Tandberg offerings take VC out of the boardroom
Vendor claims latest products will meet the demand for portable face-to-face video conferencing
Videoconferencing (VC) is moving away from the traditional boardroom environment, Tandberg has claimed as it unveiled its new products that deliver video “anytime, anywhere, and for anyone”.
The new additions consist of the Tandberg Content Server, which converts any video system into a broadcast studio for streaming and archiving video calls; Tandberg’s 3G Gateway, which extends visual communications to devices with 3G mobile capabilities; and Tandberg’s Compass MXP and Utility MXP endpoints, which are designed for immediate face-to-face information access from public spaces.
Fredrik Halvorsen, Tandberg’s chief executive, said: “Organisations are increasingly seeking ways to use multimedia technology as the glue that allows people to converge when and where they are needed without regard for location or time zone.”
“The integration of these innovations into our total solution expands the reach of visual communications by providing face-to-face collaboration anytime, anywhere and for anyone.”
Mike Woollett, EMEA business development manager for financial services at Tandberg, told CRN: “Historically the use of video has been very much focused around the meeting or boardroom. Now people want to take video out of the boardroom. Our new offerings will give resellers additional products to meet the business needs of customers.
“We currently have around 30 resellers but are always reviewing our channel,” added Woollett.
VC reseller City IS has been a Tandberg reseller since 2001. Ian Heard, director of global sales at City IS, said: “Last year we were Tandberg’s largest platinum partner and its latest range of products should keep us as their biggest partner in the UK.
“Traditionally VC was used purely to save on travel costs, but now customers can use it to create new revenue streams. More businesses are using it in a mission critical way and are looking at ways that VC can make them money. There is a move away from the boardroom. Predominantly 85 per cent of our sales were group VC systems, but last year desk-top VC products accounted for 35 per cent of our sales,” he added.