App Adds Videoconferencing to iOS Devices
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 06/05/15
A company that enables schools to collaborate online through virtual meetings has introduced a new mobile app that lets users connect
through their iOS-powered devices. Pexip Infinity video conferencing software provides
video, voice and presentation sharing. One user is the Texas Education
Telecommunications Network (TETN), a consortium of education services centers, school districts and the Texas Education Agency.
The company is now introducing a mobile virtual meeting room client for Apple iOS devices. The new Infinity Connect Mobile client lets users
connect via video; if bandwidth is low or poor, they can link in via audio-only. The mobile app lets people initiate ad hoc meetings and
invite, add and disconnect users and mute and unmute participants. A calendar integration feature lets users connect to a scheduled meeting
with one click. The new mobile app will appear soon in the iTunes store.
Pexip said it would be making a software development kit available to allow developers to customize the look of the app for their users to
aid in adoption.
TETN adopted the software in 2014 to support a growing distance learning network for teachers seeking professional development and for
parents of students taking virtual classes who want to meet with their instructors.
"The Pexip Infinity platform was the perfect fit for our virtual meeting room and virtual auditorium requirements, allowing us to connect
all students and teachers in Texas without the common barriers of previous technologies," said TETN Manager Lea Bentley Castillo at the time of
the deployment. "Easy to deploy, easy to set up and extremely easy to manage and use, the solution provides unmatched interoperability across
every system at the TETN — making it incredibly simple for anyone to meet." She noted that the licensing for the software is "far below the
market rate."
Pexip works across multiple platforms, including Microsoft Lync and Skype. The company said an Android version would also be available
soon.
About the Author
Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.