There's just no way around it: Web-based real-time communications (WebRTC) is going to play a major role in the way communications are handled across the entire spectrum. Personal, business, even government; from customer service to collaboration across the growing numbers of the remote workforce, WebRTC is likely to be a significant force when it comes to keeping people connected. But with the growing paradigm have also come plenty of questions in terms of things like use, monetization, and interoperability. These questions were addressed during a recent discussion WebRTC World had with Arnaud Budkiewicz, CEO of Bistri.
The CEO elaborated on a number of points, beginning with the rise of WebRTC. Since the technology has gained a lot of attention right out of the gate, some are wondering just why this new format--which is still only useful in a small number of Web browsers--has gained all this attention. This communcations and technology expert--and through him, Bistri--soon realized that video calling in general would become a commodity with WebRTC since most anyone with a Web browser would eventually be able to make video calls, voice calls and even share files. Leveraging WebRTC, meanwhile, would require the removal of the various frictions inherent in the service. As he elaborated, an AT&T client must be able to call Verizon customers, or the overall usefulness of the system is lost.
He also noted the businesses and business models impacted by WebRTC, noting that platforms like Skype and Viber would be impacted first. This may explain Microsoft's opposition to WebRTC and the development of the CU-RTC-WEB platform. But video calling platforms wouldn't be the only ones affected. Video conferencing platforms, like those from Polycom and Radvision, would also find themselves under fire with a communications platform that can run from any computer or mobile device. This is compounded by the fact that many existing communications technologies are already set to work with WebRTC, and the backend vendors either already have--like Asterisk--gateways ready, or are actively working on the construction of them.
Adopting WebRTC has comparatively few barriers left to it, especially as this is the kind of technology that will eventually work with common Web browsers. Since several vendors like TokBox and Bistri already offer an off-the-shelf solution for mobile WebRTC, that's one less hurdle to surmount. Perhaps the biggest impediment left is Microsoft, who the folks at Bistri recommended develop integration tools to work with Chrome and Firefox in as rapid a fashion as possible. With hardware vendors already working on VP8 chipsets to improve battery life and overall user experience, that only improves matters from there on out.
Benefits, meanwhile, are substantial for users of WebRTC. Easy connectivity, ubiquity of access, and the overall quality of the audio and video involved in WebRTC calling are just some of the benefits that he sees with this service. The experience is also resistant to the effects of unstable networks, so even with a less than quality network; users won't have a difficult experience. The benefits are so clear that he even foresees by the end of 2013, several million users will have tried a WebRTC call on some level. Should a video broadcaster like YouTube pick it up meanwhile, he then sees a much greater expansion possible.
Bistri is one of those companies heavily into WebRTC; not only currently using the video calling and conferencing functions, but also planning to expand to interactive broadcasting down the line. Since Bistri's launch back in 2010, the company has been consistently, organically focused on growth within the WebRTC sector, and has worked according to a belief that WebRTC would be available within 18 months of the company's start. That means WebRTC is a huge part of Bistri's overall planning, and has accordingly brought in several key elements of HTML5 like WebGL and Canvas to augment Bistri's WebRTC offerings.
Naturally, such a wildly destabilizing element--some reports suggest that, by just 2016, there will be a billion WebRTC users and three billion different WebRTC-capable devices on Earth—means a significant opportunity for service providers. The Bistri CEO believes there is significant potential for monetization as well. Whether using the WebRTC service as a collaborative tool, a contact tool, or working on the various things that WebRTC will need to reach its fullest potential--as a lot of start-ups are discovering--there's lots of room to make WebRTC work for businesses.
Bistri, meanwhile, is among the companies at the tip of this particular spear; Bistri joined the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) specifically to support the open Web standards, as well as adding input and expertise to the WebRTC Working Group. This contribution was recently recognized by research firm Gartner, who awarded Bistri the Cool Vendor in People-Centered Computing 2013, calling Bistri "...one of the most complete WebRTC solution sets in an embryonic industry." That's no small feat, but Bistri isn't resting on its laurels, plotting advancement in several fields to make an already complete solution set even better for the user base.
It's clear that Bistri is out to be a major part of the solution when it comes to WebRTC. In a market that's rapidly advancing, with new companies providing new solutions and new applications for solutions both new and old alike emerging, that means quite a bit. Only time will tell just what applications grow out of this fertile new market soil, but those developments are likely to be impressive, and many of them may likely have Bistri to thank.
Edited by
Stefania Viscusi
