GFC sparks triple digit surge: Citrix

Beverley Head
Sunday, 28 February 2010 17:25

Business IT - Networking

The GFC has delivered a triple digital surge in the usage of Citrix Online's web conferencing service and the organisation has predicted video and mobile web videoconferencing could be available in the second half of the year.

Speaking at KickStart 2010 in Queensland, Citrix Online managing director HR Shiever said that the company had a very strong 2009 driven by the GFC. He said analyst estimates  put the company's growth at around 30 per cent, but that Australia had grown even faster.

He said there had been particular demand in the legal, local government and financial sectors. Shiever said Australia was a 'clear leader in Asia Pacific on web conferencing.'

He predicted that in 2010 the web conference would become mainstream - although his year it would be driven less by cost cutting expectations and more by the search for improved productivity.

The company offers its service on a monthly or annual subscription basis, with no usage charges. Entry level annual contracts started at around $US700 per year for web conferences for up to 25 people.

Shiever predicted that in terms of new technology this year would likely bring 'useable video into the web conference' although he was careful not to announce any of Citrix Online's own plans in that regard. He nevertheless predicted that tools would emerge in the second half of 2010.

Similarly acknowledging that demand was growing for mobile access to web conferencing Shiever predicted mobile access tools would also emerge in the second half of the year.