HP, Tandberg unveil videoconferencing service

New Delhi: HP and Tandberg announced a global managed service offering designed to provide traditional videoconferencing customers with greater quality and productivity, while aiming at decreasing travel costs.

Developed by HP, the HP Halo Video Collaboration Service is available for the full range of Tandberg conferencing systems, including Tandberg Total Telepresence offerings. The service is also available for videoconferencing offerings from other vendors.

HP and Tandberg have also expanded their reseller agreement to give more customers additional flexibility and choice in purchasing collaboration products and services.

“Our new managed service offering allows traditional videoconferencing customers to experience a level of service and return on investment that other vendors only promise,” said David Murphy, Senior VP-Imaging and Printing Group, HP. “HP and Tandberg are offering the industry's highest level of managed services to support video collaboration globally across the enterprise, from a single source.”

As part of the service, videoconferencing endpoints are being hosted directly on the Halo Video Exchange Network-a global fiber optic network designed for video collaboration that can easily allow company-to-company connections, has greater reach and does not require bandwidth scheduling.

“This extension of the relationship between Tandberg and HP allows our customers to take full advantage of the strengths we both bring to telepresence and visual communications,” said Fredrik Halvorsen, CEO, Tandberg. “We are best placed to define a universal standard for telepresence, which can protect an organization's investments.”

The Halo Video Collaboration Service provides management and support from HP, including technical support, directory management and auto meeting initiation. The service also includes the capability to connect to other videoconferencing solutions, both on and off of the Halo Video Exchange Network, enabling customers to collaborate even more effectively with colleagues, partners, vendors and suppliers.

The HP Halo Video Collaboration Service, which complements the HP Halo Telepresence Solutions portfolio, is expected to be available for customer installations in the first half of this year.