Comment from Gary Kayye: This is a MAJOR shift in AMX’s strategy.  We WILL see Crestron follow this with another distributor SOON – remember I said that!

AMX®, the leading provider of solutions that simplify the implementation, maintenance, and use of technology to create effective environments, today announced plans to expand distribution through an agreement with Almo Professional A/V, a leading U.S. distributor of consumer and professional audio visual products. Under the terms of the agreement, Almo Professional A/V now offers the AMX subscription-free Inspired XPress digital signage hardware/software line.

“This agreement is a major milestone for Almo and the professional A/V industry,” said Sam Taylor, executive vice president and COO for Almo Professional A/V. “As the first distributor of AMX signage products – one of the highest-regarded A/V brands – Almo is giving its partners access to a turn-key digital signage package so they can offer their customers an easy-to-use yet customizable signage solution. We’re augmenting this package by working with AMX to offer dedicated programs and trainings that help our partners make the most out of every digital signage sale.”

“Almo Professional A/V has an excellent reputation with its channel partners and have built a highly skilled sales team that is InfoComm-trained and DSCE-certified,” said AMX Vice President of Business Development Sean McNeill. “Almo is the ideal distributor to help AMX reach a new segment of the AV market.”

The cost-effective Inspired XPress is based on a new type of player that provides a powerful, turn-key digital signage solution with customization capabilities. Its simple, all-in-one software tool allows users to quickly and easily create templates and content, and then publish that content to tiny players that can easily be mounted behind a display. Based on a Scalable Vector Graphics platform, it can blend streaming video, encoded video or images and audio file formats with other dynamic information such as RSS or XML feeds. It can play text in any direction and includes basic fonts for several languages and allows users to load customizable fonts to support corporate branding.

Almo Professional A/V will host an Almo/AMX Digital Signage Solution Provider program. Almo will also provide resellers with educational opportunities for the IS XPress solution via live webinars, on-demand classes, and live instructor-led training at its E4 AV Tour sponsored by InfoComm.

AMX is a member of the Digital Signage Association www.digitalsignageassociation.org. To learn more about AMX digital signage solutions please visit www.inspiredsignage.com.

About AMX
AMX hardware and software solutions simplify the implementation, maintenance, and use of technology to create effective environments. With the increasing number of technologies and operating platforms at work and home, AMX solves the complexity of managing this technology with reliable, consistent and scalable systems. Our award-winning products span control and automation, system-wide switching and audio/video signal distribution and technology management. They are implemented worldwide in conference rooms, homes, classrooms, network operation / command centers, hotels, entertainment venues, broadcast facilities, among others.

AMX was founded in 1982 and is a member of The Duchossois Group. For more information, visit www.amx.com.

About Almo Professional A/V
Founded in 2009, Almo Professional A/V is the nation’s fastest growing distributor serving the needs of professional audiovisual integrators, dealers and consultants. With a highly skilled sales team, reseller education programs, 12 distribution centers across the U.S. and product lines specifically for the Pro A/V channel, customers can expect the full distribution experience on a local and a personal level.

The entire Almo Professional A/V sales team is Infocomm-trained, and the vast majority is CTS-certified. The team is also the first to complete the Digital Signage Certified Expert program. Almo Professional A/V teams with InfoComm International to offer certified courses that enable partners to stay ahead. At the same time, the division works with industry vendors to bring live and online product training opportunities directly to channel partners.

Almo Professional A/V distributes all the leading displays and peripherals, with new manufacturers and products being added each day. Markets served include bar and restaurant, corporate, digital signage, education, government, healthcare, home theater, hospitality, house of worship, and rental & staging.

Almo Professional A/V is a division of Almo Corp., the nation’s leading independent distributor of consumer electronics and major appliances. For more information about Almo Professional A/V, please call 410-560-2890 or go to www.almoproav.com. Almo Professional A/V can also be followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/almoproav.