1. What is Web Conferencing?

Today, Web conferencing means "live" or "synchronous" real-time, online conference, using audio, video, and Data / typed messages across the World Wide Web, by two or more logged in users from different systems/locations.

2. How is it different from conventional Video conferencing systems?

Conventional Video conferencing systems involve the exchange of video and audio among participants using proprietary hardwares, TV screens, ISDN lines, at specially created "studio" type of environment, while web conferencing is usually done from desktops, with inexpensive webcams using web servers over internet. It offers much more features like power point presentation, document & white board sharing etc.

3. What are the unique features and functionalities offered by A³Connect Conferencing Service?

A³Connect offers many firsts to the subscribers. It is the first commercially launched web conferencing service by any telecom operator in India.

Multi point Video Conferencing. Data Conferencing through Power point presentation, White board & document sharing and chat. Storage of Data in virtual meeting rooms — for use by authorized participants, before, during and after a conference. Password protected, user created secured meeting rooms — Always available (i.e., persistent) that facilitates instantaneous setting up of conference, simulates physical room convenience. The Primary speaker selection ensures good quality multipoint conferencing on a single duplex data connection, by managing bandwidth.

These features significantly enhance the quality and thus the effectiveness of your business meetings.

4. Why A³Connect Audio, Video & Data Conferencing Service?

It is software based system and does not require costly VC specific hardware. It provides complete bouquet of multi-point Audio, Video and Data conferencing. It has Audio bridging facility to Landline and mobile phone users to join in the conference. It has inbuilt efficient bandwidth management algorithm software to allow full e-conferencing to operate on 256 kbps links. It requires Minimum Capital investments and low usage charges. It has permanent rooms which allow instantaneous set up of conferencing.

5. Do I need Video-Conferencing specific hardware?

Unlike conventional video conferencing systems, you do not require any proprietary/specific hardware apart from your PC, headset and a webcam.

6. What are recommended specifications of hardware at Customer Premises?

PC with Pentium IV or any equivalent or higher processor Standard Webcam (300k Pixels or higher) Headset with microphone Windows 2000 or XP operating system A3Connect Software - Click here to download ADSL Connection

7. What are the applications of A³Connect Audio/Video conferencing?

Present day enhanced competitions and increased complexities in business scenario has highlighted the need of collaborative efforts and various mode of conferencing, interactions and meetings are needed as part of business process, to achieve results. Though it leads to more mobility but at the same time, travel is becoming more costly and fixing meeting for right set of people at common venue becomes very intricate. This is where A³Connect comes in wherein you can hold meetings virtually with all facilities that you conceivably can have in physical room meetings. Being software based, A³Connect can easily be integrated in diverse applications like:

E-Education and Training E-governance Online Interview Remote Problem Solving Telemedicine Sales Meeting Online Customer Support Security & Surveillance

8. How can I subscribe for the Web conferencing services?

A³Connect service is available under two options:

Product Offering: This is ideally suited for large and medium corporates having multi location offices. They can buy the server and client licenses and run this over their intranet network for intra-corporate use. Under this offering, clients pay an annual Licence fee which is dependent on number of clients etc. This mode of offering is sold by CEPL directly. Service Offering: This service is targeted towards SOHO, SME, corporates and quality conscious individuals. Under this service clients use Public servers set up for the purpose and is based on "Pay as you use" model. This service will be provided in collaboration with Telecom Service Providers.

Currently, the service is offered in partnership with BSNL and is marketed as "BSNL Web Conferencing" service. You can become a subscriber of "BSNL Web conferencing Service" by following the steps given below:

Step 1: Register with your nearest BSNL Customer Service Center on a prescribed form. The form can be collected from customer BSNL Service Centers. You can also click here to downloaded the application form. Step 2: Submit the completed form to your nearest BSNL Customer Service Center. Step 3: You will receive an e-mail (Mail is sent to the e-mail id entered by you in the application form), requesting you to activate your account online. Following the instructions contained in the email, you need to choose a user name and password and activate your account. You are now a subscriber of BSNL Web Conferencing Service.

9. How Do I start conferencing using BSNL Web Conferencing Service?

Once you have obtained your user name and password, you can follow the steps given below to get started (More help is available in A³Connect User Guide).

Begin Conferencing by following the steps given below!!

Connect headset with microphone and install the webcam in your PC. Ensure the availability of 256kbps broadband internet connectivity (minimum) from BSNL. Click here to download A3Connect Client Software. Save the setup file on your PC and Double click the setup file to begin the installation. Follow the instructions as displayed on the screen to finish installing the software. The A3Connect icon will appear on your desktop. Double click on the A3Connect icon. Enter your User Name, Password and Server name (as provided by BSNL) and click OK. The registration succeeded message will appear on the screen. Click OK. On the top right side under room management, create your room by clicking Create Room button. A screen will appear asking for the Room Name and Pass Code. Enter your Room Name and Pass Code and click OK (The room name and pass code can be devised by the person creating of the room. This room name and pass code need to be circulated to rest of the participants by the creator). Select the room created and click on Join Room button. Enter your pass code and click OK. Two screens will pop up, one will be your local video and the other will be the broadcaster's video screen. (Local video: your own image, Broadcaster Video: The image of the person conducting the Audio/Video conferencing).

10. How do I schedule a conference?

The persistent room feature allows you to conduct your meetings with your associates/partners instantaneously. All you need to do is advise other participants to join in a designated room at a specified time. You need to give them access code of the room in case it is a new room or any participant is joining in the said room for the first time. For example in your company, you have created a room for holding EMT meetings and all EMT members have been given the access code of this room, the organizer of the meeting just needs to advise other participants (through phone, or email or SMS) to meet in "EMT" at the specified time. All participants will join the room at the specified time and join the conference.

11. How to use various functionalities?

Please refer to the A³Connect User Guide. Click here to download.

12. How to exit from the conferencing system?

To terminate a video conferencing session, click on the "Leave Room" button .To exit from the A³Connect software, click on the "Logout" icon on the icon bar and choose "Exit".

13. What is Primary Speaker Selection and how does it help?

In multi-point conferences if each participants were to see the images of each of other participant, its management becomes very difficult from various considerations like:

Given the limited space on the PC screen, the size of each video becomes very small. You need to have very high speed data links.

Primary Speaker selection software selects the video images of the presenter (Active speaker) and this is broadcasted and displayed on all participants' screen along with their own videos. The presenter's role can be transferred to other participants through "Token passing".

14. What do you mean by FPS?

FPS stands for Frame per Second. In videoconferencing the images are scanned and transmitted frame by frame. Every frame is then digitized and transmitted to other participants. The number of frame that can be transmitted depends upon PIXEL, the compression ratio of the Codec and the transmission channel (data rate).

15. What factors determine the quality of conference?

The quality of video images is influenced by:

The speed of your data circuit. If speed is low, you can reduce number of frames. The webcam quality. The general lighting of the surrounding. Though you do not require studio type of environment, however, the room should be should be sufficiently illuminated and the light source should not be directly facing the webcam. The Light should be thrown on the participants. Placement of speakers and mike. The mikes should not be facing directly into the speaker and mike and speakers should preferably be placed at differing heights.

16. How is the service charged?

Each participant pays for his leg of service. A company can, however, take multiple accounts and give it to their employees, in such cases the entire usage charges will be billed to the company.

17. What are the Tariffs for the BSNL Web Conferencing Service?

The tariffs are affordable and multiple plans have been designed to meet the requirements of different segments of users. You can choose the plan that best suits your needs. Click here for details.

18. Can I view Call details and monthly bill on line?

Yes, you can view call wise details and monthly bills on line. You can take a print out if you so like. Click here to log in to your A³Connect Account.

19. Can I change my password?

Yes, you can change your password online. Click here to log in to your A³Connect Account. Click on My Profile and change your password.

20. Can I use Internet during my conferencing using A³Connect?

Yes, you can use the internet while you are conferencing using A³connect.

21. Can I connect a projector for large screen viewing?

Of course, you can do so for large gathering viewing. There are wide ranges of Projectors to choose from to suit your requirements.

22. How is BSNL Web Conferencing powered? What is the technology behind BSNL Web Conferencing?

BSNL Web Conferencing Service is powered by A³Connect — the innovative technology developed by Communication Experts Private Limited, in collaboration with experts from USA.