Librestream
Encyclopedia
Librestream Technologies Inc. is a privately-owned, venture capital backed company based in Winnipeg, Canada. Librestream provides technologies that enable mobile enterprise collaboration.
Librestream is notable in that its technology, consisting of unique hand-held mobile devices and accompanying software, extends traditional video conferencing and collaborative services to places previously unreachable such as an off-shore oil rig or a manufacturing plant floor a continent away.
is a technology-based process of communicating utilizing electronic assets and accompanying software designed for use in remote locations. Newest generation hand-held electronic devices include video, audio, and telestration (on-screen drawing) capabilities broadcast over secure networks, enabling multi-party conferencing in real time.
Differing from traditional video conferencing
, mobile collaboration utilizes wireless
, cellular
and broadband
technologies enabling effective collaboration
independent of location. Where traditional video conferencing has been limited to boardrooms, offices, and lecture theatres, recent technological advancements have extended the capabilities of video conferencing for use with discreet, hand-held mobile devices, permitting true mobile collaborative possibilities.
for use in hospitals to capture patient data. The system included a hand-held device designed for use by clinicians. Subsequent to successful clinical use of this system, Ubitrex was sold in 1994 to U.S-based Continental Healthcare Systems.
Two years later, Thacher bought back the device side of the business from Continental and formed AirWire Mobile Technologies Inc. which continued to support the substantial base of hospitals using the technology. Only a few weeks into AirWire’s operation, Symbol Technologies Inc.
, a large U.S-based manufacturer of mobile devices, took notice of AirWire’s unique expertise and contracted with Airwire to create a product to help Symbol pursue the healthcare market.
In 1999, Symbol bought AirWire. Over the next few years, the team, continuing to operate out of Winnipeg, successfully designed and developed a number of mobile devices, one of which delivered Voice over IP
(VoIP), a significant advancement in mobile device technology at that time. This activity led to the development of high-volume hand-held mobile expertise in Winnipeg for the first time, a capability that would later form the foundation for the creation of Librestream.
In August 2003 Thacher left Symbol, and weeks later Symbol closed its Winnipeg office. Although many of the engineers received offers from Symbol to re-locate to New York, all declined. Later in 2003, a group of eight professionals from the former Winnipeg arm of Symbol gathered to plan their next venture. In addition to Thacher, this group included Bill Gillanders, Rob McConnell, Don Freiling, Tim Braun, Kent Wotherspoon, Conway Wieler, and Chris Kavanagh.
Two things were clear: the emergence and continued growth of the Internet
was certain, and there existed a tangible opportunity to develop enhanced video-handling capabilities
for a next generation of hand-held devices. The group was convinced that together they could design and develop the necessary technology to allow individuals, regardless of location, the ability to collaborate in new ways. The technology would extend the boundaries of traditional video-conferencing beyond the boardroom to workplaces previously unreachable such as a manufacturing plant floor a continent away.
Led by the founding team’s vision, Librestream (a combination of ‘free’ and stream’) was formed. Backed by venture capital and individual investors, Librestream developed their first alpha product, the MCD-1000, coupled with desktop collaboration software, MCA, in 2006. Eventually the mobile collaborative device evolved into the Onsight 1000, one of multiple rugged hand-held devices in the Onsight product line. The desktop collaboration software evolved into the Onsight Expert application.
In 2006, Librestream formed a marketing partnership with Tandberg
, one of the leading video conferencing industry players at that time. The arrangement offered Librestream industry exposure and allowed the breadth and depth of the product to grow in response to evolving requirements. After the arrangement expired in July 2010, Librestream continued to develop the technology and support their growing customer base.
By 2010, Librestream’s customer base grew to include global enterprises, many of them Fortune 500
firms, in industries such as manufacturing, energy, healthcare, insurance, government and public safety.
, Librestream is a Registered Cisco Developer Network member, and Onsight is a core component of the Cisco Manufacturing Mobile Video Collaboration (MMVC) solution. With Inmarsat
, Librestream has successfully tested the Onsight system over the Inmarsat BGAN satellite network to provide mobile collaboration to land and maritime satellite customers. With Verizon Wireless
, Librestream has tested and optimized the Onsight mobile devices for 4G
LTE networks.
Librestream is notable in that its technology, consisting of unique hand-held mobile devices and accompanying software, extends traditional video conferencing and collaborative services to places previously unreachable such as an off-shore oil rig or a manufacturing plant floor a continent away.
Mobile collaboration
Mobile collaborationMobile collaboration
Mobile collaboration is a technology-based process of communicating utilizing electronic assets and accompanying software designed for use in remote locations...
is a technology-based process of communicating utilizing electronic assets and accompanying software designed for use in remote locations. Newest generation hand-held electronic devices include video, audio, and telestration (on-screen drawing) capabilities broadcast over secure networks, enabling multi-party conferencing in real time.
Differing from traditional video conferencing
Videoconferencing
Videoconferencing is the conduct of a videoconference by a set of telecommunication technologies which allow two or more locations to interact via two-way video and audio transmissions simultaneously...
, mobile collaboration utilizes wireless
Wireless
Wireless telecommunications is the transfer of information between two or more points that are not physically connected. Distances can be short, such as a few meters for television remote control, or as far as thousands or even millions of kilometers for deep-space radio communications...
, cellular
Cellular network
A cellular network is a radio network distributed over land areas called cells, each served by at least one fixed-location transceiver known as a cell site or base station. When joined together these cells provide radio coverage over a wide geographic area...
and broadband
Broadband
The term broadband refers to a telecommunications signal or device of greater bandwidth, in some sense, than another standard or usual signal or device . Different criteria for "broad" have been applied in different contexts and at different times...
technologies enabling effective collaboration
Collaboration
Collaboration is working together to achieve a goal. It is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together to realize shared goals, — for example, an intriguing endeavor that is creative in nature—by sharing...
independent of location. Where traditional video conferencing has been limited to boardrooms, offices, and lecture theatres, recent technological advancements have extended the capabilities of video conferencing for use with discreet, hand-held mobile devices, permitting true mobile collaborative possibilities.
Company history
The origins of Librestream date back to the late 1980s in Winnipeg, Canada, when Kerry Thacher co-founded Ubitrex Corporation, a small high-tech start-up that designed and developed a clinical information systemHospital information system
There are various titles and acronyms which all declare similar approaches to managing the information flow and storage in hospital routine services, as*Hospital Information System , or*Healthcare Information System, or...
for use in hospitals to capture patient data. The system included a hand-held device designed for use by clinicians. Subsequent to successful clinical use of this system, Ubitrex was sold in 1994 to U.S-based Continental Healthcare Systems.
Two years later, Thacher bought back the device side of the business from Continental and formed AirWire Mobile Technologies Inc. which continued to support the substantial base of hospitals using the technology. Only a few weeks into AirWire’s operation, Symbol Technologies Inc.
Symbol Technologies
Symbol Technologies is a manufacturer and worldwide supplier of mobile data capture and delivery equipment. The company specializes in barcode scanners, mobile computers, RFID systems and Wireless LAN infrastructure. Symbol Technologies is a wholly owned subsidiary of Motorola, and headquartered in...
, a large U.S-based manufacturer of mobile devices, took notice of AirWire’s unique expertise and contracted with Airwire to create a product to help Symbol pursue the healthcare market.
In 1999, Symbol bought AirWire. Over the next few years, the team, continuing to operate out of Winnipeg, successfully designed and developed a number of mobile devices, one of which delivered Voice over IP
Voice over IP
Voice over Internet Protocol is a family of technologies, methodologies, communication protocols, and transmission techniques for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol networks, such as the Internet...
(VoIP), a significant advancement in mobile device technology at that time. This activity led to the development of high-volume hand-held mobile expertise in Winnipeg for the first time, a capability that would later form the foundation for the creation of Librestream.
In August 2003 Thacher left Symbol, and weeks later Symbol closed its Winnipeg office. Although many of the engineers received offers from Symbol to re-locate to New York, all declined. Later in 2003, a group of eight professionals from the former Winnipeg arm of Symbol gathered to plan their next venture. In addition to Thacher, this group included Bill Gillanders, Rob McConnell, Don Freiling, Tim Braun, Kent Wotherspoon, Conway Wieler, and Chris Kavanagh.
Two things were clear: the emergence and continued growth of the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
was certain, and there existed a tangible opportunity to develop enhanced video-handling capabilities
Video
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
for a next generation of hand-held devices. The group was convinced that together they could design and develop the necessary technology to allow individuals, regardless of location, the ability to collaborate in new ways. The technology would extend the boundaries of traditional video-conferencing beyond the boardroom to workplaces previously unreachable such as a manufacturing plant floor a continent away.
Led by the founding team’s vision, Librestream (a combination of ‘free’ and stream’) was formed. Backed by venture capital and individual investors, Librestream developed their first alpha product, the MCD-1000, coupled with desktop collaboration software, MCA, in 2006. Eventually the mobile collaborative device evolved into the Onsight 1000, one of multiple rugged hand-held devices in the Onsight product line. The desktop collaboration software evolved into the Onsight Expert application.
In 2006, Librestream formed a marketing partnership with Tandberg
Tandberg
This article is about the video-conferencing vendor, a Cisco company. Other companies with the same name such as Tandberg Television or Tandberg Data for data storage: see here and here...
, one of the leading video conferencing industry players at that time. The arrangement offered Librestream industry exposure and allowed the breadth and depth of the product to grow in response to evolving requirements. After the arrangement expired in July 2010, Librestream continued to develop the technology and support their growing customer base.
By 2010, Librestream’s customer base grew to include global enterprises, many of them Fortune 500
Fortune 500
The Fortune 500 is an annual list compiled and published by Fortune magazine that ranks the top 500 U.S. closely held and public corporations as ranked by their gross revenue after adjustments made by Fortune to exclude the impact of excise taxes companies collect. The list includes publicly and...
firms, in industries such as manufacturing, energy, healthcare, insurance, government and public safety.
Technological advancement
The impact of mobile collaboration technology is significant in its potential to change the way people work. Live, visual interaction removes traditional restrictions of distance and time. Business processes are optimized through accelerated problem resolution, reductions in downtimes and travel, improvements in customer service and increased productivity.Strategic partners
Librestream works with three strategic partners. With Cisco SystemsCisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Jose, California, United States, that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking, voice, and communications technology and services. Cisco has more than 70,000 employees and annual revenue of US$...
, Librestream is a Registered Cisco Developer Network member, and Onsight is a core component of the Cisco Manufacturing Mobile Video Collaboration (MMVC) solution. With Inmarsat
Inmarsat
Inmarsat plc is a British satellite telecommunications company, offering global, mobile services. It provides telephony and data services to users worldwide, via portable or mobile terminals which communicate to ground stations through eleven geostationary telecommunications satellites...
, Librestream has successfully tested the Onsight system over the Inmarsat BGAN satellite network to provide mobile collaboration to land and maritime satellite customers. With Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless
Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, is one of the largest mobile network operators in the United States. The network has 107.7 million subscribers as of 2011, making it the largest wireless service provider in America....
, Librestream has tested and optimized the Onsight mobile devices for 4G
4G
In telecommunications, 4G is the fourth generation of cellular wireless standards. It is a successor to the 3G and 2G families of standards. In 2009, the ITU-R organization specified the IMT-Advanced requirements for 4G standards, setting peak speed requirements for 4G service at 100 Mbit/s...
LTE networks.
See also
- TelepresenceTelepresenceTelepresence refers to a set of technologies which allow a person to feel as if they were present, to give the appearance of being present, or to have an effect, via telerobotics, at a place other than their true location....
- TelemedicineTelemedicineTelemedicine is the use of telecommunication and information technologies in order to provide clinical health care at a distance. It helps eliminate distance barriers and can improve access to medical services that would often not be consistently available in distant rural communities...
- Unified communicationsUnified communicationsUnified communications is the integration of real-time communication services such as instant messaging , presence information, telephony , video conferencing, data sharing , call control and speech recognition with non-real-time communication services such as unified...
- Video conferencingVideoconferencingVideoconferencing is the conduct of a videoconference by a set of telecommunication technologies which allow two or more locations to interact via two-way video and audio transmissions simultaneously...
- VideotelephonyVideotelephonyVideotelephony comprises the technologies for the reception and transmission of audio-video signals by users at different locations, for communication between people in real-time....
- Virtual collaborationVirtual CollaborationVirtual collaboration originated with the advent of video conferencing technologies provided over the Internet. It involves two or more people working together to accomplish a task without the use of face to face interaction...
- List of unified communications companies
- List of video telecommunication services and product brands