Is Synergy SKY better than CVI? 
3 solutions in 1: Interoperability, Meeting workflow & Management Suite

1. Interoperability - The ONLY standards-based interop gateway

Synergy SKY CONNECT connects any SIP video endpoint to all Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Google Meet meetings, including external invitations without CVI info. 

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.

This Frost & Sullivan award-winning gateway is not another collaboration platform but it is the glue between platforms and different vendors that you have. Synergy SKY is the only independent vendor focused on meeting interoperability and multi-vendor support.  

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.

CONNECT Diagram V5

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

 

connect_to_diagram


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.

This “dual implementation” ensures data privacy while providing the scale and flexibility of a cloud service. Please note that the Government solution has a different setup.  

 

Synergy SKY Tech Diagram Small-1

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 Microsoft Teams clients or Microsoft Teams Rooms, MTR. 

From the Teams 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 and Poly supported method for content sharing. 

Microsoft Teams Rooms, MTR, features on Cisco devices

  • Participant / People listcisco_touchpanel_linkedIn-final

  • Raise hand

  • Video lay out control

  • Fit to frame 

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


Pricing 

CONNECT has a flat per room / SIP device pricing. 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. 

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. 

Temporary solutions become permanent problems

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 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. 

Feature CVI Synergy SKY CONNECT

SIP to Zoom

Red cross

Green tick

SIP to Google Meet

Red cross

Green tick

SIP to Teams, internal

Green tick

Green tick

SIP to Teams, external, received invitation (without SIP info)

Red cross

Green tick

BFCP Content Share, cable (from SIP video device)

Green tick

Green tick

PowerPoint Live, Excel Live

Red cross

Green tick

Whiteboarding

Red cross

Green tick

Dual Screen, Synergy SKY support duplicated image on screen number two

Green tick

Yellow-Cross

Microsoft Exchange, on-prem

!

Green tick

Cisco, One Button to Push, OBTP  

Green tick

Green tick

Poly, Click-to-Join, CTJ

!

Green tick

Microsoft Teams Meetings supported: O365, GCC-moderate, GCC-high 

!

Green tick

Microsoft Teams Meetings supported: GCC-DoD

Red cross

Green tick

Fully Private Cloud (IL 2, 4, 5. GCC-High, DoD) with no cloud dependencies

Red cross

Green tick

Native Microsoft Teams experience on SIP devices, including: Layout control, Raise / Lower Hand. Participant list with mute / unmute and presentation sharing status

Red cross

Green tick

Ad-Hoc video meeting booking for both Teams and Webex meetings on Cisco devices

Red cross

Green tick

Receive "chat bubbles" on SIP device in Teams meetings 

Red cross

Green tick

Join with Meeting ID 

Red cross

Green tick


Not supported by all CVI vendors
   

Result

CVI is a partial solution where SIP video devices are unable to join all MS Teams meetings. 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 Webex meetings and to use both legacy and new video conferencing endpoints as well as meeting platforms from any vendor, today and into the future.  

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. 

Get a demo Learn more

Vemun Waksvik

Written by Vemun Waksvik

Video Veteran

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