Videoconferencing Makes a Comeback

SINGAPORE--(Business Wire)--
The Asia-Pacific videoconferencing endpoints market recovered
strongly from an anemic performance in 2005, turning in robust growth
over the last two years. Revenues grew 20.3 percent and 17.6 percent
in 2006 and 2007 respectively, driven by stronger capital expenditure
in IT against a backdrop of sturdy economic growth and FDIs (foreign
direct investments) in the region.

New analysis from global growth consulting company, Frost &
Sullivan (http://www.conferencingandcollaboration.frost.com), Asia
Pacific Videoconferencing Endpoints Market CY2007, finds that the
market - covering six sub-regions (14 countries) in Asia-Pacific -
earned revenues of US$297 million in 2007 and estimates this to reach
US$647.7 million by end-2014, at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate)
of 11.8 percent (2007-2014).

Greater China was the single largest market accounting for 56
percent (or US$166 million) of the revenues in 2007, followed by Japan
(19 percent), Australasia (10.4 percent) and India (7.7 percent).

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides
service providers, vendors/manufacturers, end users, and other
industry participants with an overview of the Asia-Pacific
videoconferencing endpoints market, then send an e-mail to Sarah
Lourdes at sarah.lourdes@frost.com, with your full name, company name,
title, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address. Upon receipt
of the above information, an overview will be sent to you by e-mail.

The upbeat trend is backed by the increasing need for real-time
collaboration, enhanced high definition video and audio solutions, the
buzz around telepresence and the growing focus on unified
communications (UC) as business productivity tools among enterprises.

"Awareness of videoconferencing solutions has grown by leaps and
bounds as more organizations begin to embrace conferencing and
collaboration tools as a means to enhance productivity," notes Frost &
Sullivan industry analyst Yen Yen Har. "The introduction of the much
publicized top-end telepresence solutions has also had a trickle down
effect on customer interest and adoption of videoconferencing systems
as a more cost effective alternative."

Environmental issues and the mounting pressure on enterprises to
fulfill their corporate social responsibility towards a greener
environment is further prompting wider adoption of videoconferencing.
Companies today are seeking ways to measure carbon footprint and the
impact of applying conferencing and collaboration tools to address
environmental issues in real terms.

Other external factors such as high travel cost, air travel
disruption, terror threats, business globalization, and improved
network infrastructure will also drive the adoption of
videoconferencing solutions.

Har is quick to point out however that video will increasingly
become an integral component of UC, and videoconferencing as
standalone applications will gradually lose its appeal to UC.

"UC is no longer a nice-to-have strategy but a critical roadmap
for videoconferencing vendors and service providers. Considering this,
vendors need to place greater emphasis on enhancing end-user
experience before they can truly harness the benefits of UC in their
videoconferencing solutions," she adds.

The Asia Pacific Videoconferencing Endpoints Market CY2007 study
is part of the Conferencing & Collaboration Growth Partnership Service
program, which also includes research in the following markets:
telepresence, videoconferencing infrastructure, and web conferencing
software and services. All research services included in subscriptions
provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have
been evaluated following extensive interviews with market
participants. Analyst interviews are available to the press.

Frost & Sullivan, the Global Growth Consulting Company, partners
with clients to accelerate their growth. The company's Growth
Partnership Services, Growth Consulting, and Career Best Practices
empower clients to create a growth focused culture that generates,
evaluates and implements effective growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan
employs over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000
companies, emerging businesses, and the investment community from more
than 30 offices on six continents. For more information about Frost &
Sullivan's Growth Partnerships, visit http://www.frost.com.

Frost & Sullivan
Corporate Communications - Asia Pacific
Sarah Lourdes, +603-6207-1030
sarah.lourdes@frost.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008