Codian launches industry's first HD videoconferencing bridge
Vendor claims its MCU 4500-Series will give its channel partners the edge
Videoconferencing (VC) infrastructure vendor Codian has launched the industry’s first high-definition (HD) VC bridge. It has claimed that this will give its channel partners the edge over the competition.
The Codian MCU 4500-Series of multi-point bridges, which are shipped in six to 40-port configurations, boasts more than 10 times the performance of rival VC systems, according to Mark Richer, chairman of Codian.
“In the end-point world, we have been gathering steam over the up-grade of standard definition (SD) end-points to HD end-points,” Richer told CRN. “What has been missing is true HD infrastructure to bring it all together. We think the MCU 4500 is the final piece of the HD puzzle.”
Richer added that the product, which ships in January and features a built-in streaming server, scheduler and gatekeeper, is the first on the market that allows HD end-points and SD end-points to co-exist. He said this means that firms with older technology can still hold VC meetings with firms that have already invested in the newer HD technology.
“Our channel partners are very excited about the 4500-Series,” he claimed. “It is way ahead of the competition and they are confident there will be a lot of demand from the business community.”
Ira Weinstein, senior analyst at Wainhouse Research, said: “This represents a major step forward for the VC industry. Organisations that want to conduct mixed SD and HD video meetings will be well served by this latest addition to the Codian product line.”
Paul Waadevig, industry manager of Frost & Sullivan’s conferencing and collaboration practice, said: “This is what the most demanding VC customers have been waiting for: multi-point HD videoconferencing with a level of clarity, motion and detail that truly rivals a live meeting. Codian has firmly established itself with this HD technology.”