Tag: #konftel

Hybrid Working Is Here To Stay As Offices Prepare To Burst Back To Life. #Konftel

The traditional office is set to bounce back soon, but according to leading global collaboration manufacturer Konftel, rapid transformation will need to take place to deliver safer working conditions.

“Video conferencing will continue to drive meeting communications across a mix of remote working and phased office life,” UK Sales Director Jeff May said. “More companies are reorganising their offices and preparing to facilitate increased video meetings. That’s why we’re urging resellers to fully prepare their customers for the next phase of Covid recovery – backed by the latest independent research and a new educational webinar.”

Konftel estimates more than half of businesses are planning to accelerate IT budgets this year, with video meeting room technologies being one of their top priorities. May says the hybrid workplace will continue to grow, blending a combination of working from home and a gradual return to offices.

The company’s views have been reinforced by new research from strategic advisory analysts Metrigy and discussions with distributors and resellers across the globe.

“The traditional office is already going through a significant transformation,” May continued. “It’s clear many successful companies are already experiencing a rapid return on investment and are planning to invest more in meeting room technologies and hardware for remote workers.

“Versatile, cost effective and ‘climate neutral’ solutions (with no net impact on the planet) will be key. Konftel ticks every box.”

To support a safe office return, Konftel advises:

  • Limiting capacity of office spaces to ensure adequate social distancing
  • Converting existing meeting rooms into video enabled conferencing
  • Installation of touchless device technologies such as ‘contactless conferencing’
  • Adding more enclosed work zones 
  • Increased general cleaning and sanitation

“Future workgroups will likely consist of a mix of in-person and remote participants, with professional-quality video meetings becoming the benchmark for collaboration success, wherever people are working. Flexibility is key.”

May added: “Clearly it is an evolving situation in all four corners of the world. But one thing is for sure, businesses need to prepare for greater numbers in the office, whilst also maintaining remote working too.

“We are planning a new webinar over the coming months to advise and assist resellers on how they can best equip their customers for the next phase of Covid recovery.”

Konftel has seen huge demand for flexible USB-based video kits, whilst early orders for its new Konftel Cam10 business webcam have exceeded expectations. A series of new products are in the pipeline, such as a high performance speakerphone and combined video cameras.

Contactless Conferencing

May emphasised: “Safety and social distancing will be vital when more people return to offices. No-touch solutions will be increasingly popular. Take our Konftel Unite app for example, that switches the operation of audio-based meetings from the traditional keypad to the screen of a mobile phone or tablet, easily via Bluetooth.”

Konftel has always argued for flexibility when it comes to all the collaboration tools available, such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Webex. It says safety is paramount too. At the office, Bring Your Own Meeting (BYOM) means the user can take their laptop into the meeting room with their choice of collaboration app installed and then connect the computer to the speakerphone, conference cam and screen using a single USB cable (Konftel OCC).

May concluded: “In addition our Konftel 800 audio device for example can be daisy-chained to significantly increase the distance between people, yet ensure they are still clearly heard even in the biggest of rooms. Returning to the office, embracing the hybrid workplace and working from home long term are the three main factors organisations need to be addressing now.”

Konftel celebrate another year of unprecedented success and announce partner awards. #Konftel @ExertisUK @ExertisIreland

Conferencing and collaboration specialist Konftel has recognised a year of unprecedented success by announcing a series of awards, in tribute to some of its top performing distribution partners.

Global annual sales growth reached levels never before seen in over 30 years of business – as 2020 reinforced the company’s successful transition into a major video conferencing player, with high performance cameras and flexible video kits, complemented by its renowned audio innovations.

Each year Konftel highlights its key distributors around the world with a special Konftel accolade, spanning best partners and largest growth, across different territories. The company says during 2020 their dedication was more relevant than ever following a huge shift to remote working and video meetings – as part of a dedicated two-tier route to market.

“When the majority of office workers around the world suddenly needed effective distance meeting solutions to continue to perform, our partners and their reseller networks rose to the challenge and played a frontline role  to help them transition,” says Tommy Edlund, Director of Global Sales at Konftel. “We think it is vital to recognise their supreme efforts in keeping the world productive during such challenging times. It feels extra special to hand out the awards to some of our most skilful partners this year.”

High-quality video kits such as the Konftel C20Ego and award-winning C50800 Hybrid have been designed as a ‘perfect fit’ for today’s dispersed workforce trends. In mid-February, Konftel added the Konftel Cam10, a business class webcam for desktop users who demand professional quality personal video meetings, to its expanding portfolio.

“We are living in different times and a different world, especially around distance working. The world is holding its breath about the successful rollout of a vaccine, but even when people do return to the office in bigger numbers, expectations around flexible and agile working have changed forever. We won’t go back to before,” says Edlund.

Konftel recognises the importance of its devoted distribution partners to ensure growing numbers of end users can ‘come together even when apart’. Its hall of fame comprises:

UK & Ireland Exertis (UK) Limited (Best Partner)

North America Jenne Inc (Best Partner and Largest Growth)

Western Europe Exertis PRO AV (Best Partner and Largest Growth)

Central Europe KONTEL Spolka Z Ograniczona (Largest Growth)

Eastern Europe Stanford Europe (Best Partner)

Northern Europe PeBeCom AS (Largest Growth)

DACH Komsa Kommunikation Sachsen AG (Best Partner) and Herweck     AG (Largest Growth)

Southeast Asia VExpress Distribution (Best Partner)

Northeast Asia Control Tech Group Ltd (Best Partner) and Kaul Data System Inc (Largest Growth)

“The world has changed and Konftel has evolved too as we further strengthen our position as a leading video conferencing specialist – backed by a loyal and dedicated distributor and reseller base, that underpins our fully committed two-tier business model, with no direct sales.”

Edlund continued: “Our strong partner network, combined with an expanding and innovative product portfolio has catapulted Konftel further forward and helped organisations across the globe successfully transition to more hybrid ways of working. We expect these trends to continue for the long term, based on sustainability, agility and high performance visual and audio technologies.”

In addition Konftel is also inspiring more ‘greener’ ways of working, as demonstrated by its Climate Neutral Certified status. Edlund points out how many more rooms need to be adapted for video conferencing, especially when people return to the workplace and almost every meeting will have at least one participant joining from a distance. He highlights how sustainable climate friendly products are particularly important in relation to the large volume of hardware investments, catering for the hybrid workplace.

He concluded: “2020 saw massive changes which will never go back to the way they were before. Conferencing is a proven and effective environmentally friendly alternative to business travel, and it will continue to play a key role as working life evolves. We are ideally placed to help resellers transition their customers to more hybrid ways of working as the digital transformation journey gathers pace in 2021 and beyond. Our high sales growth demonstrates this and we thank all our partners everywhere for their valued support.”

Konftel’s New Business Webcam Will Accelerate Hybrid Working Trends. #Konftel #Webcams

Conferencing and collaboration specialist Konftel has launched a business webcam for desktop users who demand professional quality personal video meetings, at home or in the office. Be sure to see our thoughts soon on techbuzzireland.. 

The Konftel Cam10 combines big performance with compact styling and has been designed for today’s hybrid working trends – where more and more business critical meetings take place online.

The stylish device features a wide 90° field of view, two built-in microphones, 1080p (30fps) full HD picture quality and a 4 x digital zoom. It’s a perfect home and traditional office companion, or for wherever people are working.

Award-winning Konftel has a trading pedigree stretching back more than three decades spanning all four corners of the globe. It was the very first company to manufacture and sell a commercial conference phone and has grown into one of the biggest players in the world for collaboration endpoint solutions, bringing people closer together. The introduction of the Cam10 is yet another iteration of Konftel’s innovative work and its mission to create powerful conferencing solutions.

“The Konftel Cam10 is a business class webcam that reflects the massive demand from desktop users seeking professional quality personal video meetings, based on an enhanced visual and audio experience,” says Regional Sales Director, Jeff May. “There’s been tremendous early interest for our latest high performance innovation, and the Konftel Cam10 will further accelerate more flexible ways of working.”

Based on simple plug-and-play USB connectivity, the portable Konftel Cam10 features easy set-up and operation, innovative picture noise reduction technology, low light capabilities and swift autofocus. The generous and natural looking field of view also helps capture content, such as from a whiteboard, in striking clarity. 

“Whatever the preferred app or cloud service, the Konftel Cam10 fits all personal collaboration needs perfectly. Just connect the USB cable to a laptop or stationary PC and users are good to go,” Product Manager Torbjörn Karlsson explains.

He also highlights how when placed in an optimal position on top of the main screen, the Konftel Cam10 enables users to make eye contact instead of just showing their head profile – improving the quality of interaction. “The Konftel Cam10 promotes a natural viewing experience and is ideal for users with single or multiple external displays. It makes webcam communication natural and easy.”

The Konftel Cam10 uses a standard damping bracket for easy and stable installation, whilst there’s the option of tripod mounting for alternative camera placement. The webcam’s two built-in microphones deliver impressive audio pick-up, supported by noise suppression technology. In a common scenario the screen speakers often perform as audio output but an improved option is to complement the Konftel Cam10 with the professional speakerphone Konftel Ego, creating an enhanced experience through Konftel’s renowned OmniSound audio technology.

In addition, a mechanical shutter functions as a built-in lens cap, to ensure complete privacy, integrity and security.

Jeff May emphasises: “You only get one chance to create a good first impression which makes high quality video and audio even more critical especially in an age where ever more business meetings take place online. It used to be a suit or a handbag or a watch that impressed in a physical meeting room, now it’s the sharpness and clarity of a video feed. And if you’re sharp and clear, presentations or negotiations and interactions are going to be 100 per cent more impactful.”

He concludes: “The Konftel Cam10 is personal, productive and performance-driven. Don’t settle for second best and an inferior impression!” 

Konftel is certified in line with the Climate Neutral standard. This means when users choose a Konftel product, there is an instant climate benefit from the very first distance meeting that replaces a business trip. Konftel offset all greenhouse gas emissions and is taking action to further reduce those emissions.  The Climate Neutral Certified label, indicates its products are climate neutral.

The Konftel Cam10 is priced at £109 (MSRP).

Konftel 800 Hybrid Conference Phone Earns Official Atos Seal Of Approval #Konftel #Tech

The acclaimed Konftel 800 hybrid conference phone has been officially certified to work seamlessly across key Atos Unify communication platforms – broadening its appeal to an even wider audience.

The flagship device has been fully tested to be compatible with the latest Atos Unify OpenScape 4000 V10 hybrid UC platform, Atos Unify OpenScape Voice V10 and Atos Unify OpenScape Business V3 solutions.

“The Atos Unify portfolio is one of the world’s leading names in unified communications and collaboration. We are proud and delighted the Konftel 800 meets Atos Unify’s exacting standards following rigorous testing,” says Torbjörn Karlsson, Product Manager at Konftel.

“Our strategy is to optimise and certify our products to ensure complete compatibility so users can connect and collaborate seamlessly. As an Atos Unify Advanced Technology Partner, Konftel has access to tools, documentation and test environments we use to exceed the highest demands of Atos customers for convenient meeting room solutions.”

The Konftel 800 offers ‘best in class’ performance and design. The hybrid device acts as a flexible and powerful device for communication and collaboration services, whether in the cloud, on premise or in hybrid environments. It connects via SIP, USB and Bluetooth.

Leading analysts Frost & Sullivan have recognized the Konftel 800 with a Product Leadership Award, highlighting how effortlessly the conference phone delivers outstanding sound in video solutions for medium to realty large meeting rooms. In addition the Konftel 800 has earned a Red Dot design award.

“Meeting room communications technologies like the Konftel 800 will become essential to bringing together hybrid workforces that have built up over the course of the early 2020’s. The Konftel 800 is an ideal solution to support the Atos range of Digital Workplace Collaboration and Communications technologies in meeting rooms,” said Mark Smith, Head of Marketing and Communications, Atos Unify. “We’re excited to see vendors like Konftel bring their technology leadership together with Atos’s leading design and delivery skills in the meeting rooms space.”

More details can be found here: https://www.konftel.com/en/compatibility/atos-unify