Comments on: Video reasons for Google-Marratech deal http://gigaom.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/ Tracking the Internet Evolution Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:16:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: William Florance http://gigaom.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97392 William Florance Mon, 21 May 2007 16:16:04 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97392 <p>What perplexes me is that if Google were really serious about adding real-time, webconferencing/collaboration (which is what Marratech is), why did they not talk to other, more established players in the space. I happen to work for one of those companies and we were not approached at any time by Google. And as far as I can tell, none of our other competitors were either.</p> <p>I'm not saying that Marratech is a bad product (it's pretty good I think), but I wonder if it wasn't more of a case of Marratech approaching Google and offering themselves at a price that Google couldn't ignore. As far as I can tell, Marratech has extremely little penetration.</p> <p>Anyone have ANY clue how much Google spent on this? Any clue how/where they will expose it for mass adoption?</p> What perplexes me is that if Google were really serious about adding real-time, webconferencing/collaboration (which is what Marratech is), why did they not talk to other, more established players in the space. I happen to work for one of those companies and we were not approached at any time by Google. And as far as I can tell, none of our other competitors were either.

I’m not saying that Marratech is a bad product (it’s pretty good I think), but I wonder if it wasn’t more of a case of Marratech approaching Google and offering themselves at a price that Google couldn’t ignore. As far as I can tell, Marratech has extremely little penetration.

Anyone have ANY clue how much Google spent on this? Any clue how/where they will expose it for mass adoption?

]]> By: Juankar en Estado Puro http://gigaom.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97390 Juankar en Estado Puro Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:07:40 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97390 <p>[...] internally only. No one would be surprised if Google incorporated it into the Google Talk client to support video chat, [...]</p> [...] internally only. No one would be surprised if Google incorporated it into the Google Talk client to support video chat, [...]

]]> By: Eight Google Apps in Future « All About Mobile…. http://gigaom.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97388 Eight Google Apps in Future « All About Mobile…. Mon, 23 Apr 2007 07:05:18 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97388 <p>[...] internally only. No one would be surprised if Google incorporated it into the Google Talk client to support video chat, [...]</p> [...] internally only. No one would be surprised if Google incorporated it into the Google Talk client to support video chat, [...]

]]> By: David Richardson http://gigaom.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97384 David Richardson Mon, 23 Apr 2007 04:54:22 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97384 <p>I've been using Marratech since 2003. Another feature of Marratech which runs in the background is its bandwith-sharing function. This automatically adjusts the use of bandwidth between participants, so that low-bandwith users don't get swamped by the high bandwidth ones.</p> <p>You can also have lots and lots of people connected up at once. I was once in a Marratech meeting with about 90 participants without loss of audio or video quality.</p> <p>BTW, just in case you're curious, 'marra' is a 'samisk' word for meeting place … and 'tech' is just, well, tech! 'Samer' is the proper name for the people who live in the north of the world, often called Lapps by people who don't know that the term has racist overtones in Swedish.</p> I’ve been using Marratech since 2003. Another feature of Marratech which runs in the background is its bandwith-sharing function. This automatically adjusts the use of bandwidth between participants, so that low-bandwith users don’t get swamped by the high bandwidth ones.

You can also have lots and lots of people connected up at once. I was once in a Marratech meeting with about 90 participants without loss of audio or video quality.

BTW, just in case you’re curious, ‘marra’ is a ’samisk’ word for meeting place … and ‘tech’ is just, well, tech! ‘Samer’ is the proper name for the people who live in the north of the world, often called Lapps by people who don’t know that the term has racist overtones in Swedish.

]]> By: Web Development » Blog Archive » Eight Google Apps in Your Future http://gigaom.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97386 Web Development » Blog Archive » Eight Google Apps in Your Future Sun, 22 Apr 2007 15:30:58 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97386 <p>[...] internally only. No one would be surprised if Google incorporated it into the Google Talk client to support video chat, [...]</p> [...] internally only. No one would be surprised if Google incorporated it into the Google Talk client to support video chat, [...]

]]> By: VOIPBLOG.IT » I links di domenica 22 aprile http://gigaom.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97382 VOIPBLOG.IT » I links di domenica 22 aprile Sun, 22 Apr 2007 07:21:26 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97382 <p>[...] Google e Marratech per il video conferencing Apple ha indicato la direzione installando webcams su tutte le proprie macchine, da più di un anno. Ora Google si muove per entrare nel video conferencing… chissà, magari con Google Talk (tags: google talk video) [...]</p> [...] Google e Marratech per il video conferencing Apple ha indicato la direzione installando webcams su tutte le proprie macchine, da più di un anno. Ora Google si muove per entrare nel video conferencing… chissà, magari con Google Talk (tags: google talk video) [...]

]]> By: SG http://gigaom.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97380 SG Sat, 21 Apr 2007 15:40:15 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97380 <p>What is the video protocol that they use?</p> What is the video protocol that they use?

]]> By: The New Basement Tapes » Video reasons for Google-Marratech deal http://gigaom.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97378 The New Basement Tapes » Video reasons for Google-Marratech deal Fri, 20 Apr 2007 21:31:22 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97378 <p>[...] GigaOM » Video reasons for Google-Marratech deal [...]</p> [...] GigaOM » Video reasons for Google-Marratech deal [...]

]]> By: JoeShmoe http://gigaom.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97376 JoeShmoe Fri, 20 Apr 2007 21:21:47 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97376 <p>@Stephen, Thanks for the comprehensive list of features that differenciate Marratech!</p> @Stephen,
Thanks for the comprehensive list of features that differenciate Marratech!

]]> By: Stephen Antonucci http://gigaom.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97372 Stephen Antonucci Fri, 20 Apr 2007 19:13:24 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97372 <p>Skype is a P2P technology. Marratech is server based. Marratech is Java and is cross platform on the client you download and the server you can run it on. Marratech has whiteboard, application sharing, document sharing, desktop sharing, and generally is more collaborative than Skype. With Skype you can transfer files, with Marratech you use a Whiteboard to collobrate with them with annotating, and can share applications.</p> <p>Also Marratech has built in recording functions that allows for full recording of entire conferences that can be done by any participant. Marratech can make video calls to Tandberg, Polycom, Sony, H.323 endpoints. This was a big issue for Google as they have a lot of Tandbergs in their organization. Skype can not do this.</p> <p>Marratech can be totally integrated easily into a website, allowing people to simply click on a web link that brings them into a virtual meeting room. You can invite participants by simply emailing them the link. Marratech has built-in features for taking screenshots on anything on your desktop.</p> <p>In multi-point web conferences Marratech allows for "private" side bar audio and text chat within the larger web video conference. This is not a feature of Skype.</p> Skype is a P2P technology. Marratech is server based. Marratech is Java and is cross platform on the client you download and the server you can run it on. Marratech has whiteboard, application sharing, document sharing, desktop sharing, and generally is more collaborative than Skype. With Skype you can transfer files, with Marratech you use a Whiteboard to collobrate with them with annotating, and can share applications.

Also Marratech has built in recording functions that allows for full recording of entire conferences that can be done by any participant. Marratech can make video calls to Tandberg, Polycom, Sony, H.323 endpoints. This was a big issue for Google as they have a lot of Tandbergs in their organization. Skype can not do this.

Marratech can be totally integrated easily into a website, allowing people to simply click on a web link that brings them into a virtual meeting room. You can invite participants by simply emailing them the link. Marratech has built-in features for taking screenshots on anything on your desktop.

In multi-point web conferences Marratech allows for “private” side bar audio and text chat within the larger web video conference. This is not a feature of Skype.

]]> By: joe shmoe http://gigaom.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97364 joe shmoe Fri, 20 Apr 2007 18:40:01 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97364 <p>Umm, I am not quite clear how is this different from what Skype provides. Is a shared workspace (docs etc) the only differenciation point?</p> Umm, I am not quite clear how is this different from what Skype provides. Is a shared workspace (docs etc) the only differenciation point?

]]> By: Don MacAskill http://gigaom.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97368 Don MacAskill Fri, 20 Apr 2007 18:24:17 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97368 <p>Om,</p> <p>Glad you called them out on the whole FireWire thing. People seem to have forgotten that:</p> <p>A) FireWire pre-dated USB considerably.</p> <p>B) FireWire was faster than USB 1.0.</p> <p>and</p> <p>C) Apple almost single-handedly made USB a success by using USB peripherals on the iMac, causing peripheral makers to finally support the standard.</p> <p>So they basically shot themselves in the foot by doing USB devices rather than FireWire. We might be living in a FireWire world right now if it weren't for Apple. :)</p> Om,

Glad you called them out on the whole FireWire thing. People seem to have forgotten that:

A) FireWire pre-dated USB considerably.

B) FireWire was faster than USB 1.0.

and

C) Apple almost single-handedly made USB a success by using USB peripherals on the iMac, causing peripheral makers to finally support the standard.

So they basically shot themselves in the foot by doing USB devices rather than FireWire. We might be living in a FireWire world right now if it weren’t for Apple. :)

]]> By: Google steps up the gear - again « John Furrier http://gigaom.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97374 Google steps up the gear - again « John Furrier Fri, 20 Apr 2007 17:54:51 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97374 <p>[...] GigaOM, Om Malik notes that since Apple more than a year ago (and later Microsoft and Cisco) started to [...]</p> [...] GigaOM, Om Malik notes that since Apple more than a year ago (and later Microsoft and Cisco) started to [...]

]]> By: Stephen Antonucci http://gigaom.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97366 Stephen Antonucci Fri, 20 Apr 2007 17:48:56 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97366 <p>Marratech is totally cross-platform on the client and the server side. Marratech runs on OS X, Windows, and Linux and is based on Java. You do have to download a client, but using their java web start you can download the client onto a machine in the background from just clicking on a web link to join an online meeting.</p> <p>We have been using Marratech for over 4 yeares in a state-wide educational network. I have worked with web and video conferencing for many years and have tested mostly everything. Marratech is a top of the line product and bests WebEX on several levels.</p> <p>Google has made a good purchase here and I think you will see them leverage this, not only use it internally. Google uses a lot of Tandberg video endpoints and Marratech can connect to these with ease. It is one of the few products that bridges between video H.232 and web conferencing.</p> Marratech is totally cross-platform on the client and the server side. Marratech runs on OS X, Windows, and Linux and is based on Java. You do have to download a client, but using their java web start you can download the client onto a machine in the background from just clicking on a web link to join an online meeting.

We have been using Marratech for over 4 yeares in a state-wide educational network. I have worked with web and video conferencing for many years and have tested mostly everything. Marratech is a top of the line product and bests WebEX on several levels.

Google has made a good purchase here and I think you will see them leverage this, not only use it internally. Google uses a lot of Tandberg video endpoints and Marratech can connect to these with ease. It is one of the few products that bridges between video H.232 and web conferencing.

]]> By: Eideard http://gigaom.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97370 Eideard Fri, 20 Apr 2007 17:03:17 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97370 <p>The software end is a wee bit closer to cross-platform interoperability. Skype finally got things sorted.</p> <p>The hardware end is still creaking and groaning. IMHO, the executive end of the major webcam producers don't even perceive the need.</p> <p>I agree about 110% with your analysis. Now, how do we get the folks at Logitech, Creative, et al, to read it and join in?</p> The software end is a wee bit closer to cross-platform interoperability. Skype finally got things sorted.

The hardware end is still creaking and groaning. IMHO, the executive end of the major webcam producers don’t even perceive the need.

I agree about 110% with your analysis. Now, how do we get the folks at Logitech, Creative, et al, to read it and join in?

]]> By: NewTeeVee » Google Acquires Video-conferencing Tech http://gigaom.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97362 NewTeeVee » Google Acquires Video-conferencing Tech Fri, 20 Apr 2007 16:21:31 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/04/20/video-reasons-for-google-marratech-deal/#comment-97362 <p>[...] Google explained Marratech’s technology will help “enable from-the-desktop participation for Googlers in videoconference meetings wherever there’s an Internet connection,” but nobody’s buying that explanation, thinking instead that the company wants to add video to Google Talk. [...]</p> [...] Google explained Marratech’s technology will help “enable from-the-desktop participation for Googlers in videoconference meetings wherever there’s an Internet connection,” but nobody’s buying that explanation, thinking instead that the company wants to add video to Google Talk. [...]

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