Archive notice: This article was originally published on June 19, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
TANDBERG, the world’s leading provider of telepresence, high-definition videoconferencing systems and mobile video solutions, today introduces its new E20 video VoIP phone. The video phone is intended for widespread use in companies and has the potential to replace conventional desk phones in the near future. CD-quality sound, DVD-quality images and a highly attractive price-performance ratio are just some of the new system’s special features.
Distance no longer matters: whether calling a colleague one floor below or communicating by video with a partner on another continent, the new E20’s sound quality surpasses that of any conventional office phone. What sets the new system apart from the traditional desk phone is its visual component. With the E20, both quick calls and longer meetings are always conducted face to face. This reduces misunderstandings and has a positive effect on building trust.
The system’s 5-megapixel camera is positioned at the user’s eye level and records the user from the front, significantly improving eye contact with the other participant. Problems found in other video phones, which often show only part of the face or tend to distort the image, are a thing of the past with the E20. Thanks to its high resolution and 10.6-inch (26.92 cm) widescreen LCD monitor, nonverbal cues such as facial expressions and body language can also be seen clearly.
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“The E20 has the potential to make personal video communication available to everyone in the enterprise,” said Thomas Nicolaus, Managing Director of TANDBERG Central Europe. “It provides the foundation for natural and personal communication between participants in different locations, with all the benefits of visual communication.”
The E20 includes an ultra-wideband 20 kHz speakerphone and a 10 kHz handset. Other features include standard IP telephony functions such as call transfer, message-waiting indication and call forwarding. The E20 also offers intuitive menu navigation, clear directory structures and dedicated quick keys for direct access to advanced IP telephony and video functions. Multimedia presentations can also be received via the video phone.
The E20’s standards-based video and audio transmission makes the video phone compatible with all common office communications equipment—from telephones and videoconferencing systems to telepresence solutions. It is therefore a complete endpoint for visual communication. Advanced Encryption Standard authentication (AES-128) ensures the secure transmission of content, files and presentations.
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“The broad implementation of an enterprise-wide unified-communications strategy is being driven significantly by the convergence of video and voice systems. This considerably reduces corporate IT costs,” said Nora Freedman, Senior Analyst at IDC. “Comprehensive, easy-to-use audio and video solutions are needed. They should be used throughout the organisation for most internal and external communication to enable effective collaboration.”
Shipments of the E20 will begin in early 2009.
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