Overview of Independent Video Conferencing Hardware Endpoint Vendors (2025)

2025-05-19

As of 2025, the market for independent video conferencing hardware endpoints remains active. This article introduces mainstream vendors, discontinued vendors, key features, and purchasing advice.

As of 2025, the number of independent video conferencing hardware endpoint vendors (i.e., manufacturers not tied to a specific cloud platform and compatible with multiple platforms) has decreased compared to the past, but several representative companies are still active in the global market. Here is a classification and introduction of major vendors:

I. Mainstream Independent Video Conferencing Hardware Endpoint Vendors

II. Discontinued or Marginalized Endpoint Vendors

III. Key Features of Independent Endpoints

• Multi-platform Protocol Support: Such as SIP, H.323, RTMP, WebRTC, etc., not just tied to Zoom or Teams.
• Private Deployment/Standard Compatibility: Can be deployed on self-built MCUs or platforms (e.g., Pexip, Cisco CMS).
• Open Interfaces: Supports connection of external audio/video devices, such as PTZ cameras, audio processing systems, etc.

Summary & Purchasing Advice

If you plan to deploy video conferencing hardware endpoints, here are a few suggestions:

• Connecting to Traditional MCUs (SIP/H.323): Prioritize products from vendors like Poly, Yealink, Huawei, AVer. These vendors have extensive experience in traditional protocol support.
• Primarily Cloud Conferencing (Zoom/Teams): If your main use case involves cloud platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams, Logitech, Neat, and DTEN are excellent choices, often offering deeper integration and optimization.
• Self-Deployed Conference Platforms: For users wishing to build and control their own conference platforms, prioritize vendors supporting standard protocols (like SIP/H.323), such as Poly, Yealink, Cisco, AVer.
• Budget-Conscious, Prioritizing Cost-Performance: If budget is a key concern, brands like Yealink, MAXHUB, and AVer typically offer competitive pricing and good performance.
• Focus on Emerging Technologies & AI Features: When purchasing, consider whether the endpoint supports AI noise reduction, speaker tracking, auto-framing, smart whiteboards, etc., which can significantly enhance the meeting experience.
• Ecosystem and Compatibility: Consider compatibility with existing IT infrastructure (e.g., calendar systems, network environment) and future scalability.

Major MCU Vendors: Market Positioning and Industry Analysis

2023-08-15

An overview of leading traditional MCU vendors in the video conferencing industry, including market estimates and positioning analysis for both hardware and software solutions.

The video conferencing Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) market continues to evolve with both established players and new entrants. This analysis examines key vendors and their market positioning based on current industry research.

Hardware MCU Vendors

Traditional hardware MCU solutions continue to serve enterprise needs, especially in sectors requiring high security and reliability:

• Cisco Systems - Following their acquisition of Tandberg in 2010, Cisco became a dominant player with their Meeting Server (formerly Acano) and TelePresence Server products. Their solutions are typically positioned at the high-end enterprise market with premium pricing and comprehensive integration with Cisco's broader collaboration ecosystem.
• Poly (formerly Polycom) - After merging with Plantronics and becoming Poly, they maintain a strong position with their RealPresence Collaboration Server (formerly RMX) series. Poly emphasizes interoperability across different platforms and protocols, serving mid to large enterprises with flexible deployment options.
• Avaya - Known for their Scopia series (acquired from Radvision), Avaya targets industries requiring secure, reliable video communications with integration into their unified communications platform.
• Huawei - A major player particularly in Asia-Pacific and emerging markets, Huawei's MCU solutions offer competitive pricing while maintaining enterprise-grade features, making them appealing for cost-conscious large deployments.

Software MCU Vendors

Software-based MCU solutions have gained significant market share due to their flexibility, scalability, and typically lower total cost of ownership:

• Pexip - Positions itself as a software-first platform focusing on interoperability and ease of integration. Their Infinity platform serves organizations requiring flexible deployment models including private, hybrid, or public cloud.
• Vidyo - Pioneered scalable video coding technology, offering software-based solutions that adapt well to varying network conditions. They focus on vertical markets like healthcare and financial services.
• BlueJeans (acquired by Verizon) - Provides cloud-based video conferencing with MCU functionality integrated. Their positioning emphasizes simplicity and user experience along with robust enterprise features.
• Lifesize - Offers both cloud-based and on-premises software MCU solutions, targeting mid-market enterprises with an emphasis on high-definition quality and reliable performance.
• Zoom - While primarily known for their cloud service, Zoom offers Zoom Rooms Connectors that function as virtual MCUs to connect traditional endpoints to their platform.

Market Size and Growth

According to recent market research:

• The global video conferencing market size was valued at approximately $14.6 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 12.1% from 2023 to 2030.
• Hardware MCU solutions still command roughly 35% of the total market value, though this percentage is gradually decreasing as software and cloud solutions gain adoption.
• Software and cloud-based MCU solutions are growing at approximately 18% annually, outpacing the overall market growth rate.
• Regional differences remain significant, with Asia-Pacific showing the fastest growth rate at around 15% CAGR, followed by North America and Europe.

Competitive Positioning Matrix

When analyzing vendors across dimensions of solution completeness and market presence:

1. Market Leaders: Cisco, Microsoft (Teams), Zoom - Offering comprehensive solutions with the largest market shares
2. Specialists: Pexip, Vidyo, Lifesize - Providing focused expertise for specific use cases or industries
3. Challengers: Huawei, Avaya - Strong products with growing adoption, particularly in specific regional markets
4. Emerging Players: Various cloud-native startups focusing on WebRTC and API-based solutions

Summary and Outlook

The MCU market continues its transformation from hardware-centric solutions to software and cloud platforms. Traditional vendors are adapting by offering hybrid solutions and focusing on interoperability. Key trends to watch include:

1. Increasing consolidation as larger UC vendors acquire specialized MCU technology companies
2. Further migration to cloud-based deployment models, with private cloud options for security-conscious sectors
3. Greater focus on AI-enhanced capabilities for transcription, translation, and meeting analytics
4. Enhanced integration with workplace collaboration tools and business workflows

For organizations evaluating MCU solutions, the choice between hardware and software approaches should consider specific requirements around security, existing infrastructure, geographic distribution of endpoints, and expected growth in usage patterns.

Sources and Further Reading

• Grand View Research. (2023). Video Conferencing Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Component
• Markets and Markets. (2023). Video Conferencing Market - Global Forecast to 2027
• Gartner. (2023). Magic Quadrant for Meeting Solutions
• IDC. (2023). Worldwide Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Shares
Note: All market data presented is based on publicly available research as of August 2023 and represents the most current information available at the time of publication.

Primary Use Cases for MCUs

2016-04-14

This section discusses the primary applications for standard H.323/SIP Multipoint Control Units (MCUs).

1. Traditional Enterprise Video Conferencing: MCUs are the cornerstone of on-premise enterprise video conferencing systems, connecting hardware endpoints from various vendors (e.g., Polycom, Cisco, Huawei, Aver). These deployments demand exceptional audio/video quality, robust performance, and seamless interoperability. Key requirements often include support for high resolutions (like 1080p 60fps), multi-participant layouts (continuous presence, e.g., up to 25 panes), stable frame rates, intelligent audio mixing, and low latency communication.
2. Video Conferencing Cloud Gateway: Many large-scale public cloud video services utilize Selective Forwarding Units (SFUs) for scalability, which may not directly support legacy H.323/SIP endpoints. An MCU can serve as a crucial gateway, enabling traditional conference room systems to connect to these cloud platforms. MCUs also facilitate integration with the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and can provide value-added services like RTMP streaming for broadcasting meetings, leveraging standard H.323/SIP protocols for interoperability.
3. Industry-Specific Solutions: MCUs can be tailored for specialized vertical markets. For instance, integrating IP surveillance cameras using RTSP allows security feeds to be viewed within a video conference. Advanced call control features can power applications such as virtual video receptionists or remote expert assistance. Developing these niche solutions often involves collaboration to understand specific industry needs and may require providing Server-side and Client-side SDKs to enable third-party customization and integration.

MCU Support WebRTC

2016-04-10

We are happy to announce MCU's new WebRTC feature. Web browsers can join MCU conferences with video and audio, and also receive conference H.239 video.

We are happy to announce MCU's new WebRTC feature. Web browsers can join MCU conferences with video and audio, and also receive conference H.239 video.

Update: 2016-07-06 Chrome can send desktop share to conference

The Functionality Groups In Video Communication

2016-04-01

Source: Overview: Real Time Protocols for Browser-based Applications (draft-ietf-rtcweb-overview-15)

Source: Overview: Real Time Protocols for Browser-based Applications (draft-ietf-rtcweb-overview-15)

The functionality groups needed in video communication can be specified, more or less from the bottom up, as:

• Data transport: TCP, UDP and the means to securely set up connections between entities, as well as the functions for deciding when to send data: Congestion management, bandwidth estimation and so on.
• Data framing: RTP and other data formats that serve as containers, and their functions for data confidentiality and integrity.
• Data formats: Codec specifications, format specifications and functionality specifications for the data passed between systems. Audio and video codecs, as well as formats for data and document sharing, belong in this category. In order to make use of data formats, a way to describe them, a session description, is needed.
• Connection management: Setting up connections, agreeing on data formats, changing data formats during the duration of a call; SIP and Jingle/XMPP belong in this category.
• Presentation and control: What needs to happen in order to ensure that interactions behave in a non-surprising manner. This can include floor control, screen layout, voice activated image switching and other such functions – where part of the system require the cooperation between parties. XCON and Cisco/Tandberg's TIP were some attempts at specifying this kind of functionality; many applications have been built without standardized interfaces to these functions.
• Local system support functions: These are things that need not be specified uniformly, because each participant may choose to do these in a way of the participant's choosing, without affecting the bits on the wire in a way that others have to be cognizant of. Examples in this category include echo cancellation (some forms of it), local authentication and authorization mechanisms, OS access control and the ability to do local recording of conversations.