inPerson Video Conferencing System Gets OEM Treatment, Wireless
After this week’s staggering news regarding the new touchscreen player comes the business as usual news from Creative. The inPerson conferencing system, announced quite a while back, has finally gained some real traction in the OEM market. While we don’t have sales figures or stats, the inPerson really hasn’t made any news at all, and probably is considered a bust financially. Finally, someone may turn that around. Today, Creative and Walsh Wireless have announced that they have teamed up to package the inPerson system with Sprint wireless, thus resulting in truly wireless high quality video conferencing. Originally with wifi for the office building, the new system will work anywhere that there is a Sprint data connection, which means only really large US cities. Not a huge announcement from the company, but a bit of positive news from a product that we all thought was dead in the water is perhaps a good sign of things to come. Intriguing moreso, perhaps, because Sprint is a main rival of AT&T (exclusive carrier of the iPhone in the US), and a previously unknown OEM coming out of the woodwork for this partnership. A precursor to a Zii/Plaszma partnership with Sprint? Who knows. We can keep hoping.
Read the official PR release after the jump.
Milpitas, CA (Vocus/PRWEB ) July 29, 2009 — Creative today announced its agreement with Walsh Wireless that optimizes the breakthrough Creative inPerson video conferencing device for mobile use with the Sprint Now Network™.
The combined efforts of Creative and Walsh Wireless enable inPerson to be used as a mobile device in a coffee shop, airport, hotel or anywhere there is Sprint 3G or 4G mobile broadband service. inPerson can be used without a web browser or wireless subscription service. With support for the most frequently used signaling standards for videophones, both SIP and H.323, inPerson provides the most versatile video conferencing solution on the market today.
As part of the agreement, Walsh Wireless will serve as the centralized solution procurement and delivery point for Creative inPerson with Sprint wireless network connectivity through all available sales channels. Walsh Wireless will bundle the inPerson unit with a router and a Sprint data connection card, and the Company will also provide custom logistics and ongoing support as part of its 5 Star Service Experience. Sprint operates America’s most dependable 3G network.* Sprint 4G is currently available in Baltimore and is expected to be available in Portland, Las Vegas, Atlanta and other markets this summer.
“In the current economic climate, businesses need to find ways to work smarter, increase employee productivity and reach decisions quickly” said Chick Walsh, Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Walsh Wireless. “The Creative Labs In-Person device ease of use, flexibility and affordability allows companies to easily do just that. We are excited about our partnership with Creative Labs and believe the In-Person device, along with Wireless Broadband Network capability and Walsh Wireless’ 5 Star Customer Experience, will reinvent the way corporations and individuals communicate in the future.”
Creative also announced today that inPerson is now interoperable with video conferencing systems from Polycom, Tandberg, Lifesize, Sony and Aethra, which are traditionally stationed in corporate boardrooms. With the portable, compact and lightweight inPerson, traveling executives and salespeople as well as telecommuters can communicate with colleagues and customers from the road with the impact of actually being in a face-to-face meeting.
“In a market where companies are striving to cut costs, inPerson provides a totally disruptive and cost-effective technology that enables companies and employees to increase productivity while greatly reducing travel costs,” said Jeff Stoen, VP and GM for inPerson Conferencing at Creative. “From major corporations to our own U.S. President, business leaders are actively communicating the need for videoconferencing. What’s great about adding mobility and interoperability to inPerson is that now the device can truly integrate into existing corporate video conferencing systems that aren’t accessible to all employees and are relegated to the board room. With inPerson you can experience all the benefits of video conferencing whether you’re in a busy airport, hotel conference room or working at home.”
With a footprint of less than 8 x 6 x 2 inches and weighing less than two pounds, the wireless inPerson features a high-quality seven-inch screen for high-resolution VGA video, and it can connect to a large flat panel screen, TV or projector for life-size high-resolution video presence.
Pricing and Availability
Creative inPerson is available now for only US$859.99 including a one-year service agreement. More information on pricing and customized packages can be found at http://inperson.preferredorders.com/. For more information about Walsh Wireless visit www.walshwireless.com.About Creative
Creative is a worldwide leader in digital entertainment products. Famous for its Sound Blaster® sound cards and for launching the multimedia revolution, Creative is now driving digital entertainment on the PC platform with products like its highly acclaimed ZEN® MP3 and portable media players. Creative’s innovative hardware, proprietary technology, applications and services leverage the Internet, enabling consumers to experience high-quality digital entertainment – anytime, anywhere.About Walsh Wireless Solutions
Walsh Wireless, a leading wireless solutions innovator and exclusive Sprint partner, is uniquely positioned to deliver comprehensive wireless solutions packages that are custom-tailored to address the individual needs and pain points of its customers. Leveraging a broad network of partners, Walsh is equip to address a range of issues – from strategic consultation and integration to mobile devices and wireless applications — to provide a complete solution.This announcement relates to products launched in the United States. Availability is subject to change without notice and may differ elsewhere in the world according to local factors and requirements. Sound Blaster and ZEN are trademarks or registered trademarks of Creative Technology Ltd in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
- Based on independent, third-party drive tests for 3G data connection success, session reliability, & signal strength for the top 50 most populous markets, January 2008 to February 2009. Not all services available on 3G and coverage may default to separate network when 3G unavailable.
