A UUNET employee
January 15, 2008: Japanese electronics giant, Sony, has signed a multimillion shilling video-conferencing deal with UUNET Kenya.

The agreement gives UUNET exclusive rights offer to resell and support services for the product in the Kenyan market.

Under the deal, Sony will supply the equipment while UUNET will offer sales and support services using its Internet Protocol (IP) infrastructure at a price that is yet to be determined.

UUNET’s research and development engineer Martin Ngaira said clients will have two options for accessing the service.

“They have the option of using the UUNET Video Conference Boardroom or have separate set ups for their video conference centres,” he said.

Video conferencing enables individuals to hold real time business meetings with partners based in different parts of the globe.

This helps reduce the cost of doing business by saving on transport cost and time.

For low-end users, UUNET plans to offer an all in one video conferencing solution that includes a monitor, camera and software to run the video conference and data solution box.

The equipment set up comprises of a television connecting three to four people, which can be converted to a Personal Computer (PC) when not in use. The basic components are the same for high end users who must also buy a data solution box, a camera and output device projectors.

Mr Ngaira described the high end version as superior as it includes voice and motion tracking and can cover a bigger boardroom.

Senior managers and trainers from Sony are in the country to train UUNET staff who will be handling the business.

Apart from Sony, other leading manufacturers of video conferencing equipment are Tandberg, Polycom which are both US brands and Aethra from Italy.
The three have been using the Sony technology to manufacture video conferencing equipment.

However, the Japanese firm has decided to venture into the manufacturing of its own range of equipment, as opposed to providing the technology.
UUNET will also be providing video conferencing on demand.

This is usually applicable where clients request use of video conferencing for a particular session, in which case UUNET will increase the bandwidth for that particular duration.

The bandwidth ranges from between 128 Kbps up to 2 mbps. The more the bandwidth, the better quality of still images.