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LINX is a member of Euro-IX, the trade association of Internet Exchanges which is run by a small volunteer board drawn from seven countries. Video seemed to offer the solution, but dedicated hardware solutions would not be appropriate for highly mobile people who need to work wherever there is connectivity,.
The answer was found in the 'virtual office', a work concept enabled by web-based conferencing. Said Mr Souter: "The choice of solution was limited by the need for a cross-platform system. Our Board splits roughly between Windows and Macintosh users, and we know other association members use Linux, so cross-platform compatibility was an essential from the outset. Marratech delivers this and we soon found that of all the options available, no-one does it the way they do."
"An interesting aspect of their approach is using their software to let them demonstrate and sell to you… a great proof of concept! "
Meeting security is ensured through default 256bit AES encryption and firewall and NAT configuration is simple to set up. The virtual office is runs on standard PCs or laptops with broadband high speed Internet. It enables people to work form home or office and to meet and collaborate from any location where there is broadband or a wi-fi hot-spot, reducing business travel and environmental impact
The virtual office web-based work environment can be as effective as a conventional meeting, but without the need for everyone to be in the same room or even the same country. Using a headset and web cam, users see each other, have very high quality audio and access to an interactive whiteboard which can be used to share any application. The real-time video follows voice and everyone can record the meeting.
It is also possible to send text messages between the group or have private one-to-one chats without disturbing the meeting, and the latest release of the free client software allows a user to hand control of an application to someone else and take it back at any time.
Euro-IX found that introducing web conferencing had an immediate effect on productivity with activities which used to last for hours being completed much more quickly. "Using the whiteboard enables collaborative editing and minute taking becomes very simple - everyone just saves the whiteboard pages."
With Euro-IX members as far apart as Moscow and Lisbon, Mr Souter believes Marratech will bring a huge increase in productivity and efficiency while saving a vast amount of travel time and expense. An immediate payback was identified when they worked out the true price of flying seven people across Europe for a one day meeting. "Apart from air fares and hotel rooms, a typical one day meeting actually takes our executives out of circulation for three days. We estimate that the cost of installing Marratech has paid for itself by replacing just two meetings."
Euro-IX, helps develop, strengthen and improve Europe's Internet Exchange Point community, the Internet exchanges which act as exchange points for internet traffic. Formed in 2001, it is headquartered in Amsterdam and currently has over 36 members from more than 20 countries.
"It wasn't so long ago when teams of operators worked in exchanges manually connecting telephone calls. Today, it all happens automatically and we just expect a call to the other side of the world to be connected in an instant. We just don't give it a thought. With the virtual office, we can do the same with our business meetings. No more broken appointments, no more scheduling. It does not matter where our people are, we can get together when we want and not when schedules or travel budgets permit," added Mr Souter.
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