SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Strong efforts from major companies like Cisco, Microsoft, and IBM to promote media-rich productivity tools are boosting the prospects for video conferencing, reports In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com). The driving factors behind increased adoption and use are technology, bandwidth, and convergence, the high-tech market research firm says. According to a recent In-Stat survey of U.S. businesses, the decision to use or not use video conferencing is no longer based on uncertainty over the quality of the experience among those who have tried it lately. Furthermore, cost alone does not seem to be a hindrance of adoption or use.

"The shift to an IP environment that enables unified communications, presence, and mobile integration provides a technological environment where traditional video conferencing, as well as telepresence can become synergistic elements," says David Lemelin, In-Stat analyst.

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

-- Current users of video conferencing are generally satisfied with their system and find value in the experience.

-- Past users are willing to reconsider video conferencing if the quality, usability, and cost are reasonable.

-- Video conferencing is beginning to resonate as a part of corporations' commitments to "green" environmental issues, though this benefit can be leveraged more aggressively in the future.

The research, "Video Conferencing: US End-User and Decision Maker Perspectives" (#IN0703829CT), covers the U.S. market for video conferencing. This end-user and decision-maker analysis explores how video conferencing is currently used, the drivers of adoption and use, as well as challenges facing decision-makers. Current and planned capabilities, specific facilities and environments where video conferencing is used, as well as corporate policies, and satisfaction levels, are explored. Analysis includes the opinions of former video conferencing users, those who choose not to use available video conferencing capabilities, and those planning to adopt video conferencing capabilities.

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