STAINES, UK, Oct. 1, 2008-TANDBERG® (OSLO: TAA.OL), a leading global provider of telepresence, high-definition (HD) video conferencing and mobile video solutions, today unveiled the new immersive TANDBERG Telepresence T3 system, a new telepresence server and a new package of TANDBERG-certified services that complete the telepresence experience. Together they create an across-the-table executive meeting experience to speed decision-making and unify the organisation. In addition, experts on standards-compliant video systems can be brought in at a moment's notice - extending the reach of telepresence meetings to all employees.
"With today's product and service debuts, TANDBERG raises the bar for telepresence," said Fredrik Halvorsen, TANDBERG CEO. "Building on our history of innovation, TANDBERG delivers a step change in telepresence through aesthetics and technology that heightens the sense of personal interaction while in a meeting. This is the new way of working."
New TANDBERG Telepresence T3
The TANDBERG Telepresence T3 creates an experience that is personal and comfortable while meeting the highest executive standards. Influenced by their cultural heritage, TANDBERG's engineers used Scandinavian design elements to create a simple, clean, visually attractive telepresence suite. The development team, including a social anthropologist, collaborated with customer groups to evaluate preferred designs, colours and room set-ups to optimise the user experience. Blue walls the colour of the Nordic sky and specialised room lighting create a natural appearance, and warm wood walls, aluminum and glass provide an exclusive finish.
The design works in tandem with innovative technology invisible to the user. The Full HD (1080p) telepresence engines, large Full HD screens and PrecisionHD 1080p cameras, which are positioned for direct eye contact, ensure that participants appear as if they are in person. The TANDBERG Telepresence T3 also includes integrated touch collaboration screens to place calls and share presentations. Excellent sound quality is ensured by full-duplex spatial audio with super wideband stereo sound.
The TANDBERG Telepresence T3 is interoperable with all standards-compliant PC, desktop and room video systems, including HD systems. The native interoperability of the Telepresence T3 means participants can connect easily when and where they need to without being locked into a specific system, network or bandwidth.
"HSBC has worked with TANDBERG extensively with its previous telepresence systems, of which we have two, among the thousand or so TANDBERG executive video systems HSBC uses," said Tim Cureton, group head of telecommunications, HSBC. "The TANDBERG Telepresence T3 units are notable for their usability beyond executive 'hello' meetings, for their integration with standard video conferencing technology, and for cost-efficiency. The TANDBERG T3 will take our use of collaborative global telepresence meetings to a new level, in addition to adding to our portfolio of green technologies that reduce unnecessary travel expense and maintain our status as a carbon-neutral company."
New Telepresence Server
With the TANDBERG Telepresence Server, any type of standards-compliant video system can be added to a TANDBERG telepresence meeting at the best possible quality, including HD. The Telepresence Server also provides robustness and reliability through the unique TANDBERG transcoding technology, which allows systems with varying capabilities on different networks with different bandwidths to join into the same telepresence meeting. The Telepresence Server becomes a platform for scalability as an organisation's use of telepresence grows.
For user convenience, five different telepresence viewing modes are available, that extend the concept of continuous presence into the telepresence environment. Meeting participants can see each other at the same time between multiple sites, rather than just one other site. TANDBERG telepresence users can select their preferred mode and, for connecting standards-compliant video conferencing systems, the server intelligently determines the best mode to establish the highest quality experience possible.
New TANDBERG Total Service
TANDBERG Total Service is delivered by a network of people, processes and equipment to offer customers one globally available, yet locally synchronised, solution. Certified managed service providers ensure a continuous managed or hosted service performance. The Total Service portfolio includes fulfillment, network and management services to guarantee consistency at every stage:
- Local site surveys
- Network assessment and provisioning
- Telepresence room design and installation
- Fully managed or hosted service options
- On-site maintenance and support for remote devices
TANDBERG's comprehensive certification program for managed service providers requires the availability of fully managed or hosted global services from dedicated Video Network Operation Centers (VNOC). Certified suppliers will also provide concierge services, Web and telephone reservations, continuous help desk support, and proactive testing and monitoring before, during and after meetings. Certification guarantees customers IP and ISDN gateway services, universal bridging, event recording and streaming, and ad hoc VNOC services.
Several leading partners are progressing through the Total Service certification process and will be announced later this year.
TANDBERG Total Telepresence is a complete set of products and services that includes the TANDBERG Telepresence T3, TANDBERG Telepresence T1, TANDBERG Personal Telepresence 1700, TANDBERG Codec C90 Telepresence Engine, TANDBERG Telepresence Server and TANDBERG Total Service.
For more information about these TANDBERG products or services, or to contact a TANDBERG representative, visit www.tandberg.com.
About TANDBERG
TANDBERG is a leading global provider of telepresence, high-definition videoconferencing and mobile video products and services with dual headquarters in New York and Norway. TANDBERG designs, develops and markets systems and software for video, voice and data. The company provides sales, support and value-added services in more than 90 countries worldwide. TANDBERG is publicly traded on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker TAA.OL. Please visit www.tandberg.com for more information.
TANDBERG is a trademark or registered trademark in the U.S. and other countries. All other product and company names here in may be trademarks of their respective owners.