Comparing Synergy SKY CONNECT with CVI and CRC for Video Conferencing

Compare and Contrast: Synergy SKY vs. the Competition

Synergy SKY has 3 gateways in 1

1. Interoperability - CONNECT, the ONLY standards-based interop gateway

CONNECT vs CVI, CRC and Google gateway

CONNECT can connect any SIP video endpoint to all Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet and FaceTime meetings, including meetings with external invitations without CVI info. No other requirement from external parties. 

It is specifically engineered to seamlessly connect SIP video conferencing devices with all leading video web platforms, adhering to industry standards. This ensures compatibility not just for today, but for the evolving needs of tomorrow as well.

• Cloud Video Interop (CVI) is a Microsoft Qualified third-party solution that enables third-party SIP and H.323 video room devices (VTCs) to join Microsoft Teams meetings. 
• Zoom Conference Room Connector (CRC) allows customers, partners and anyone using a standards-based SIP/H. 323 device to join a Zoom Meeting.   
• Google Gateway from Cisco allows Cisco devices to join Google meetings with WebRTC when enabled in Webex Control Hub. Pexip has a "SIP Guest Join" that can be enabled in Infinity.
  
  

2. Meeting workflow - Ease of Use

CONNECT enables your SIP video devices to connect with one click to all major meeting platforms thereby optimizing workflow and saving costs for businesses. It supports Cisco Webex OBTP and Poly CTJ into Webex, Teams, Zoom, Cisco CMS, Pexip, Google Meet, BlueJeans, Zoom without CRC, and more. While we do not introduce any new plugins or workflows.

To support the nature of ad-hoc and hybrid work Synergy SKY pushes a green button to your video conference room in seconds either you forward an invitation or book a meeting in Outlook or Google calendar. 

3. Management Suite - Admin Control

CONNECT contains a web and video meeting management suite that provides admins the tools needed to run a modern hybrid collaboration environment. Some of its key features include check-in functionality, no-show warnings, platform incompatibility pre-call notice, phonebooks, meeting reports, de-booking of no-show rooms, and more. 

How Synergy SKY CONNECT works 

The SIP to Microsoft Teams video call interoperability is done by the CONNECT service which handles the real-time media. The Management Suite is easily implemented on your own network with a VM image that can be hosted within most virtualized environments. This way, all CDR and booking data remain safe within your premises.

User-friendly

The users can continue using Outlook or Google calendar for all meeting scheduling, forwarding, editing, or cancellation of meetings, instead of being introduced to new tools and workflows. It’s as easy as in-person meetings. No training needed. 

Presentation sharing

CONNECT supports all methods of presentation sharing. In meetings between videoconferencing devices and all supported web platforms. 

From the Teams / web client to SIP device these methods are supported: 

• Screen sharing

• PowerPoint Live 

• Whiteboarding 

See demo video for presentation sharing

Presentation sharing from SIP video conference device supports both sharing through cable (HDMI, USB-C) and wireless with Webex app, Barco click-share or any other Cisco, Poly, Lifesize etc supported method for content sharing. 

Meeting interactions supported from SIP device into web meetings

• Raise / lower hand 🤚
  

• Open participant list

• Video lay out control

• Chat control. Open or close chat pane

• Ad-Hoc video meeting booking (Teams and Webex)

• Open Live chat (CC)

• Emojis, send and received from SIP devices 😀👏🎉💗

Pricing 

CONNECT has a flat per room / SIP device pricing. And all features listed here is covered in one license.  

Have as many concurrent calls as you like with no additional costs or overage charges.

How CVI compares to Synergy SKY CONNECT  

CVI 

"Cloud Video Interop [CVI] provides an intermediate service while you transition to a full native Microsoft Teams Solution, using Teams endpoints." (Source: Microsoft)   

We see this as an one-way solution for full migration to Microsoft Teams. There was four CVI vendors: Webex, Pexip, Poly, and BlueJeans, today Poly and BlueJeans do no longer provide CVI. Their capabilities are somewhat different when it comes to feature parity.

Synergy SKY CONNECT 

Synergy SKY CONNECT enables multi-platform collaboration and creates seamless meeting experiences by synergizing your existing setup. Giving you freedom to connect to all major platforms. 

Synergy SKY CONNECT is a new method for connecting SIP devices to Teams meetings, it is not CVI. It is the only solution that provides the same native experience on SIP devices as on web clients. The user will have the same experience from any client.

CONNECT is the only standards-based gateway allowing SIP devices to have back to back meetings across all web platforms. 

Result

CVI is a partial solution where SIP video devices are unable to join all MS Teams meetings. Not able to join Zoom, Google or FaceTime. They also cannot take part in advanced collaborative features such as PowerPoint Live and Whiteboard sharing. CVI is a one-way road into the Microsoft Teams silo.

Synergy SKY gives you the flexibility to join all Microsoft Teams, Google, Zoom or FaceTime meetings and to use both legacy and new video conferencing endpoints as well as meeting platforms from any vendor, today and into the future.  

Disclaimer

Feature comparison charts can easily be favored by the author. You need to make the decision yourself and we encourage you to get a demo done today. Then you can make a fact-based decision – including the cost/benefit of your choices.