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Cisco
Systems
Webex
Copyright 2021, Faulkner Information Services. All
Rights Reserved.
Docid: 00021200
Publication Date: 2104
Report Type: PRODUCT
Preview
Cisco Systems’ Webex offers cloud-based, collaborative software for
videoconferencing, file- and screen-sharing, whiteboarding, traditional calling,
and other elements to bring together teams, customers, and partners. This
immersive, "in-person" experience set is based on Cisco’s 2007, $3 billion
purchase of Webex. Specific elements include Webex: Meet, Webex: Call, Webex:
Message, Screen Sharing, Conference Call, and AI – Assistant. This report takes
an extended look at Cisco’s Webex portfolio in greater detail.
Report Contents:
- Description
- Related Faulkner
Reports - Vendor
- Applications
- Environment
- Support
- Pricing
- Competitors
- Web Links
Description
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The Cisco Webex offering, which is based on the $3 billion
acquisition of Webex in 2007, offers conferencing and immersive telepresence.
Related Faulkner Reports |
Cisco Systems Company Profile |
Telepresence Marketplace |
Robotic Telepresence Technology & Applications Tutorial |
Webex offers rich multimedia functionality and vivid experiences to unite
teams, customers, and partners in collaboration, while also providing
"in-person" immersive video to increase engagment. Key selling points include:
- Seamless collaboration
- Smart hybrid work experiences
- Intelligent customer experiences
- Security, privacy, management, and insights
Vendor |
Name: Cisco Systems Headquarters 170 West Tasman Dr. San Jose, CA 95134 (408) 526-4000 (800) 553-6387 Web: http://www.cisco.com/ Type of Vendor: Data networking provider Founded: 1984 Service Areas: Global Stock Symbol: CSCO |
Furthermore, software components of Webex include Webex: Meet, Webex: Call,
Webex: Message, Screen Sharing, Conference Call, and AI – Assistant.
Webex: Meet
Webex: Meet offers video conferencing and online meeting software for meeting
face-to-face with anyone, worldwide. Functionality includes:
- HD audio and video
- Screen sharing
- 1:1 and group messaging
- Meeting controls and in-session options
- Recording and transcription support
- Calendar integration
Figure 1 looks at the Webex: Meet interface.
Figure 1. Webex: Meet Interface
Source: Cisco
Webex: Call
Webex: Call offers a complete, cloud-based, business phone system that gives
the user a phone number and calling system. The release’s key selling points are
its ability to provide "effortless management with less overhead," as well as
its intelligent call-routing features. Included is:
- Business phone number
- Phone menu with call-routing options
- Cloud-calling features
- Visual voicemail
- Team messaging
- Built-in security
Additional features are detailed
in Table 1.
Feature | Description |
---|---|
"Push of a button" calling |
|
Messaging |
|
Call-to-Meeting |
|
Figure 2 looks at the Webex: Call support for shifting to video meetings.
Figure 2. Webex: Call (-to-Meeting)
Source: Cisco
Webex: Message
Webex: Message offers a team collaboration platform for messaging,
file-sharing, whiteboarding, and collaborating. Functions include:
- 1:1 and group messaging
- File and content sharing
- Two-way whiteboarding
- Direct calling to Webex users
- Integrated productivity tools*
- Personalization options
* Integrations include tools from Microsoft, Google, and
Salesforce, plus others via the Webex App Hub.
Figure 3 shows Webex: Message’s interface.
Figure 3. Webex: Message Display
Source: Cisco
Screen Sharing
Webex’s screen-share function is designed to support collaboration. Users can
share specific elements at their discretion. Options are shown in Table 2.
Options | Description |
---|---|
Files or Documents | Word and PowerPoint |
Application Sets | Productivity tools and Web browsers |
Multimedia Viewers and Players | Sharing video or animation at 30 frames-per-second |
Entire Screen | All windows that are open and in-view |
Additionally, Webex supports a permission-based approach that lets any
contributor share items on their display. Screen-sharing is also available using
virtually any system, browser, Android or iOS device, or Cisco Webex device, and
can be toggled on or off based on presentation.
Conference Call
Webex Meetings supports unlimited conference calls and an interactive meeting
experience that includes "robust" audio transmissions, high-quality video, rich
content, customizable controls, and security.
- Options for connections include:
- Dial-in number
- VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
- "Call-Me" option.
AI – Assistant
The AI (artificial intelligence)-powered meeting assistant offers a
customized, digital aid Features include:
- Real-time translations to/from 100+ languages
- Real-time transcriptions and closed captions
- Meeting recordings
- Saving key points as highlights
- Hands-free voice commands
- Editable, downloadable, and shareable post-meeting recaps, including
highlights and action items - Advanced keyword searches
- No customer data retention for ML (machine-learning) training
- Aggregated telemetry, quality metrics, and logs for measuring
performance and securing usage details
Applications
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Webex specifically offers elements to target the education, healthcare,
financial services, government, startup, sports, and entertainment sectors, as
well as for developers, IT buyers, and partners. The collection is generally
applicable to any enterprise activity
requiring communication, coordination, or collaboration at a
distance.
Environment
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Cisco Webex is available for most major platforms, and generally runs over the cloud, or,
in some cases, a
private telecommunications link. The company’s services use ordinary PCs,
laptops, phones, and tablets, and users access the service through a Web site or
app.
Support
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Support is extended to assist in:
- Planning,
Design and Implementation – Customers receive comprehensive
support throughout their telepresence planning and deployment process. - Operation – Customers
are
aided in providing a reliable,
high-quality video communications experience. - Optimization – Customers get
help “preserving” the user experience as
telepresence use grows and operational efficiency becomes critical.
Pricing
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Table 3 provides details on Webex’s tiered pricing.
Package | Per-Month Cost | Features |
---|---|---|
Free | $0 |
|
Starter | $13.50 |
|
Business | $26.95 |
|
Enterprise | Contact Cisco |
|
Competitors
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Top competitors include AT&T, Avaya, Microsoft (including Skype), Google, and Zoom.
Web Links
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- AT&T: http://www.att.com/
- Cisco Systems: http://www.cisco.com/
- Google Hangouts:
https://hangouts.google.com/ - Microsoft: http://www.microsoft.com/
- Skype: http://www.skype.com/en/
- Zoom: https://www.zoom.us/
About the Author
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Brady Hicks is an
editor with Faulkner Information Services. He writes about computer and
networking hardware, software, communications networks and equipment, and the
Internet.
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