Snapper70   510 pts.  |   Aug 20 2008  12:50PM GMT

Polycom has a PVX PC-based software package which could probably participate in an IP-based call, providing you have the multipoint software on the HDX units, or a separate video bridge. You MAY find it degrades the overall video quality somewhat, though; unless you have a good video bridge that can do speed/video transcoding. The built-in bridge in the HDX units MAY drop the video quality to the lowest-common-denominator, so adding the PVX would drop the call quality to CIF resolution (something like 352×288) rather than the higher one normally supported by the HDX units.

I believe it’s fairly inexpensive - $200-$400; and works well if you have:
1) Fast/reliable connection. Remember your DSL or cable connection has limited upstream (300-600k)
2) Fast PC. Real-time video processing can be fairly demanding - although there is a patch required
on that software with dual-core pentiums.
3) If running over a VPN connection, you may have to play with network settings, so it runs over the VPN
adapter, rather than using the non-tunnelled connection