WebRTC as a Service
WebRTC as a Service by Dave Michels
WebRTC has been getting a lot of attention. For those of you joining us now, WebRTC is an emerging standard that enables the web browser to become a native and universal client for real time communications. Google Chrome supports it now, Firefox soon and Microsoft intends to add it to IE at some point.
Exactly how big of an impact WebRTC will have is the subject of debate. Some see it as revolutionary and believe it changes everything, and some see it as evolutionary – a new branch for gradual improvements and new functionality. Few, if anyone, thinks it is a non event. (Listen to UCStrategies Podcast on WebRTC).
From an enterprise perspective, many UC clients may become HTML5 web pages instead. Products like Siemens Enterprise’s Openscape or Digium’s Switchboard (for Switchboard) already use a web client, so WebRTC could bring incremental capabilities. How client products like Cisco Jabber will respond to WebRTC isn’t as clear (no response from Cisco).
WebRTC may indeed be the technology that makes video interoperable. Having a universal client is a big first step, but the servers and MCUs will need to support WebRTC. Or not. Vidtel announced today a native WebRTC gateway that will connect the WebRTC-enabled browser to infrastructure products from Polycom, Cisco, and others.
Vidtel already offers a service that connects disparate video systems. The company effectively operates an MCU in the cloud. I have been on conferences that every participant was on a different technology including LifeSize, Radvision, Skype, and Cisco. I started using Vidtel when I got a LifeSize Passport. Vidtel sells its services exclusively through channel partners.
I’ve been thinking about WebRTC. If you get the newest version of Chrome – then what? You see, WebRTC is a client technology, and yes the geeks might be able to set up a peer-to-peer call or video between clients, but the rest of us want a phone number or icon to click. That’s why the UC system or services like Skype are so popular, click and chat.
Vidtel has a nice angle, and it’s an interesting channel play too. “As a Vidtel partner,we’re getting out in front of the pack with the WebRTC-enhanced Vidtel Gateway incorporated into own bridging solutions. Usage can be limitless as people can seamlessly dial in from any WebRTC-enabled browser. Our enterprise customers with installed Cisco Codian or Polycom RMX bridges can also get more bang for their buck, easily extending the use of these systems to any customer or employee with a browser,” said Brad Johnston, Solutionz COO.
Video interop is a great play for WebRTC. Its impact to voice won’t be as significant, but it’s still a technology that has lots of promise. We covered WebRTC pretty thoroughly at the last UCSummit, and it is sure to be a big topic this spring, too.
Dave Michels is a Principal Analyst at TalkingPointz.
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