Sabre and Cisco to collaborate on telepresence

Technology company Sabre Travel Network has annouced plans to launch new video conferencing booking software - an industry first, it claims.

Sabre is working with Cisco, which owns the Telepresence technology, on the new reservation and distribution platform.

It will allow companies and travel agencies, for the first time, to book services from any Telepresence provider, through any point of sale.

Users will be able to use the distribution platform to view room availability in real time, book meetings, and look at rates and restrictions.

Greg Webb, president of Sabre Travel Network, said: "Over the past few years we've seen the demand for telepresence grow and become an important collaboration technology that, like travel, drives business and economic growth for our customers.

"We believe our long history of technology and distribution leadership uniquely positions us to deliver the industry's first platform for virtual meetings."

The technology will allow public Telepresence providers, such as Tata, which provides Starwood's video-conferencing suites, to allow the public to view availability.

Private companies with the technology, however, will be able to restrict who can view availability, to their own employees for example.

Mark Weidick, vice president of Cisco Telepresence Exchange, said: "Cisco believes that by distributing telepresence unit availablity using a common platform with appropriate viewing restrictions and access controls, corporations will be able to improve productivity and drive new levels of collaboration across their organisations and with their partners, customers and suppliers."

The time it will take to develop the new software and a roll-out date is yet to be announced.

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