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Why choose First Virtual Communications' Conference Server? It's a higher performing, lower cost, easier to deploy MCU! To create online group conferences, you need a way to manage and distribute voice, video, and data between endpoints. That's the job of a multipoint control unit (MCU). Most people think of an MCU as a hardware product. But did you know that the  software-centric MCU solution from First Virtual Communications will do more, cost less, and be easier to deploy than any other MCU product? The case for a software-centric solution We call  this solution the Conference Server. You'll call it the smartest IT purchase  decision you'll make this year. Here's why: More flexible platform choice—With hardware-based MCUs, you're tied to specialized hardware and software configurations. The Conference Server works  with a variety of hardware and operating systems. You can purchase a software-only version of the Conference Server, or have it optimized and pre-configured on a platform from First Virtual. Flexible deployment, too—Hardware limits where and how an MCU can be deployed. The Conference Server lets you deploy either at a centralized data center or where users are located at the edge of the network using our  Intelligent Linkingâ„¢ to optimize bandwidth and performance in a distributed  environment. Simpler, faster upgrades—Hardware upgrades mean swapping expensive boxes or  adding boards inside the hardware. Upgrading with the Conference Server means a  simple software installation. Cost-effective data collaboration—Hardware MCUs require external support, if data collaboration is available at all. With the Conference Server, data (T.120)  collaboration is built in. Lower-cost processing power—Hardware requires expensive boards that make configuration more complex and reduce capacity. The Conference Server exhibits none of the chassis restrictions that are inherent to hardware. Better performance—Hardware-based MCUs introduce significantly higher  latency, exhibit longer call set-up times, and require more bandwidth for similar video quality. The Conference Server uses widely available multiprocessor, multi-threaded technology providing the additional advantages of  greater scalability and higher port density. The Conference Server's non-proprietary approach allows it to take advantage of technology improvements providing the best value to the customer A market proven track record Here's another eye-popping price/performance advantage: for the price of a typical  hardware-based MCU, you can deploy three comparable Conference Servers. Maybe  that's why the Conference Server has more installed ports than any other product. Today, with over 1,200 customer installations worldwide in enterprises, governments, service providers and portals, the Conference Server is a proven,  market-tested solution. Intelligent Linking Unlike traditional cascading,  First Virtual's Intelligent Linking distributes conference management and bridging to the edges of the network. This allows the conference server to become a "virtual" MCU that delivers unprecedented scalability and performance. Now no matter how many locations are connected, Intelligent Linking makes it appear as a single fluid conference over a local MCU - with a single participant list. Get the bandwidth management and security control you  need Online voice, video, and data collaboration is great. But your IT  manager still needs to control the audio and video traffic flowing over your IP network. The Conference Server gives you that control. Bandwidth management and security control features include: Encrypted T.120 data collaboration for the utmost in confidentiality for your data A built-in gatekeeper that regulates the bandwidth used by H.323 clients (typically extra from hardware manufacturers) Multicast capabilities that can save considerable bandwidth Graphical server configuration topology for large-scale deployment Simultaneous fluid access available to low and high bandwidth users without  compromising any user's conference experience Everything you expect from an industry leader...and  more First Virtual's Conference Server lets you create a virtual  conference room on an existing IP network using accepted H.323, SIP, and T.120  conferencing standards. And if you need to include endpoints in the ISDN world,  it can interoperate with H.320 gateways. The Conference Server features: The widest range of endpoints supported, at varying bandwidth rates Multiple server environments, including Windows NT, Windows 2000, Sun  Solaris, and Linux operating systems Diverse applications, from high-end corporate conferencing and application sharing to web-based voice, video, and data collaboration Flexible customization to fit your network topology Easy scalability as conference usage grows No limit on the number of linked or cascaded conferences for seamless  scalability Transparent user access, even as conferences span multiple servers No limits on the number of Continuous Presence conferences allowed User-friendly interface that lets participants set up conferences at any time, from anywhere via their browser