(27 October 2007 3:20 pm)

MUMBAI: LifeSize Communications, which works in the area of high definition video communications, has unveiled its expanded HD video product line, featuring products that it claims will completely alter the video communications industry.

Three new products – LifeSize Express, LifeSize Team MP and LifeSize Conference– have joined the company’s flagship product, LifeSize Room, in a lineup that makes high definition video communications accessible and affordable to all organizations.

LifeSize's all-HD video product portfolio ranges from simple point-to-point video systems to highly customized, multi-display, multi-HD camera video systems. All LifeSize products provide quality that delivers an immersive, high definition telepresence experience over existing broadband networks.

LifeSize Communications CEO and founder Craig Malloy says, "With our complete HD video product portfolio, LifeSize delivers on the promise of video communications by providing a telepresence experience that is lifelike, useful, reliable and affordable. We firmly believe that video communications will change the way people communicate, and we are proud to introduce revolutionary technology that helps people everywhere do more, travel less and be present in any environment."

The first product in the expanded portfolio is LifeSize Express, which delivers a high definition, point-to-point video communications experience at a significantly lower price than most standard definition systems. About the size of a wireless router, LifeSize Express offers telepresence quality HD video for under $6,000.

As with all LifeSize HD video products, LifeSize Team MP and LifeSize Room deliver 30 frames per second and 1280x720 screen resolution at only one megabit per second (Mbps), and provide better quality at any bandwidth. LifeSize products are fully standards compliant and can interoperate with nearly any videoconferencing system built within the last seven years.

Accommodating multiple displays, up to three HD cameras, and integrating a wireless control panel, LifeSize Conference positions itself as being the first HD video product designed especially for telepresence environments. It is priced at less than $40,000.

The company notes that by contrast, competing systems from companies such as Hewlett-Packard and Cisco often cost in excess of $200,000.