Currently, there are two types of video conferences that are popular on the market: hardware video conference systems and software video conferences.
The difference between the two is the following:
First, audio and video quality 1. Hardware products: audio coding using the International Telecommunication Union ITU Organization H.320 standard G.7xx audio coding specification. The sound is lossy and compressed.
2. Software products: Traditional software solutions give people the impression that audio and video quality is relatively poor. However, as the PC's CPU processing capability continues to increase rapidly, as long as the user has a certain bandwidth, audio encoding can use G.7xx encoded in addition to the ITU International Telecommunication Union ITU H.320 standard, and other third-party audio coding standards can also be used. (eg GIPS voice standard). Can achieve clearer sound effects than hardware video conferencing systems.
Second, easy to use
1. Hardware products: This is the traditional advantage of hardware solutions. It is easy to use and conforms to users' traditional usage habits.
2. Software products: On the one hand, with the popularization of computers and Internet applications, people are becoming more familiar with computer applications and habits; on the other hand, software products fully consider the convenience and friendliness of the products in terms of technical design and function implementation. so that most users do not need special training to use immediately
Third, the price
1. Hardware products: One-time purchase is expensive. And because of the need for certain bandwidth, users will pay for long-term bandwidth access.
2. Software products: The product price is only a fraction of the hardware product or even lower. Can fully utilize the existing network conditions.
Fourth, technology update
1. Hardware products: The life cycle of hardware products is about 3 years, and technology is updated every day. Special hardware devices cannot keep pace with the development of hardware technology. Hardware updates or replacement of new upgrade modules will be very expensive and inconvenient to implement.
2. Software products: The application and enhancement of any new technology can be timely updated for the user, anytime, anywhere, very convenient. The upgrade price of the product is much lower than the hardware product.
Fifth, network bandwidth adaptability
1. Hardware products: High bandwidth requirements, generally require more than 384kb ** line or private network. Solving firewall problems is too complicated.
2. Software products: Users can use the existing network environment. Suitable for a variety of proxy servers and firewalls from 56kb dial-up, xDSL, leased lines, or other access network environments. Can meet the needs of different network environments.
Six, data collaboration
1. Hardware products: Early hardware products do not provide data collaboration capabilities; currently some high-end hardware vendors need to add special modules to their systems, and an extra PC is required to support this function, and the system connection is complicated.
2. Software products: With integrated data collaboration capabilities, it can provide various functions such as document sharing, electronic whiteboard, collaborative browsing, and text exchange.
VII. System Deployment and Capacity Expansion 1. Hardware products: The hardware products have relatively large deployment points according to the MCU requirements.
2. Software products: According to the server and bandwidth requirements, the number of users can reach hundreds of thousands of users.
VIII. Firewall Support 1. Hardware Products: The ability to support firewalls is very weak. It is strictly required that each terminal must have an external IP and can directly access the Internet without passing through a firewall.
2. Software products: There are solutions for NAT firewalls, proxy servers, and packet filtering firewalls. In most user environments, users can use them without any configuration.
Nine, portability 1. Hardware products: Most hardware products are used in fixed conference rooms. Currently, some video conferences on the market support desktop terminals, but these have great limitations in terms of use, function, and efficiency.
2. Software products: You can use your own laptop to conduct video conferences via the Internet (or IP network) anytime, anywhere.
X. Conference Management
1. Hardware product: The conference management function is simple.
2. Software products: It can provide rich conference management and control functions, such as user database management, conference reservations, meeting notifications, meeting statistics, meeting agendas, voting, etc.; providing different meeting types and conference control modes according to various meeting requirements Wait.
Eleven, customized
1. Hardware products: It can hardly meet the personalized needs of any user.
2. Software products: According to the needs of users, provide customized interfaces, functions, and customer brands.
November 26, 2020
