – Brent Houlahan, CSO – Unisys
Technical Challenges & Solutions – Aaron Roe, Deloitte
Cultural Barriers and Driving Adoption – Peter Brockmann – Brockmann & Company

Disruption from the volcanic ash eruption in Iceland has caused the cancellation of over 17,000 flights over the past week disrupting business globally and threatening the cost and convenience of air travel in the long term.

Thomas Kayser, the Human Productivity Lab’s Managing Director for Europe opines: “The airline industry has seen over 25 bankruptcies and/or business cessations since 2008 which has raised the cost and reduced the convenience of air travel.  This disaster, which is reported to be costing the industry $200 million per day, could potentially threaten the solvency of additional airlines who have already been hit by an essential doubling of fuel prices from a low of $44.45 in March of 2009 to a closing price of $82.83 on Friday.”

The Human Productivity Lab, which advises corporations on telepresence and visual collaboration, is advising organizations to adopt inter-company telepresence and visual collaboration programs to connect with their partners, vendors, and customers and view their investments in inter-company visual collaboration as key part of their overall disaster recovery strategy. Telepresence gives organizations the ability to do business, intra and inter-company, without physical travel no matter what the contingency.

The Human Productivity Lab (HPL) recommends updating disaster recovery strategies in light of this event accordingly and begin taking steps to get a program in place. The upcoming Inter-Company Telepresence and Videoconferencing Conference and Working Group, which has been scheduled for over four months, will be held on April 22^nd in Reston, Virginia, will cover how to create an inter-company telepresence and visual collaboration program to connect effectively with partners, vendors, and customers. The Lab is also organizing private conferences for organizations and their supply/demand chain partners.

The conference also announced that the pre-conference dinner on April 21^st will be open to members of the telepresence industry trade association: Telepresence Industry Professionals.  The dinner will be held at Clyde’s in Reston Town Center from 7:00 – 9:00PM. http://www.telepresenceoptions.com/2010/04/telepresence_industry_professi_3/

For more information on the Inter-Company Telepresence and Videoconferencing Conference and Working Group please visit: http://www.TelepresenceOptions.com/conference

The proceedings of the conference and the course materials will be available after the conference for $595 including Fed Ex international delivery.  Interested organizations should e-mail Info@HumanProductivityLab.com

To download a free copy of the Human Productivity Lab’s publication: The Inter-Company Telepresence and Videoconferencing Handbook, please visit: http://www/TelepresenceOptions.com/handbook

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The conference, while primarily focused on organizations looking to improve the ROI and utility of their investments in telepresence and visual collaboration through effectively connecting with partners, vendors, and customers, has drawn great interest from the leading visual communications Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and telecommunications carriers that support these organizations.

Howard S. Lichtman, President of the Human Productivity Lab and Publisher of Telepresence Options, which is organizing the conference explains the Working Group: “Many of the industry’s leading MSPs, Carriers, and Inter-Connection providers are sending high-level technologists and product management specialists to the conference including a number of Chief Technology Officers.  We wanted to create a highly productive and inter-active forum where these industry leaders can have an open dialogue and technical discussions on the best ways to facilitate secure, inter-company visual collaboration sessions for their customers.”

The session will be chaired by Aaron Roe, who manages telepresence and videoconferencing at Deloitte and has previously designed and managed telepresence and videoconferencing network operations for a number of leading telepresence and videoconferencing MSPs.  The working group will take place from 3:30-5:30 PM EST at the Sheraton Reston on April 22^nd after the main plenary session of the conference.

Telepresence and videoconferencing MSPs, telecommunications providers, and inter-networking specialists that are attending the conference include: BCS Global, CFN Services, Glowpoint, Iformata Communications, IPeak Networks, IVCi, MASERGY Communications, and Telx among others.

The conference also announced that the pre-conference dinner on April 21^st will be open to members of the telepresence industry trade association: Telepresence Industry Professionals.  The dinner will be held at Clyde’s in Reston Town Center from 7:00 – 9:00PM. http://www.telepresenceoptions.com/2010/04/telepresence_industry_professi_3/

For more information on the Inter-Company Telepresence and Videoconferencing Conference and Working Group please visit: http://www.TelepresenceOptions.com/conference

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Mr. Lichtman is also the author and/or co-author of  The Inter-Company Telepresence and Videoconferencing Handbook (2009), The Telepresence and Videoconferencing Exchange Review(2010), Telepresence, Effective Visual Collaboration and the Future of Global Business at the Speed of Light (2006), and Emerging Technologies for Teleconferencing and Telepresence (2005). He is currently working on Telepresence Options 2010.

Mr. Lichtman is a frequent commentator on telepresence, videoconferencing and effective visual collaboration and his writings on and analysis of the industry have been featured by US News and World Report, Telephony Magazine, CXO Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, Reuters, Pro AV Magazine, Killer App Magazine, ABA Banking Journal, Bank Systems and Technology Magazine and CFO Magazine among others.

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Mr. Kayser has worked for various global telecommunication service providers and has more than 20 years experience in telepresence, unified communications, networking and managed services. He has developed and managed major global telepresence deployments. Mr. Kayser holds a degree in Information Technology and Theoretical Electrical Engineering from the Ilmenau University of Technology, Germany. Mr. Kayser offices outside Frankfurt/Main, Germany.

He can be reached at: TK (at) HumanProductivityLab (dot) com

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