Saudi's Al Jouf University Selects Cisco WebEx.

Cisco announced that the Al Jouf University, in upper north Saudi Arabia, has deployed Cisco WebEx enterprise collaboration solutions for secure e-learning.

Cisco WebEx will provide Al Jouf University students, lecturers and staff members with a way to exchange ideas and information with anyone, anywhere. Cisco WebEx combines real-time collaboration with voice over IP technology, so everyone sees the same thing as they converse. Al Jouf University is following the precedent set by Harvard University, which also uses Cisco WebEx for distance and e-learning.

Cisco WebEx is available to businesses in Saudi Arabia through the Saudi Telecom Co. (STC), which has an agreement with Cisco to supply Cisco WebEx communications technology to businesses throughout the kingdom.

Al Jouf University is a recently established university with 19,000 students. It boasts more than 100 full-time professors and comprises 12 colleges offering a range of majors, including science, applied medical sciences, engineering and medicine.

Al Jouf University will deploy a number of WebEx products, including Cisco WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco WebEx Event Center, Cisco WebEx Training Center and Cisco WebEx Support Center.

Cisco WebEx delivers crisp audio and video and data sharing. It also allows students to interact in real time through application sharing, chat, and threaded Q-and-A. Material retention can be increased with Cisco WebEx with tools like breakout sessions, hands-on labs, and integrated tests. Furthermore, class attention and performance can be monitored through a visual attention indicator, as well as instant polls, tests and reports. Digital libraries can be created from on-demand recorded lectures that can be accessed for years to come.

Cisco WebEx is often referred to as either Web conferencing because participants can share information via the Web and telephone connections, or an online meeting because users can take care of business online as they do in in-person meetings. The solution also offers phone conferencing options that can maximize flexibility and minimize costs. Participants can either join meetings by dialing a toll-free access number or set up a call-back feature by entering a phone number, allowing the WebEx solution to call them when the meeting starts. Calls are free for participants -- whether they call in or choose the call-back option -- making it particularly cost effective for students.

Cisco WebEx is software delivered as a service. The user simply subscribes to the service and can then use it from any computer with an Internet connection, and even from most smartphones such as the iPhone or BlackBerry. Participants can be invited to attend a WebEx meeting via email, IM or text and do not have to subscribe to WebEx. They simply click a link in the invitation to join online, where they'll get visual prompts to join the phone conference. Once a session is started the meeting organizer and participants can share documents, presentations and applications or even open a blank document and start creating together.

Al Jouf University is a modern institution dedicated to scientific research, and teaching. Its 12 colleges cover disciplines including medicine, engineering, and IT.

Cisco is a provider of networking solutions that transform how people connect, communicate and collaborate.

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