Why a Nova...high voice quality transforms the communication experience

The Nova Project offers a means of communication that goes beyond what a traditional telephone call provides. Consider a spectrum of communication functionality with the telegraph on the left to the functional equivalent of meeting in-person on the right. The Nova Project explores the area between standard telephone calls and meeting in-person. The challenge is to assemble the elements moving communication as far as possible toward the meeting in-person end of the spectrum. The Nova Project does not attempt to serve as yet another means of obtaining standard telephone calls.

The work to set up a Nova only makes sense in the context the communication associated with a close relationship. If a telephone call meets all your needs in a particular context, then you do not need a Nova. If you seek a means of communication that more closely offers the benefits of being in-person, then setting up a Nova represents the best available option. The reasons for setting up a Nova parallel the reasons motivating people to get together in-person. The Nova offers the best alternative to "being there" when "being there" is not an option.

There is nothing proprietary about Nova implementations. FWD's role is providing the expertise to set up a Nova, but everything required is based on open standards and is available from a multiple of sources. There is no attempt to lock people into a particular technology or implementation. FWD has no plans to patent the methodolgy, configuration, or even attempt to trademark the Nova label. The underlying addressing mechanism is SIP URI's, so Nova's can accept connections from any SIP registrar. The Nova Project exists to help people overcome the startup challenges and assemble a roadmap for reducing the adoption obstacles in the long term.

Ten Reasons to Get a Nova

1. You love someone - scenario A - A Nova makes it easier to maintain and enjoy a long distance relationship.

2. You love someone - scenario B - The Nova provides an additional degree of connection even for people that see each other frequently.

3. You have a business partner - A Nova represents the best means for people with the intensive communication needs.

4. You have a collaborative project - The unmetered aspect of the Nova allows users to leave connections up 24/7/360.

5. Remote monitoring applications - HD and the lack of metering make a Nova the best available solution for remote monitoring between Internet connected end points anywhere on Earth.

6. You make regular conference calls to the same people - Take advantage of the multi-party functionality of a Nova.

7. You need to make international phone calls - The state of voice quality makes standard international calling almost useless.

8. You need to connect with an important customer - Nova's offer a better means of engaging with a key customers.

9. You have a customer support operation - Mediocre voice quality represents a significant obstacle to customer support interactions.

10. You spend more than $20/mo calling one person - Setting up a Nova costs only $200 ($100 for an HD phone and $100 for Nova service)

+ Alternative to Skype

Skype offers much of the communication utility of a Nova in the support of high definition voice connections over the Internet. Skype as a communication solution remains less than ideal due to the closed nature of the network and limitation of HD voice to PC to PC connections only.

+ Alternative to Cisco Telepresence

Cisco's advocacy of telepresence triggered significant deployment and innovation in video calling, and there is nothing wrong Cisco starting with a very high end solution and working to make it more affordable. The problem comes from an over emphasis of video (because it consumes lots of network resources), a lack of attention to voice quality (because it doesn't), and the fact Cisco's Telepresense offer is closed and proprietary. Nova's accomplish 99% of what telepresence offers for 1% of the cost.

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