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| A Primedia Property | |
| August 12, 2004 | |
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Table of Contents Corporate A/V Top Story AV integrators share conferencing pie Installation News Union Pacific's new HQ relies on Electrosonic image processing Sudan's Ministry of Energy and Mines commissions Brähler ICS conference system Product News SLS to feature new PolyCone series speaker systems at AES Hitachi introduces new 42-inch professional plasma monitors Avistar releases new IP Endpoint desktop video solution ADVERTISEMENT For over 30 years, Comprehensive has been the professional's choice for premium interface and multimedia products. The new 2004 Comprehensive catalog is packed with thousands of new products including Comprehensive's world famous cables and the latest from Belden, Canare, Kramer, Neutrik much more. Click here for your free copy or shop online at our website www.comprehensiveinc.com Corporate A/V Top Story AV integrators share conferencing pie What's a conference room without a conferencing capability? And what good is a video conference without good video? Those questions are increasingly shaping the way AV integrators interact with telephone companies, service providers, and others serving the fast-growing conferencing business. These diverse suppliers are sometimes allies, and often competitors. "I can see going in and partnering with, say, Verizon," says Kevin Thompson, president of the Whitlock Group in Richmond, Virginia. "I'm chasing those exact opportunities today." For the moment, the real market opportunity is still not clear, Thompson says, because many technologies are still finding their way into the telco and conferencing environment. Video surely figures in the long-term needs of telco clients, but just how to meet that need is unclear. "They're trying to figure out how to have a deliverable product before they reveal too much" about their own plans, Thompson says. Regional Bell operating companies and similar firms face intense competition from cable companies to deliver video services over broadband connections. Part of the answer to this challenge will be the companies' ability to deliver complete solutions. "This is becoming a sore point with some integrators," says Michael J. Smith, Director of Strategic Initiatives at HB Communications, North Haven, Connecticut, referring to the tendency for some videoconference service providers to market supposed "turnkey" solutions for their customers' conference facilities. "Unfortunately," Smith says, "these solutions often miss customers' expectations. More than once I've lost a bid to this type of provider. In some cases we've been called back in to clean up the mess." Sometimes a client will ask the AV integrator to recommend a service provider, and sometimes it's the service company that's asked to recommend an AV firm. "I've seen them mostly go to the AV integrator," said Michael Bowers, managing partner at Corporate AV Solutions in Walled Lake, Michigan. Bowers says he hasn't detected any strong trends in the market, but he has seen more service providers inclined to try to do it all. Sometimes, he adds, the client "will buy the codec from a service provider and we end up integrating it all." Corporate AV Solutions has reached out in recent years to market its own capabilities to telcos and other providers, and generally has experienced a receptive welcome, Bowers says. Sprint Business Solutions tries to extend just such a warm greeting, says Martha DeGraw, manager of collaboration services. She's seen the referral process go in both directions. "Sprint has had several opportunities in the hospitality sector, which is a heavy user of AV vendors for large corporate meetings," DeGraw says. "In a focus-group study of meeting and event planners, they indicated that they rely on the AV vendor to contract for the videoconferencing service. "On the flip side," she adds, "Sprint's Partner Program has dozens of AV integrators." This kind of close cooperation isn't always the rule, notes Smith of HB Communications. "Out of necessity, AV providers need to be cognizant of the network provider's business," he explains. "In order for us to effectively install a conferencing system, we need to work closely with the network provider. On the other hand, the network provider isn't usually aware of the needs of equipment other than the actual endpoints." Sometimes, all that's impeding this close cooperation is mistrust. Bowers of Corporate AV Solutions says, "People may shy away if they think we're trying to steal their business, or we may if we think they're trying to steal ours." Installation News Union Pacific's new HQ relies on Electrosonic image processing The new Union Pacific Headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska, was opened on June 2, 2004, by Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns. The $260 million facility provides a consolidated workplace with a capacity for 4,100 employees from 10 locations across Omaha. Union Pacific Center was designed by Gensler, and executed by Hines, the international real-estate firm. The 19-story structure is the largest office building in Omaha, and occupies an entire downtown block across the street from Union Pacific's former headquarters. The headquarters features a 90x120-foot skylit atrium that spans the building's full height at its center. It allows daylight to reach workstations and offices located toward the building's core. Union Pacific employees began moving in on May 17, with occupancy expected to be complete by September. The giant lobby display in the atrium was engineered and installed by Graybow Communications, with Electrosonic supplying its Vector image-processing expertise. The unique, open-frame display is a 4x7 array with a screen size measuring 16 feet high and over 37 feet wide using 28 Sanyo XF-31 projectors and 28 80-inch diagonal rear-projection Glasfire screens. The Vector system has 14 output cards that supply 28 XGA sources to the projectors. A high-bandwidth router allows the system to show up to eight different sources simultaneously on the display, or one large image. Inputs are via two high-resolution input cards and one standard-resolution input card. Union Pacific plans to use mostly high-definition footage, which the company is currently shooting or converting from film. The building includes a studio that is linked to the lobby display. Sudan's Ministry of Energy and Mines commissions Brähler ICS conference system The Ministry of Energy and Mines in Sudan has placed an order for a complete conference system, to be supplied by Brähler ICS UK Ltd. The system is to be installed into the Ingaz Conference Hall by local Sudanese company, Federal Information Technology Co. The Ministry's premises are located adjacent to the UN Headquarter Offices in Khartoum. Facilities will include an 85-user Automic microphone system, linked to an Infracom simultaneous interpretation system with infrared delegate receivers and a full public address system. A flexible and robust system was required, as uses will include conferences, seminars, and training sessions in multiple languages. For this reason, Brähler ICS was chosen as the principle supplier. The Automic microphone system comes with portable delegate and chairman's microphones, both with gooseneck stems and interfaces with the interpretation system via a single audio patch lead. Delegates are able to listen to their native language wirelessly, using one of Brähler's new IRX infrared receivers. For more information, visit www.brahler.co.uk. Product News SLS to feature new PolyCone series speaker systems at AES SLS Loudspeakers will feature the new PL "PolyCone" PL6 and PL6C Series in-wall/in-ceiling speakers at AES 2004. The new speakers deliver enhanced sonic performance for in-wall and in-ceiling installation based on SLS's patented PD technology. "The new SLS Design Series 'PolyCone' in-wall/in-ceiling speaker systems offer many of the advantages of their unique Kevlar-equipped predecessors," says Jeff Lowry, director of marketing for SLS. "With the utilization of polycomposite woofers, the PolyCone Series offers a superior price point advantage without sacrificing the great sonic performance for which SLS is known." The PL6 (in-wall) and PL6C (in-ceiling) both feature the engineering advantages found in all SLS products. Each unit includes a high-frequency, PRD Planar Ribbon Driver and a polycomposite woofer with Santoprene surround, which together provide the extended frequency, range necessary for the accurate playback of high-definition music. In addition, the system offers uniform coverage over the entire frequency range with the added capability of an extra-wide "sweet spot" for maximum full-range coverage. The PL series offers unparalleled transparency and resolution in its response and sets a new standard for this type of installation. The case is constructed of heavy-duty, paintable polycomposite and employs audio-grade polypropylene capacitors and audiophile-level connectors. SLS Loudspeakers designs, manufactures, and markets proprietary ultra-high-fidelity ribbon-driver loudspeakers and sound systems for professional, commercial, and residential applications. For more information, visit www.slsloudspeakers.com. Hitachi introduces new 42-inch professional plasma monitors The Home Electronics Division of Hitachi America Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., today launched its newest professional plasma monitor. The CMP4211 and CMP4212 are 42-inch 16:9 HDTV plasma monitors designed to serve a broad range of commercial uses, from single-point signage and networked multi-site retail display systems to custom AV applications. The CMP4211 and CMP4212 are the newest additions to Hitachi's full line of 16:9 EDTV and HDTV plasma monitors, which already include 55-inch, 50-inch and 42-inch models. The Hitachi CMP4211 and CMP4212 employ a number of technologies to deliver a bright, sharp picture for extended periods of time. Hitachi's proprietary ALiS (Alternate Lighting of Surfaces) technology enables a high display resolution of 1024x1024 to create stunning images and combines with Hitachi's industry-leading PC graphics processor to provide significantly smoother, sharper images than conventional plasma technologies. By utilizing one of two Life Extension modes, the high-efficiency ALiS plasma display also improves long-term brightness performance over conventional plasma technologies, a key aspect when using plasma technology for digital signage applications. "Digital signage is an industry that is truly coming of age, and professional plasma monitors are becoming more visible in corporate office space, restaurants and major retail venues," said Bill Whalen, senior product manager for the Hitachi America, Ltd., Home Electronics Division. "Hitachi has had a long-standing commitment to both the digital signage industry as well as the larger plasma market, and the CMP4211 and CMP4212 are the result of our expertise in both of these areas." Since many public areas utilize more than one plasma monitor for display purposes, the CMP4211 and CMP4212 include Monitor ID Bit functionality for easy control of multiple monitors. Additional feature highlights of the CMP4211 and CMP4212 include multiple screen-saver options, RS-232C interface, and FCC Class B compliance. Optional accessories include table-top stands, speakers and wall-mount brackets. The CMP4211 has a black frame, and the CMP4212 has a silver frame. Both will begin shipping in Q3 2004 with a suggested retail price of $5,999.00. Hitachi America, Ltd. Home Electronics Division produces and markets a wide variety of consumer electronics products including high definition CRT and LCD rear-projection televisions, plasma televisions and monitors, DVD camcorders, and DVD players. In addition to consumer products, Hitachi also markets professional plasma monitors for business applications as well as security and observation system products. For more information, visit www.hitachi.us. Avistar releases new IP Endpoint desktop video solution Avistar Communications Corporation, a provider of business video collaboration solutions, today announced availability of its AC300 IP Endpoint, including its new desktop video codec, and the AvistarVOS 8.0 video operating system software. With the addition of these new products, Avistar offers a unique, comprehensive enterprise videoconferencing solution that enables customers to deploy desktop video with a mix-and-match combination of packet-switched (IP) and circuit-switched local and wide area networks. The AC300 and provides customers with a choice of how best to implement scaled video deployments throughout their enterprise. Offering a seamless blend of IP and circuit-switched products, Avistar addresses the networking challenges companies face today as they try to implement real-time video communications. Avistar's desktop video can now be deployed end-to-end on IP networks, or using a combination of IP and circuit-switched networks within a building, between locations or across the globe. This helps businesses install enterprise-wide desktop video solutions without costly network overhauls. "Corporate conferencing users are now comfortable with video, and are creating a growing need to extend video to their desktop workspaces. Avistar delivers a well-thought-out IP solution that is convenient, yet powerful," says Gerry Kaufhold, principal analyst with In-Stat/MDR, based in Scottsdale, Arizona. "Avistar's AC300 IP Endpoint uses a computer's USB port to connect to the office LAN, and the new version of the AvistarVOS bundles a good mix of features that will help end users be more productive and responsive using video as a tool." In the future, as Avistar users upgrade their IP networks, the circuit-switched endpoints of their existing Avistar installation can be easily migrated to an all-IP solution at a low cost. In the Avistar desktop solution, the same video infrastructure is used by circuit-switched and IP endpoints to provide video services such as multi-party conferencing, interoperation with third-party standards-based video endpoints, broadcasting a call to many users, recording video calls, publishing video to users, websites, e-mail, and video on demand playback. This means that customers can choose a mix of endpoints initially and then migrate to all-IP endpoints and all-IP networks over time without rendering obsolete their investment in Avistar's video infrastructure. Avistar's video operating system software (AvistarVOS) and system architecture separate video transport from control. Signaling and system control are IP-based using the AvistarVOS software, with the new AC300 and existing Avistar MultiChannel IP Gateway using SIP protocols. Video transport, the most demanding portion of real-time video communications, is separately handled through packet-switched or circuit-switched technology depending on network capability. The AvistarVOS 8.0 software includes support for the AC300 IP Endpoint, least-cost routing, bandwidth and quality management, and other features to ensure performance, reliability, call quality, and minimization of communications costs. The new AC300 IP Endpoint provides companies with the flexibility to locate and consolidate shared Avistar video infrastructure in locations best suited to their network topologies. This allows the infrastructure to be centralized and shared by more users, and for smaller locations to be video-enabled with minimal local infrastructure -- thereby lowering the total cost of ownership. IP endpoints can also be moved easily with minimal installation costs, reducing the costs associated with moves and changes. Virtela Communications, a global network solutions company, is using Avistar's solution to extend TV-quality video and audio communications to the desktop between its network operations centers and research and development centers in Denver and India. Virtela provides managed-enterprise network, video, and voice solutions to customers across six continents, with a network reach that spans more than 190 countries. New features and capabilities of the AC300 IP Endpoint include video compression and decompression done in hardware to minimize PC loading; bandwidth management to ensure that video does not overload network capabilities; real-time call statistics; prominent mute and volume controls; picture-in-picture functionality; elimination of the need for a video capture card; software-selectable echo cancellation; and a single USB2 interface to the PC. The AC300 uses the same cameras and desktop accessories as Avistar's existing circuit-switched products. For more information, please visit www.avistar.com. |
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