Telepresence is growing as a managed services opportunity, as more business look to conduct business virtually as a cost-savings measure. Recent evidence of that expansion comes from Glowpoint Inc. The company, which offers managed telepresence and video communications services, says it expects year-over-year monthly recurring core revenue to climb more than 13 percent for its 2009 Q4. But that's not all.
Glowpoint says the new revenue projection represents a 30 percent increase over its previously stated guidance.
What's behind the trend? Glowpoint cited record calling traffic volumes on its cloud-based infrastructure and Telepresence interExchange Network. The company targets Fortune 500 firms, broadcasters, government and educational institutions, carriers, and SMBs among other segments.
Still, telepresence is more than a Big Business trend. Cisco Systems is emphasizing the home telepresence market at the Consumer Electronics Show, revealing partnerships with Verizon and France Telecom.
Frost & Sullivan expects the videoconferencing managed services market to hit $375.5 million by 2014, expanding at an annual growth rate of 16.4 percent. The company wrote:
The company wrote: “The economic slump, while putting downward pressure on IT spending, could be a market driver, as videoconferencing helps companies reduce their travel and facilities costs, while supporting a virtual workplace.”Glowpoint hopes to build out its business amid that growth potential. Its objectives for 2010 include expanding its cloud-based video conferencing/telepresence infrastructure and broadening acceptance of “b2b video calling capabilities with integration to multiple carrier networks,” the company stated.
The company also aims to expand alliances with global unified communications providers. Glowpoint’s current partner roster includes Polycom, AVI-SPL, and a company it describes as a Cisco TelePresence Advanced Technology Partner reseller.
