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By Jill Burger, Principal Research Analyst
During our rigorous research on the US market for Real-time Collaboration-based Learning products, fourteen vendors were selected by Ambient Insight for inclusion in this series. They were selected because they represent the full range of functionality and market positioning of Real-time Collaboration-based Learning products. Ambient Insight wrote the profiles and vendors were invited to review the content for errors or oversights, but each feature set was independently verified.
The 2003 acquisition of MeetingPlace 5.3 from Latitude has enabled Cisco to leverage IP (Internet Protocol) data networks for multiple forms of communication, including voice, Web, and video. Together with MeetingPlace, the Cisco CallManager IP telephony system and their videoconferencing server, the Cisco IPVC 3.5 Plus video MCU (Multipoint Control Unit), they are able to offer a truly unified communications system, and a very powerful learning technology platform.
By providing a single solution that includes video as well as voice and Web conferencing, Cisco moves its offering to the top of the feature-rich heap of providers. Meanwhile, it is moving Web and video conferencing functionality closer to the corporate IT and telephony network to make corporate communication (and the purchasing decision) seamless. That, plus its inherent, under-the-corporate-curtain security give MeetingPlace a number of key differentiators from competitive solutions.
In addition to its full integration of video conferencing, MeetingPlace 5.3 includes most of the standard features of Web conferencing tools, as well as calendar integration and other scheduling features typical of virtual classroom products.
MeetingPlace is offered as a software as a service (SaaS) and also as an installed technology product. Cisco aims this product at enterprise customers, particularly those currently using related Cisco products such as the IP telephony system and video conferencing server. The academic community, already a solid part of Cisco’s customer base, is also a natural target for Cisco’s MeetingPlace offering.
Small and mid-sized organizations are likely to be priced out of this solution, and indeed are probably not in need of all its functionality. Their pricing is complex--they offer no public pricing, and potential buyers are required to fill out a pricing request form.
Cisco offers a suite of premium services as well. These include pre-session enrollment and presenter training. They will also provide live facilitators for sessions. They offer post-session services including participant analysis, archiving, and transcription.
Cisco is unique in that they also offer an on-premise managed service of the product. They install the product behind the customer’s firewall on the customer’s hardware but maintain and administrate the system remotely using Cisco staff. It is a hybrid between a hosted solution, an installed technology solution, and business process outsourcing.
They sell their product into human resources departments not training departments. They do not market it as a dedicated training solution but rather as a human resources solution which includes training. Their claim is that the product allows "you to create virtual training and on-demand learning centers for both tenured and new employees."
The product is often used for Real-time Collaboration-based Learning despite the company’s lack of marketing focus in that area. Its remote control features also make it a good candidate for remote assistance and live product mentoring.
Cisco integrated their acquired Real-time Collaboration-based Learning technology into their extensive line of IP–based infrastructure tools. While they could potentially tackle the whole market with their deep pockets and reputation in the learning field, Cisco wants the very high-end enterprise customer. They have therefore gone to market with products that have very deep integration with their entrenched IP technology.
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