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WebRTC What is it?

Thursday 20 June 2019, 12:19PM

By Media PA

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WebRTC What is it?
WebRTC What is it? Credit: Media PA

WebRTC stands for Web Real-time Communications. This HTML5 specification allows for voice and video communication to work inside web pages.  All this without the need of any prerequisite of plugins to be installed in the browser.

Browser or Mobile Based Comms

WebRTC enables peer to peer communication between browsers or devices. For example, you can capture a screen of the user and then have that screen shared or recorded remotely. The most popular free browsers like Chrome and Firefox have built-in WebRTC technology. “WebRTC isn’t limited to web browsers, you can take WebRTC and use it on a mobile OS,” says Ufone CEO Nigel Rayneau.

Easy Development

Traditionally to build anything that allowed for voice or video calling, you most likely would use C/C++ programming.  That often resulted in lengthy development cycles and higher production costs. WebRTC changes all that by it replacing need for C/C++ with a Javascript API.  “This makes it simpler to develop and integrate real time communications anywhere,” adds Nigel. Internally, WebRTC is still executed using C/C++, but developers won’t need to delve into these layers in order to develop their applications.

Security Built In

WebRTC features always-on voice and video encryption. The Secure RTP protocol (SRTP) is utilised for encryption and authentication of both voice and video. “This is particularly useful over WiFi networks as it prevents potential spying and recording of the voice and video,” says Nigel.

High Quality

WebRTC also has advanced voice and video quality, it does this by using G.711 and Opus codecs for transferring audio which produces high fidelity voice.  Not only that, WebRTC also supports the negotiation of multiple media types and endpoints which produces an efficient use of bandwidth.

Customer service can also benefit greatly from WebRTC. With it not needing downloads of any kind, WebRTC lets your customers easily connect.  In addition to that WebRTC can also improve internal communication. From managing an internal project to connecting remote teams WebRTC can foster cross-office employee integration.

3CX

Ufones flagship product 3CX utilises WebRTC for browser based “Web Conferencing” and standard “Video Conferencing“,  as well as desktop sharing. A great place to learn all about this great feature is at the 3CX website here.