Tandberg launched its 'Advanced Media Gateway,' the first and only solution that enables Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 R2 users to connect and collaborate in high-definition with other video and telepresence users.

“The Advanced Media Gateway is a significant step in delivering on our vision to provide business-quality video access for everyone,” said Fredrik Halvorsen, Tandberg CEO.

"When combined with the award-winning Tandberg Video Communication Server (VCS), the advanced media gateway offers scalable and resilient high-definition video access to the entire enterprise from familiar business tools, exponentially increasing the value of existing video and collaboration investments."

“By enabling ubiquitous HD video between Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 R2 and standards-based video, we are helping companies leverage their existing collaboration infrastructure to deliver an optimal video experience to everyone from familiar tools," Halvorsen noted.

"This is critical for creating an open video community where individuals and teams can easily collaborate in high-definition," he added.

The Advanced Media Gateway is a major milestone in the broader Tandberg collaboration strategy to enable organizations to increase the value of their existing unified communications (UC) investments.

It is the only product in the industry that can transcode Microsoft’s Real Time Video (RTV) format to the industry standard H.264, essential for enabling HD video and audio interoperability between Office Communicator 2007 R2 and other standards-based systems.

Used in combination with the Tandberg VCS and the Tandberg PrecisionHD USB Camera – optimized for Office Communicator 2007 R2 to offer up to 720p30 high-definition - companies can quickly and easily realize the benefits of uncompromised visual collaboration.

"As a top global law firm with talent dispersed around the world, easy access to high-quality visual communication is critical for us to best collaborate with each other and serve our clients," said Tandberg customer, Patrick Tisdale, CIO of Orrick.

"Immediate client access to Orrick’s expertise is often critical to our ability to successfully address our clients’ legal challenges. By seamlessly integrating high-definition video into our existing Microsoft platform, the Advanced Media Gateway helps us significantly increase our lawyers and business professionals face time with each other and clients, while reducing travel and streamlining consultations," he added.

Tandberg clearly recognizes the power that unified communications has for driving video throughout the enterprise.

"However, one of the challenges enterprises face with mass video adoption is interoperability between desktop video, and high-definition group video and telepresence environments,” said Brent Kelly, senior analyst and partner, Wainhouse Research.-TradeArabia News Service