Is your office ready to be seen?
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What will people see when you turn on desktop videoconferencing?
McNicholas cited Wainhouse stats of a predicted growth rate of 28% in telepresence and video use for communication via computer in 2011.
Look at it from the travel perspective. Gartner recently said that telepresence will replace 2.1 million airlines seats by 2012.
So what’s McNicholas’ point? Your office is going to be seen. Is it ready for visitors? Consider what clients and colleagues might see behind you during that videoconference.
Polycom recently ran an contest looking for the best decorated offices for videoconferencing. McNicholas wants to see yours. Do you think your office is well-dressed for videoconferencing? Send Kym McNicholas a photo (you can find her email address in her blog post.) Share it with us too! Post it on our Facebook Page and inspire others to be ready for the videoconferencing shift!
25 Educational Organizations Recognized for Interactive Videoconferencing Content
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The Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) selected a record number of non-profit organizations to receive the Pinnacle Award for interactive videoconferencing content. The CILC exists to help schools advance learning through videoconferencing and other collaborative technology.
Twenty-five organizations were selected for the Pinnacle Award this year, more than ever before. Organizations selected for this year’s award include: NASA’s Digital Learning Network, the Bronx Zoo and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
As technology continues to advance, it is exciting to see educational organizations utilizing videoconferencing and collaboration to help with professional development of educators and to engage students with interactive learning.
“This year we had a record number of recipients, which clearly demonstrates that the quality of videoconferencing programs for K-12 students is stronger than ever,” said Ruth E. Blankenbaker, CILC CEO.
For more information on the CILC and services offered, check out this video. Congratulations to all the recipients of the Pinnacle Award!
Support for Videoconferencing from CILC on Vimeo.
AVI-SPL SmartBoard install at Florida charter school excites teachers and inspires students
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AVTEQ reseller, AVI-SPL, installed a series of SMART 680i interactive whiteboards at The Academy at the Farm, a Dade City, Florida charter school.
What began as the install of one board quickly grew until every teacher wanted one in their own classroom! Technology has and is continually changing the education landscape for our children. It is exciting to see the possibilities and students so inspired to learn!
Check out the video of the install from AVI-SPL.
LifeSize’s new Flexible Leasing Plan could help expand adoption of new technologies in business
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http://www.lifesize.com/
LifeSize has announced new financing options for its HD videoconferencing solutions. The company now offers a private label finance offering for U.S. and Canadian customers through a partnership with TAMCO, a leading independent financial solutions provider.
LifeSize Flexible Leasing™, powered by TAMCO, provides two financing options for customers of its high-definition (HD) video conferencing solutions: Smart Lease™ and a traditional capital lease.
According to the press release from LifeSize, the Smart Lease program allows customers to pay a monthly fee for use with the flexibility to move to a new LifeSize video conferencing solution without financial penalty anytime during their contract term. The second leasing option is a traditional capital lease (termed a $1 Buyout Lease in the U.S. and a $10 Buyout in Canada), which allows customers to purchase their equipment at the end of the lease term for one dollar (or $10 in Canada).
For businesses, schools and other organizations with a need for technology, these new leasing options offer new to other ways of acquiring technology without the immediate capital outlay that is typical of most technology. Technology is expensive, especially for businesses and organizations trying to stay up-to-date. Not all companies adopt the latest and greatest when it comes to switches or even videoconferencing. Just like software, when a business’ infrastructure is working for their particular company there isn’t a compelling reason to upgrade to the latest technology. We expect to see more people look at leasing and other creative ways of financing technology for their businesses.
Afterall, in a down economy cash is still king.
AMX quick to adopt HDBaseT technology
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A few weeks ago, we posted an article about HDBaseT technology, and what that means for the consumer and predicted that we’d start seeing this technology in products later this year.
AMX has announced the use of HDBaseT technology by Valens Semiconductor to replace the two-wire AMX/Autopatch UTPro 8×8 HDMI switcher. The HDBaseT will delivering uncompressed video, audio and NetLinx control over 100 meters of Cat 5.
In an article by CE Pro, Autopatch product manager Paul Hand says “The new UTPro is ‘virtually the same product except that every output to the receivers can go much greater distances – up to 100 meters – over a single Cat 5.’”
Gefen (HDMI Extender) and (DigitalMedia 8G) join AMX in this early adoption of HDBaseT in their Cat 5 audio/video/control switchers and extenders, though none are using the technology for its power-over-Ethernet capabilities yet.
One More Chance to Win $1000!
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On Friday, we announced our first $1000 AmEx Gift Card Winner, Carmen O. from ID Solutions, Inc. Congratulations, Carmen!
Don’t forget…we are giving away TWO $1000 AmEx cards! So, if you missed your first chance to win, not to worry, there’s still time! Just sign up at AVTEQ.net. All you have to do is submit your name, company name and email and you’re in!
Hint: Pay special attention to the confirmation page where we tell you how you can get a 2nd entry into the drawing!
We’ll draw for our next winner on Friday, Aug. 27.
Also, now through Aug. 27, get paid when you spec and submit a qualifying bid for any AVTEQ credenza. Submit your bid through our Bid Rewards Program and we’ll pay you 2% of the cost! For more info, visit our Bid Rewards FAQ page.
For all the info on our 2 Bays, 2 Pays, 2 Ways promo, see the official rules.
And the winner is…
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Congratulations to Carmen O. from ID Solutions Inc! Carmen is our first $1000 American Express gift card winner in our 2 Bays, 2 Pays, 2 Ways promo!
If you want your chance to win a $1000 AmEx gift card, all you have to do is sign up at AVTEQ.net! We will be drawing another winner on Friday, Aug. 27.
In addition to your chance to win $1000, now through Aug. 27, spec and submit any AVTEQ credenza and get paid 2% of your cost in our Bid Rewards Program!
Get all the details about our contest here. Good luck!
Cisco drops 12% in NASDAQ, is the bottom falling out?
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Yesterday, Cisco Systems dropped 12% in NASDAQ trading after sales forecasts missed analysts’ estimates. When we thought the AV industry and the economy were on the incline, the news of Cisco’s drop might leave some wondering. Is the industry growing or slowing? Seeing the world’s largest manufacturer of networking products take such a dip in one day might cause a few people in the unified communications/videoconferencing industry to sweat. Don’t.
There are a few things to remember here. First, keep in mind that Cisco’s main business is network switches. This is where the lion’s share of their revenue comes from. The video piece with them is relatively small at this point. We will continue to see that part of their business grow but they don’t break out their revenue streams for analysts to look at so we can’t how well specific segments are doing compared to others.
With the economy shrinking again (this isn’t just a Cisco thing it’s affecting everyone), video will continue to become an even more mission-critical component to companies that need to be competitive on a global, national and even regional scale. When revenues drop, the first thing cut is travel budgets, we have seen this for years, and more focus will be on services like GoToMeeting and Webex, as well as video meetings rather than face-to-face. (more…)
Ruggedized videoconferencing from Westron Communications
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If you’re looking for videoconferencing on the go, check this out!
Westron Communications offers a ruggedized, mobile videoconferencing–in a briefcase! The unit includes Lifesize videoconferencing unit and the clam shell from Ruckus Wireless! It doesn’t get any easier than this–and it’s in HD! It’s a road warrior’s dream come true: just open up the CIS briefcase, boot up and go! Nice!
What the Polycom/Microsoft deal might mean for the industry
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On Monday, Polycom and Microsoft announce a strategic partnership that no doubt is an attempt to chip away and 
Cisco’s industry stronghold.
In the multi-year agreement between videoconferencing provider, Polycom, and Microsoft, the two companies will join forces to provide integrated voice, instant message and videoconferencing services for large enterprises, government and SMBs. Polycom is now a part of Microsoft’s strategic global alliance.
Polycom will develop its CX series for Microsoft Communications server 14 and beyond and will develop room-based video systems for integration with Microsoft UC products. Polycom is going big with this deal and has already signed contracts with major enterprises like Hewlett-Packard and Avaya.
Cisco is big, but bigger isn’t always better. To stay in this game, quality and value have to be continually increasing. For the customer, the new competition means an opportunity for better products. The competition drives all manufacturers to deliver better products with better value.
The playing field isn’t level, but the lines are clearly drawn, with Cisco on one side and Microsoft on the other. Don’t be surprised to see other similar alliances pop up in the industry. We’ve watched LifeSize build strong relationships with major industry players in the Logitech acquisition, and we expect to see more of that.
