IBM Sametime Native Audio/Video, Polycom User-based & Device-based Dialing

When I present the Polycom/IBM integration, I'm often confronted with these questions:

• What is the difference between these two approaches?
• Which should I choose ?
• What can I do with User-Based or Device-Based Dialing?
• Which approach should I deploy?

Two different integration approaches are available with the Polycom Realpresence Platform integration. These two approaches provide different functional use cases.

• User-based Dialing
• Device-based Dialing

User-Based Dialing Use Case:

That use case is an “User Oriented” collaboration, a new kind of approach for the video world. Instead of collaborating via specific devices, you directly collaborate with persons without being concerned about the video device.
IBM Sametime user can launch a multipoint voice or video call to other IBM Sametime users, and the call is automatically hosted by Polycom RMX platform.  The initiator or receiver of the call may select the “preferred device” for the call, including standards-based video systems.  

• I want to launch a call from my buddy list
• I want to add audio/video to a chat
• I want to add audio/video to a web collaboration session
• I want to add audio/video to another presence-aware IBM application

Requires:  Sametime Standard with TCSPI integration to RMX  (Sametime 8.5.1+)

Device-Based Dialing Use Case:

This use case is a more traditional “Device Oriented” collaboration. With IBM Sametime Unified Telephony (SUT) Lite, an IBM Sametime user can call audio or video endpoints directly.
The IBM Sametime Server and Polycom Realpresence DMA7000 connect via SIP-trunk allowing direct call between IBM Sametime and telepresence systems can be made by using SIP number.  

• I want to call from a Sametime client to a VMR
• I want to call from a Sametime client to a SIP URI or E.164

Requires:  Sametime SUT Lite SIP trunk to DMA

To compare features of IBM Sametime, User-based & Device-based dialing approaches, review the Features table, below:

Legend

So, what you should deployed: BOTH.
At least, 80% of Polycom/IBM deployments have deployed the two approaches in order to cover the full scope of that powerful integration. It provides the way to leverage an existing knowledge of video conferencing world (Virtual Meeting Room, Endpoint direct call) but also to introduce a new paradigm: With Polycom/IBM, you're trying to reach the person, not their video endpoint...