Workspace solution provider Regus Group has responded to the growing demand for “telepresence meetings” in Asia-Pacific, rolling out three specially designed suites in its centres in Hongkong, Tokyo and Sydney. At press time, the facilities are being offered in 14 Regus locations around the world, with that number to go up to 25 locations by year-end, said Paul Gregory, the company’s maketing director Asia-Pacific.
Polycom and Cable&Wireless (C&W) are Regus’ partners in this initiative. Polycom designed the studio and all the state-of-the-art equipment and C&W provided the Global Multiservice Platform which offers exceptional visual and audio data transfer quality.
“TP” – as the innovation is now called – is video-conferencing at its latest technological level and highest definition. This creates the immersive feeling that participants despite being separated by distances and time zones feel their colleagues in other parts of the world are in the same room with them.
Alex Connors, head of international product management of C&W, said: “In the past, video conferencing was held back by poor-quality communication networks that made images jump and voices crackle. Our global Multiservice Platform makes these issues a thing of the past.”
Increased pressure to cut travel spend, raise productivity and reduce environmental impact has contributed to TP’s development, as well as the fact that the technology has become more affordable and user friendly.
Paul Newell, senior director business strategy and solution innovation at Polycom, predicted: “With visual communication becoming a mission-critical business tool, it will be video everywhere within the next two to three years.”
Regus is just one of several entities that is investing heavily in the telepresence wave. Hotel giants Marriott and Starwood have also joined the bandwagon (see news).
Regus uses an all-inclusive hourly pricing (from HK$3,999/US$515.11 for its Hongkong centre) in a telepresence studio seating up to 10 people. Viewing options range from simple boardroom style to a multi-point split screen.
For more details, visit www.regus.com
Margie T Logarta
