Glowpoint Repackages Cloud Video Services

By Khali Henderson

Glowpoint Inc. announced Monday OpenVideo 2.0, the MSP’s latest video-as-a-service offering, which includes a new, all-inclusive service and two redesigned services delivered from the cloud.

The OpenVideo 2.0 services are available from Glowpoint today, and will be available through qualified channel partners later in 2012.

Glowpoint’s new OpenVideo All-Inclusive service offers customers the choice of a desktop or room system from Polycom, Cisco, LifeSize or StarLeaf bundled with an end-to-end service delivered from the OpenVideo cloud. The All-Inclusive Service Price (AISP) includes the cost of the system as part of a monthly payment.

The service includes unlimited point-to-point calling to other customers on OpenVideo, private video numbers, 24/7/365 help desk support, endpoint maintenance and support, and access to Glowpoint’s Global B2B Directory. Glowpoint has agreements in place with multiple distributors to offer the video endpoints as part of the All-Inclusive service. Endpoints are shipped to the customer pre-registered to the OpenVideo cloud, so they can work out of the box.

In addition to the new All-Inclusive offer, Glowpoint has redesigned its Virtual Video Room on-demand cloud video conferencing service and renamed it OpenVideo Room. Besides the rebranding, the service has an improved self-service interface, enabling customers to first try the service and then sign up online.

OpenVideo Room connects users on room systems, desktops, or mobile devices from solutions providers, including Polycom, Cisco, LifeSize, StarLeaf, Avaya, GoogleTalk and Microsoft Lync. The service is delivered and supported from the OpenVideo cloud.

Glowpoint also has redesigned its Hosted Video Service and rebranded it as OpenVideo BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). OpenVideo BYOD enables customers to use the device of their choice to collaborate over video in the cloud by registering their device with the OpenVideo Cloud. The service supports most video-enabled devices, including smartphones, tablets, desktop and conference room solutions. It provides unlimited point-to-point calling with other customers on the OpenVideo cloud as well as access to Glowpoint’s Global B2B Directory, which includes more than 46,000 endpoints and more than 450 companies.

Channel partners can sell the OpenVideo 2.0 services under a commissioned agency agreement or a wholesale contract, explained Darren Podrabsky, Glowpoint’s vice president of marketing.

Agents can earn a monthly recurring commission on accounts they sell or they can refer business to Glowpoint to earn a one-time commission based on the value and term of the contract. The Glowpoint wholesale program allows partners to sell the services under their own brand.

“We expect that a majority of the interest from the channel will be on the OpenVideo Room and OpenVideo BYOD offerings, with some interest on the OpenVideo All-Inclusive offering from partners that are currently not selling video endpoints,” said Podrabsky.