Global Crossing is becoming the collaboration services provider of choice for legal firms worldwide. The company announced that more than 200 of the world's leading law firms utilize its collaboration portfolio, which includes attended and reservationless audio conferencing services, Web meeting tools, integrated audio and Web solutions, and IP videoconferencing.
 
"Like other enterprises, law firms are looking for a competitive edge in the global marketplace," said Michael Toplisek, Global Crossing's senior vice president, global enterprise and collaboration services. "One of the biggest challenges they face is the need to communicate and share information any time, anywhere with their customers, partners and practice groups. Global Crossing addresses that need with our easy-to-use audio and Web conferencing services."

In addition to saving on travel costs, law firms are increasingly turning to collaboration services such as audio, video and Web conferencing to increase their productivity through improved attorney, staff and client collaboration. Utilizing these services, lawyers can discuss cases, question witnesses, seek counsel from outside experts and conduct employee town hall meetings, interviews, remote depositions and sales pitches. They can also facilitate executive communications, professional development and training, client and partner meetings as well as share and edit legal documents real time.

"Global Crossing's Ready-Access audio conferencing has become as ubiquitous as the phone for our business," said Randy Burkart, director of business operations, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. "With no reservations required, we can instantaneously host a conference call with our clients or colleagues in disparate locations. This immediacy enables us to work faster, smarter and more comprehensively. Due in part to the success of Global Crossing's audio conferencing solution, we're also migrating much of our videoconferencing traffic to the Global Crossing network, and we'll be increasingly reliant on them as our video bridging partner."

With iVideoconferencing, law firms can experience better reliability and performance on video calls than through traditional ISDN-originated connections, while typically enjoying between 40 and 70 percent savings on their videoconferences for international routes. Global Crossing's  iVideoconferencing -- a high-performance, reliable and economical solution for international videoconferences -- allows customers to place ISDN calls directly on Global Crossing's IP network and transports them directly to service nodes around the world.

iVideoconferencing also offers customers a logical and effortless migration path to a converged, all-IP solution, even while using traditional ISDN networks and existing H.320 video equipment. No upgrade or change to end-point video equipment or local network infrastructure is required. All pre-call set up arrangements, whether they are point-to-point or multi-point, are handled by a team of highly qualified staff.

"Interacting via video is essential for our partners," remarks Steve Giba, videoconference manager for Latham & Watkins. "From Los Angeles to New York, or Chicago to Hong Kong, global visual interaction is key to our firm's internal conferencing strategy. We rely on Global Crossing's video bridging expertise to handle not only the scheduling aspects, but also to ensure that our high profile video meetings are executed successfully."

Global Crossing offers enterprises a full suite of collaboration services for virtually any meeting need. The company's audio portfolio includes Global Crossing Event Call, a fully operator-managed, high-touch service, and Global Crossing Ready-Access®, a reservationless audio conferencing service available on demand.

In addition, Global Crossing offers IP video services as part of its converged IP solution as well as Web collaboration services. The convergence of data, voice and video onto a single IP-based platform yields simplicity in network design and administration, as well as connectivity, billing and customer care. Global Crossing videoconferencing services support ISDN and IP- based end points.

Global Crossing now also offers a Video Endpoint Management service that mitigates operational challenges and internal technical staff expertise required for a typical videoconferencing application. This service will enhance an enterprise's workflow and employees' productivity, enabling them to focus on core business competencies and eliminating the need to spend resources managing the network so they can concentrate on their business. Enterprises can select from a menu of end-to-end videoconferencing functions which ones they want Global Crossing to manage and which they handle themselves.

Global Crossing also offers three choices for Web conferencing, including its Ready-Access Web Meeting Service and Microsoft Office Live Meeting provided by Global Crossing, which integrates audio conferencing with Web conferencing, enabling users to broadcast visuals, applications, Web pages, files, or software in real time. Global Crossing also provides e-Meeting powered by WebEx, a full-featured Web conferencing service geared to larger groups and "power users" who need a collaboration interface that allows them do white boarding and conduct polling.