InFocus today announced the acquisition of Avistar  a videoconferencing software provider specializing in technology that enables seamless video calling from mobile devices, video phones, tablets, desktops, touchscreen solutions and large-format video walls. This acquisition, following the recently announced acquisition of Jupiter Systems, adds U.S. to the InFocus product line and makes them a full-service end-to-end […]

(It’s a long post – but I think it might be a good one) In my last blog I talked about the vision of Unified Communications and Collaboration (UC&C) and how UC&C can be better than being there. I of course acknowledged the importance of face-to-face meetings. To recap, I emphasized that when you use […]

I want to preface this by stating an important point. Nothing will ever replace the value of face-to-face meetings. A firm handshake to close a deal or the ability to spend time with people building strong relationships is incredibly important. The emphasis of this article is on the building and adding to the personal nature […]

Those who know me know I like to talk. I’ll leave that thought there for now. Recently, in a business discussion I was asked “Why do you answer every question with a story?” I sat there for a few moments and – yes – was speechless (imagine…). Now I’m not sure exactly what my answer […]

As some may have noticed in the profile description on the webpage, as well as if anyone has checked out my LinkedIn profile, you’ll notice the Convergent Tech Project which I’ve described as one which leverages technologies in audio visual, IT, video conferencing, Unified Communications and Collaboration (UCC), cloud-hosted and virtual machine technologies, mobility/BYOD, Internet of […]

It all began for me about 15 years ago in my AV integration sales days (even though I had worked in the AV and IT markets since 1991) when Tandberg and Polycom were of course the main brands for integrated as well as stand-alone hardware-based videoconferencing systems. This continued on of course until 2010, when […]

By Ira Weinstein Sr. Analyst, Consultant and Partner, Wainhouse Research Follow me on Twitter at @iweinstein. The Wainhouse Research (WR) video conferencing / AV team took InfoComm 2015 by storm.  For those of you keeping track, this is Ira’s 26th (yes — not a typo) InfoComm.  As always, InfoComm provides access to a wealth of […]

Sony Electronics’ new SRG-120DU is the latest member of its SRG high definition remote-operated camera line-up. Taking its place alongside Sony’s SRG-300SE, SRG-120DH and SRG-300H PTZ cameras, the SRG-120DU is the first in the PTZ line to feature a USB 3.0 interface and is UVC video compatible. The SRG-120DU is designed to easily bring professional […]

Revolabs today announced that it is now shipping its FLX UC 1500 IP and USB Conference Phone with Extension Microphones. Broadening the company’s UC product family to support larger conference rooms, the innovative device includes two extension microphones to create a wider pickup range, incorporates a high-performance speaker to expand sound capabilities, and provides the […]

Over the last several years we’ve seen the realm of Unified Communications and Collaboration grow exponentially, with new players consistently entering the market and building on technologies in cloud computing, virtualization, mobility/BYOD as well as providing extensive interoperability and integration with Microsoft Lync/Skype for Business. Certain companies, which had existed as long-standing entities in the AV […]

By David Danto IMCCA Before we all head out to this year’s InfoComm 2015 in Orlando, it probably won’t hurt to take a look at  a little video I recorded on behalf of IMCCA. (The IMCCA has been hard at work with InfoComm to present all things unified communications and collaboration  at the UCC Solutions […]

In 2014, the realm of unified communications and collaboration expanded in the AV industry like it never had before. As we look beyond the entities in audio visual that have tended to become household names, we see others with a global footprint that provide solutions and services both in and outside the mainstream. While such focus to business […]

After what I considered a highly successful trip to Enterprise Connect last month as media for rAVe, it’s time to turn focus to InfoComm and UCC in the audio visual space. When you consider the realm of Unified Communications and Collaboration, it is no doubt one of the (if not the) most visible sectors of […]

I wrote a blog back in September of last year, con·ver·gence, which began this way: The premise of AV and IT convergence is simple, two separate realms of technology come together as a single entity to expand the industry’s capabilities to satisfy full-scale technology needs of the end user. In this day and age the […]

Vaddio has added two new cameras to the RoboSHOT series, the RoboSHOT 12 HDMI and RoboSHOT 30 HDMI. Both feature HDMI out, Ethernet for IP control, a better image signal processor (ISP) and Vaddio’s Tri-Synchronous Motion. The RoboSHOT HDMI series is designed for simplicity in applications that only need HDMI video. Control functionality is accomplished […]

Audio Video Furniture has designed the perfect huddle room. Dubbed the T526 RDY2GO it seats up to 6-people and it features a slim base – which houses PC components, switchers, DAs and even accommodates cable management — and, best of all, it allows for custom cutouts for accommodating your electronics grommets/cubby’s for easy plug in […]

Enterprise Connect delivers a unique opportunity for enterprise end users to meet the industry’s thought and market-leaders and hear comprehensive analyses of the products, technologies and applications that are — or soon will be — in the market. Unified communications, WebRTC, video, wireless, contact centers, the cloud and more make up the focus of Enterprise […]

This past week, I attended the Enterprise Connect show in Orlando Florida as an invited media representative for rAVe, my first experience of this kind. I have been to many AV, IT, mobile and cyber security trade shows as an attendee, however my perspective from the side of a media representative created a whole new […]

Revolabs is now shipping its FLX UC 1000 IP and USB conference phone that includes UC and collaboration settings with bridging capabilities between VoIP and UC desktop applications. Featuring both VoIP and USB audio support, the Revolabs FLX UC 1000 conference phone is designed for IP telephony environments, both on-premises and in the cloud. The […]

In 2014, the realm of unified communications and collaboration expanded in the AV industry like it never had before where industry stalwarts in videoconferencing hardware manufacturing truly began to give way to numerous newer market technologies in cloud computing and virtual machine (VM). Where hardware was once the only answer for companies like Cisco/Tandberg, over the last […]

At Integrated Systems Europe, AMX announced its new Alero Web Conferencing Audio Mixer, the ALR-AEC-8, a dedicated microphone mixer, designed specifically for web conferencing applications in medium to large meeting rooms. PC-based web conferences, like Skype, are becoming increasingly popular because of their ease of use and low cost and AMX designed the Alero Mixer […]

Barco and Vidyo jointly announced a partnership this week. In case you don’t know Vidyo, it’s a provider of cloud-based HD and UHD video conferencing solutions. The plan is to integrate Vidyo into Barco’s TransForm C enterprise collaboration solution to enable high-quality universal VTC communications. This will be demo’d at ISE next week in Amsterdam […]

Following a disruptive snow storm in the North East this week, students across the region (especially Long Island and New England) are home sledding, playing video games, drinking hot chocolate and doing everything but thinking about school. Many schools, however, are implementing continuity of learning plans that may require students to “attend class” during snow/ […]

On the heels of last week’s Microsoft Surface Hub 84-inch multi-touch collaboration board announcement, SMART Technologies has launched its own 84” product with the kapp 84. SMART is also announcing something called SMART kapp Premium Services, which enables SMART kapp app users to unlock a range of enhanced features to the already revolutionary SMART kapp […]

After a brief period of dormancy, the unified communications (UC) industry took a healthy jump to life last year. What will this year bring for the industry? UC experts are predicting the biggest trends and what they mean for enterprises and institutions looking to expand and improve their collaboration experience in 2015. A recent article […]

CTS holders pride themselves in standing apart from the crowd. Keep your edge fresh. Carve out some time to stay on top of the industry trends. Your schedule is not a light one, so we collected resources that are important for you to know about. Here are a few topics that might interest you. Plus, […]

The “Disruptors” Enter the Market In 2013, executives, engineers, salespeople and others who came from well-known industry videoconferencing manufacturers entered the market and continued to build upon a newly growing landscape of communications innovation through the implementation of advanced technologies – cloud computing and virtual machine (VM). Certain companies had already existed in this space […]

Pexip today announced that technology partner Covene, a unified communications and collaboration (UCC) consulting firm, has launched the Covene Cohesion Platform, which introduces Microsoft Outlook integration. Communicating with Pexip Infinity through an API, the solution’s Active Directory native plug-in for Outlook 2010 and 2013 allows organizations to provide employees with a branded button within the […]

By Brad Grimes Director of Editorial Services, InfoComm International Have you seen the new TV advertisements for GoToMeeting, the online collaboration tool that most of us have probably used at one time or another? The company is highlighting videoconferencing integration and touting reduced travel as a top benefit. Been there? Done that? I probably don’t […]

By David Danto Director of Emerging Technology, IMCCA How much money are you wasting on technology today? Many technology products have failed at organizations (or in the marketplace) because its owner assumed it was just so cool that everyone would flock to using it. Regrettably, that’s just not reality. No matter how “cool” the technology […]

By David Danto Director of Emerging Technology, IMCCA A funny thing happened to me last year. I woke up early at a hotel in the middle of a business trip because I had to give a presentation to a client. I ate some breakfast in my room, showered and dressed and then gave that presentation […]

Last week I published a blog on the Internet of Things and convergence, basically highlighting two companies — Cisco and Google as those leading the way in IoT and IT. However I felt the need to clarify that while I mentioned the cloud collaboration environment that Cisco has built through acquisitions as strategic to an overall […]