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VSO Co-ordinates International Charity Volunteers with Video Conferencing from mvision

Development charity enhances international collaboration and volunteer placement across 42 countries with video conferencing-as-a-service

London, UK – 8th March 2010 – mvision today announced that international development charity, VSO is using its managed video conferencing service to improve collaboration between international teams. New TANDBERG-based systems in Kenya, the Netherlands, Philippines and UK not only allow VSO to better co-ordinate the recruitment and placement of volunteers in some of the world’s poorest communities, but provide a superior platform for training and human resources.

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Uzma Kazmi, Systems Manager at VSO explained, “Having face-to-face communication is proving increasingly important. There was an example recently where one of our medical teams was delivering training by video and was able to interpret facial expressions to know that one of the country teams had not fully understood it,” she continued. “Without that visual detail, they would not have immediately addressed the issue and overcome the language and cultural challenge.”

Terry Dwyer, Managing Director at mvision added, “VSO has over 1600 international volunteers working in 42 countries around the world, so effective team collaboration and communication are vital. User feedback to date is that the new systems which run on the dedicated mvision network are quicker and easier to use than their audio and web conferencing systems that quite often involved a connection delay of 10-15 minutes per meeting.”

Kazmi concluded, “Now we can do more frequent but shorter meetings that get us to our desired outcomes much quicker. The motivational gains we are experiencing with video conferencing have completely changed the way that we engage with each other that simply is not possible by phone. It will help to unify us as an organisation, but made us feel truly international and one global VSO at the same time.”  

VSO selected a managed video conferencing service from mvision to avoid an increase in specialist IT headcount or resource to install and maintain the system. It was also well equipped to interface with the different end-points at VSO including TANDBERG, Polycom and Aethra. The specialists at mvision were quickly able to set up the whole system; configuring the bridge, integrating it with VSO’s network and data switch port speeds.

About VSO

VSO is an international development charity that works through volunteers.  Since 1958 over 40,000 volunteers have worked in over 120 countries.  Today there are over 1600 international volunteers working in 42 countries around the world. VSO volunteers are provided with flights, accommodation, and an allowance to cover basic costs.  UK public sector professionals volunteering for between six months and two years are entitled to claim pension contributions providing they return to the public sector for a minimum of six months on their return to the UK.  An average initial application of interest to VSO takes just 20 minutes to complete - please call 0208 780 7500 or log on to www.vso.org.uk for more details. VSO needs to raise £10 million each year in the UK in order to continue its vital work: working through volunteers to fight poverty in some of the world's poorest communities.

About mvision
An award-winning managed video service provider, mvision removes the last two great barriers to video conferencing adoption; expense and infrastructure. The Company’s solutions include a dedicated vendor agnostic network. From the technology itself, right through to its costing structure, the managed service enables organisations that are new to the technology to take advantage of simple, capex-free world-class video conferencing. With a simple per-month subscription and absolutely no initial outlay on hardware, software or bandwidth, the mvision managed service enables faster and more substantial savings, without impacting on overall business efficiencies, results or existing IT infrastructure. Features and services include multi-point conferencing (bridging), ISDN gateway services, call recording, reporting, concierge service and video help desk facilities. mvision is one of just five TANDBERG global managed service providers, and supplies its Telepresence and video conferencing equipment. For further information, see www.mvision.co.uk, call 0800 197 0330 by phone, or 0870 770 8051 by video.

Press contacts:
Natalie Sutton
WiseTiger
+44 (0) 1252 739739
natalie.sutton@wisetiger.co.uk