Item: Lifesize Video Conferencing
Rating: 7
Author: Nicolas Rivaton

Implementation Rating

We initially ran a POC comparing Lifesize with other solutions. In the end, we selected Lifesize since it was the most promising one with the most intuitive product. A lifesize integrator set up the solution for us, it was super smooth, easy to connect, easy to start the connection with the SSO - easy for everything.

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

It is being used by the whole organization. We have 3 rooms equipped with an Icon 600, two in Paris, and one in San Francisco. It lets us do one-to-one video calls, and group calls. It is really good with the room to room call between San Francisco and Paris. However there are quite a lot of problems with the app, and a lot of people are getting more and more frustrated.

Pros and Cons

The Icon 600 is really working very well. It is perfect for an international company with people located in different places.
The sound quality is excellent.
The solution is flexible and the picture adapts itself automatically with the number of people. The Icon 600 HMI is really intuitive.

The Windows/Mac/Smartphone app is not good enough. For instance, with the MAC app, if you don't let it [go] to the foreground, it uses 100% CPU and you can't do anything else.
There is no possibility to manage the users in a conference room. For example, it is not possible to mute a specific person (even for the admin of the room). This is really [distracting] when some of the people have background noise.
Sometimes the iPhone app is really slow to log in using our SSO tool (OneLogin) ... Well sometimes, it can't log in at all.

Other Software Used

GoToMeeting, GoToWebinar

Likelihood to Recommend

As I said previously, Lifesize is excellent with the Icon 600, probably one of the best video conferencing tools, for a room to a room. When it comes to the application (Windows, Mac, web app, smartphone), there are too many problems and the app clearly lacks some stability. In the end it is working, but I was expecting a better experience with those apps.

Support Headcount Required

1 - It is super easy to maintain this solution since it is really plug'n play. A standard DSI with a minimum of IT knowledge is enough. A plus is to have some knowledge in SIP, WebRTC communication protocols, eventually anything linked to SSO (we use OneLogin with Lifesize to authanticate and it is working well).

Business Processes Supported

video conference room to video conference room. This is by far the best use case, working really great
desktop app to conference room, or to desktop app. working OK. The app is not the best over the market.
for customer calls, it is working well. The webapp has been greatly improved lately.

Future Planned Uses

to do our weekly all hands. But lifesize do not support more than 50 people connected if I remember correctly, which is not enough for us

Likelihood to Renew

Because of the desktop app. It is not that good, pretty heavy, missing features to take control of the distant computer for instance (like GoToMeeting).
Also the mobile app is missing some nice features: when you want to connect from your mobile, you have to do everything manually, whereas with GoToMeeting, you just do 1 click, and that's it, you've joined the meeting dirrectly from your calendar invitation.

Return on Investment

possibility to communicate efficiently between the different regions over the world (US, Japan, EU)
possibility to send brdige invitation to our customers to organise meeting

Innovative Uses

Users and Roles

150 - The engineering use it to communicate between the different sub-teams world-wide
The delivery team uses it as well with their customers, and internally for team meetings.
It is not much used by the Sales team because of the mobile app which is not user friendly enough

Lifesize is excellent for a room to room experience, but lacks stability when using the application

Overall Satisfaction with Lifesize Video Conferencing