Tandberg demos multi-screen teleconferencing using Cisco standard

Tandberg has demonstrated multi-screen telepresence using Cisco's new TIP standard

Tandberg has announced the first successful demonstration of a three-screen teleconference call using Cisco's new TelePresence Interoperability Protocol.

Cisco is in the process of acquiring Tandberg for $3bn (£1.87bn), and the deal is set to be completed by the middle of this year.

Tandberg demonstrated the integration of its own Telepresence Server with Cisco's TelePresence System 3000, using the Cisco protocol to link the two systems in order to enable high-definition multi-screen teleconferencing.

Tandberg chief executive Fredrik Halvorsen said that it is imperative that organisations are not locked in by proprietary technology, claiming that the demonstration underlines the company's commitment to open standards and to provide scalable solutions for the future.

"We are very happy to deliver even greater value to our customers by bringing participants on Tandberg Telepresence and Cisco TelePresence together with an immersive, three-screen experience," he said.

Tandberg's Telepresence product is already interoperable with Polycom and Microsoft applications, and the company said that the ability to integrate with the Cisco CTS 3000 and other Cisco systems will be available as a software upgrade later this year.

Cisco launched the TelePresence Interoperability Protocol earlier this week, hoping to encourage other providers to do the same in order to help stimulate further growth of telepresence within businesses for external teleconferencing.

Tim Stone, head of collaboration solutions at Cisco, said at the time that convincing businesses of the return on investment offered by telepresence is central to driving further uptake of the technology.