It allows users of personal computers, IP telephones, and room systems to communicate across the office and around the world over IP networks. Spurred by changes in communications technology, low-cost bandwidth, and continuous improvements in hardware and performance, videoconferencing solutions provide large and small enterprises, government institutions, and educational environments with the tools they need to be more productive, to make decisions faster, to train and educate more effectively, and to save time and avoid the burden of travel. The MCU and gateways have an embedded gatekeeper installed that can be enabled to perform H.323 gatekeeping task. The standard defines the IP-based videoconference components and modes of interaction.
Terminals can support audio, video, and data communications.
All terminals must support audio. An essential component for most H.323 videoconference calls. The gatekeeper provides access control, address translation, and bandwidth management. When gatekeepers are installed on the network, all H.323 endpoints must register with a gatekeeper. Endpoints that register with a gatekeeper constitute a zone.