Yorktel, Blue Jeans Push Managed Video Conferencing Services

York Telecom (Yorktel), a visual collaboration solution provider, and Blue Jeans Network, a cloud-based video conferencing solution provider, have partnered to promote an enterprise class video conferencing solution, according to Yorktel.

So what’s new for Yorktel and Blue Jeans customers? Yorktel will integrate Blue Jeans’ cloud-based video conferencing solution into its own, broader managed video services offering. The integration will extend Yorktel’s video conferencing offering to HD room and telepresence systems, desktop clients, and will also allow mobile users to hold mobile-to-moble video conferencing sessions. The integration is specifically tailored to IT departments.

Yorktel COO Dave Phillips said the partnership with Blue Jeans is a large step toward Yorktel’s larger goal of delivering a video calling solution that is as easy to use and as reliable as a phone call. “By partnering with Blue Jeans Network, we can pair their innovative approach to video calling with our managed services to enable enterprise customers’ video calling within and outside of their network, regardless of their device — from the desktop to the conference room,” Phillips said in a prepared statement.

Yorktel’s customer base is largely comprised of large enterprise and federal government customers. No doubt there is plenty of business to be had, but also plenty of competition from the likes of Rimage, Dimension Data and others. The competitive landscape of the telepresence, video conferencing and unified communications (UC) market will be one to keep a close eye on in 2012. One big question to answer: Will the SMB become a greater sweet spot for these video conferencing providers?  After all, it’s no secret that SMBs need help with managed unified communications.