Forgent Networks unveils enhanced Global Scheduling System software.

Forget Networks (Nasdaq:FORG) has announced the availability of Global Scheduling System 3.8.

This latest version of the scheduling and resource management system now supports enterprise-level security and automatically schedules and launches video calls, when combined with Forgent's Video Network Platform (VNP).

"This new release of GSS is significant because it addresses key customer requirements particularly around enterprise security, and is the first GSS offering announced since the acquisition of Global Scheduling Solutions," said Richard Snyder, chairman and chief executive officer, Forgent Networks. "We will continue to invest in GSS to ensure it offers the rich feature set and capabilities customers need, and is fully compatible with VNP."

GSS 3.8 incorporates several new enhancements including advanced group access security, which allows defined user groups to have access to room schedules and resources, and security desk access and control, which automatically provide lists of approved visitors to the corporate security department. Other new features, such as active directory auto synchronization, and an easier to use interface, were also designed to reduce the time and costs associated with managing meeting environments.

This release also incorporates additional levels of automation and, when used in conjunction with Forgent's VNP, the entire scheduling, launching and managing of videoconferences is completely turnkey.

The GSS solution provides detailed information about shared meeting facilities and equipment throughout the enterprise, and allows organizations to process reservation requests and provide meeting confirmations in real time, regardless of the locations or resources involved. Its intuitive and customizable browser interface gives users and system administrators access to up-to-date scheduling and resource management information.

Several features, such as its ability to reserve multiple facilities per meeting, automatic time zone conversion, attendee invitation capabilities, and support for audio-visual equipment inventory management and catering, greatly simplify the reservation function, saving time through a one-step reservation and confirmation process.

To provide users with one seamless solution that allows administrators to schedule, automatically launch and manage a videoconference in one package, Forgent has fully integrated GSS and VNP. GSS, which takes care of all of the calendaring and scheduling requirements, includes an advanced room finder, a recurring scheduling feature, a time zone manager to accommodate global conferencing and cost accounting reports.

After GSS schedules the call, the videoconference request automatically appears in the VNP operation console, and the call is entirely automated. VNP automatically configures MCUs and gateways, reserves necessary resources, and launches, monitors and tears down the call.

The combined GSS and VNP solution is also available as part of Forgent's VideoWorks, the industry's first turnkey videoconference automation solution to include all hardware and software needed to schedule, automatically launch and manage videoconferencing.

In addition to the core GSS solution, Forgent offers several optional software modules to address specific customer requirements such as Microsoft Exchange Integration Module; Equipment & Supplies Scheduling & Resource Tracking Module; Catering Management & Order Request Module; and Technician Scheduling & Management Tracking Module.

The Microsoft Exchange Integration Module is for customers who use a Microsoft Exchange server and want to simplify the user configuration by pulling information directly from the Exchange Server's active directory, including all relevant user profile fields and storing it in the GSS' SQL database.

In addition to simplifying administration, the Outlook interface allows schedulers to view available times (free/busy) from the personal calendars of participants before scheduling a conference. The module sends an automatic e-mail notification to reservation participants in the form of an Outlook meeting invitation, which allows the participants to RSVP automatically. The event is also added to the participant's personal Outlook calendar upon acceptance.

The Catering Management & Order Request Module facilitates the ordering of menu items in conjunction with conferences scheduled via GSS. Menu items are listed categorically, sub-totaled and automatically requested via an e-mail sent to the designated catering facility for delivery and pick-up at the specified times.

If multiple deliveries for a single conference are necessary, separate menus may be created with the various service times indicated. Flexible standardized reports specific to this module can be run to track catering requests and costs for individual and/or multiple conferences.