 Video Conferencing Powered by the Cloud Organizations including Amazon and Google offer video conferencing based in the cloud. Customers who use these services avoid purchasing and maintaining video conferencing equipment. Some of these services offer add-on features such as Unified Communications, and screen sharing where participants can all view the same document. Some of these services are Cisco's WebEx, Citrix's GoTo Meeting, West Corporation's Intercall, and PGI (Owned by Siris Capital Group). Immersive HD Video Conferencing The terms "immersive" and HD video refer to group video conferencing systems that transmit high-definition video signals. Rooms designed specifically for immersive video conferencing contain a conference table and have specially configured lighting to enhance the video experience for users. Seating at the conference table might be arranged SO that all of the chairs face the video screens. In addition, rather than just containing one video monitor, these rooms have a wall of either three large, flat-panel monitors or, less often, an entire wall-size monitor. Viewing life-size images of remote co-workers, customers, or business partners in high resolution imparts the feeling of actually being in the same room www.TechnicalPDF.com with them. Prices for room size video conferencing gear have dropped and new user interfaces have resulted in easier-to-use systems. In most cases, there is no longer a need for specially trained IT staff to run the video conferences. If the video system is based on a common signaling protocol such as SIP and H.323, they can hold conferences with organizations outside of their own company, and with colleagues who might be using another manufacturer's system. Manufacturers of immersive systems include Polycom, Inc., Tandberg (part of Cisco Systems), and Vidyo, Inc. Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) vs. Hosted IP PBXs As its name suggests, hosted IP PBX services relieve an organization of the burden of maintaining hardware and software for a phone syste