Cisco Systems Webex










PDF version of this report
You must have Adobe Acrobat reader to view, save, or print PDF files. The reader
is available for free
download
.

Cisco
Systems
Webex

by Brady Hicks

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

[return to top
of this report]

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

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.

Table 1. Webex: Call
Extended Functionality
Feature Description
"Push of a button" calling
  • Cloud-based calling with support for recording calls for later
    playback, transcription, and sharing
  • Seamless cal merging and migration to conference call
  • Call transfers and holding
  • Support for answering other users’ phones or accessing a Hunt Group
    that searches for available colleagues to take call
  • Call Waiting visibility
Messaging
  • 1:1 and team space chats with support for rich text and expressive
    messaging
  • Attachments with support for flagging correspondences for later
    followup
  • Conversation tracking, including saving within secure spaces
Call-to-Meeting
  • HD video support
  • Screen, file, and application sharing
  • Recording options

Figure 2 looks at the Webex: Call support for shifting to video meetings.

Figure 2. Webex: Call (-to-Meeting)

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

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.

Table 2. Screen Sharing
Availability
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

[return to
top

of this report]

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

[return to
top

of this report]

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

[return to
top

of this report]

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

[return to
top

of this report]

Table 3 provides details on Webex’s tiered pricing.

Table 3. Webex Tiered
Pricing
Package Per-Month Cost Features
Free $0
  • Up to 100 participants
  • 50 minute duration
  • No cloud storage
  • Unlimited meetings
Starter $13.50
  • Up to 150 participants
  • 24-hour duration
  • 5GB cloud storage
  • Unlimited meetings
Business $26.95
  • Up to 200 participants
  • 24-hour duration
  • 10GB cloud storage
  • Unlimited meetings
Enterprise Contact Cisco
  • Customizable number of participants
  • 24-hour duration
  • Customizable cloud storage
  • Unlimited meetings

Competitors

[return to
top

of this report]

Top competitors include AT&T, Avaya, Microsoft (including Skype), Google, and Zoom.

[return to
top

of this report]

About the Author

[return to top of this report]

Brady Hicks is an
editor with Faulkner Information Services. He writes about computer and
networking hardware, software, communications networks and equipment, and the
Internet.

[return to
top

of this report]