News

InfoComm11: ATEN jumping into NA digital signage market

June 15, 2011

KVM (keyboard/video/mouse) switch manufacturer ATEN jumped into the North American digital signage market at this year's InfoComm show in Orlando, Fla. ATEN, which also produces remote management, LCD consoles, video and data connectivity solutions, unveiled its VanCryst Media Matrix Solution, "an efficient and economical audio-visual router designed specifically for A/V system integrators."

According to the announcement from ATEN USA, the Media Matrix Solution, part of the VanCryst line of professional A/V solutions, marks the company's official entry into the North American digital signage market. ATEN USA is a subsidiary of ATEN International, which is headquartered in Taiwan. ATEN USA, which also goes by ATEN, is based in Foothill Ranch, Calif.

The VanCryst Media Matrix Solution, a combination of the VM0808T matrix switch and VE500 and VE300 extenders, routes and distributes audio and visual signals over distances of up to 1,000 feet while maintaining superior video resolution and sound quality, the company said. The solution is flexible, enabling A/V system integrators to connect a variety of sources to a variety of targets in a number of permutations: one source to eight targets; two sources to four by four targets; eight sources to eight targets; etc. The matrix switch is also flexible in the manner by which it can be accessed and controlled. Firstly, the device can be controlled locally with front panel pushbuttons via serial connection to a local computer or through a third-party serial connection. The matrix switch can also be used remotely over the Internet with a browser-based interface.

In addition to its technical advantages, ATEN said the VanCryst Media Matrix Solution provides A/V integrators with several business benefits. First, the solution is designed in anticipation of future industry developments and trends in order to ensure product longevity. As a true manufacturer, ATEN has the ability to offer a broad range of A/V products by which the company can control quality and offer reliable, price-competitive products. This enables ATEN to leverage its enterprise computing expertise and incentivize A/V integrators by sharing better profit margins with them and, in turn, provide a better TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) to their end-users, the company said.

"ATEN has been leveraging video in our KVM offerings for decades, so it was natural to tap into our patented video technologies, expand our product line and enter the North American market," ATEN CEO James Hsieh said in the announcement. "As the largest KVM manufacturer in the world and with our proven track record with video, ATEN is well positioned to capitalize on the vast North American digital signage market."

The VanCryst Media Matrix Solution is designed for deployment in environments that involve routing VGA/Audio signals, the company said, and is especially effective when long cable runs to the A/V output locations are required, and where versatility and security are essential, such as in the following applications:

• Broadcasting information to public locations
• Movie theater lobbies, customer service centers
• Information control centers
• Sporting events, gyms, bowling alleys
• Meeting rooms, seminars, company training facilities
• Casinos, transportation, and logistics centers
• Traffic control centers, port security facilities

At InfoCOmm yesterday, ATEN also unveiled its VanCryst VS1204T/VS1208T A/V Over CAT5 Distribution Unit, "a cost-effective and efficient solution for sending high-quality audio and video content to multiple displays". The distribution unit – announced concurrently with the VanCryst Media Matrix Solution – represents a concerted effort by ATEN to extend the reach of VanCryst, ATEN's line of professional A/V solutions, in the North American market, the company said.

The VanCryst VS1204T/VS1208T A/V Over CAT5 Distribution Unit rounds out the distribution solution family of products by offering utility at a competitive price in addition to ATEN's high-end, feature-rich solutions. The distribution unit is aimed at professional A/V installations that require multimedia content to be delivered to multiple destinations. The product has one video/audio input, which can be delivered to either four (VS1204T) or eight (VS1208T) video/audio outputs by way of CAT5e cables.

The distribution unit also supports both local and remote displays. Utilizing the VE170R or VE170RQ VGA/audio extenders, the VanCryst VS1204T/VS1208T can deliver a signal up to 1,000 feet away. The RQ extender features ATEN's patented Deskew technology, which supports manual synchronization of RGB signals to correct the color phase and timing mismatch that occur over long distances. As such, the distribution solution has particular utility when transmitting audio/video content over distances greater than 500 feet.

One such application is large houses of worship, which require support for several displays and extensions. The VanCryst VS1204T/VS1208T would enable the worship leader to display his sermon onto large multiple displays for the benefit of worshipers sitting at a distance in a large auditorium. When there is attendance overflow, the distribution unit is able to extend video content into rooms adjacent to the auditorium in order to accommodate worshipers. Content that is projected on the big screens can be controlled conveniently while the presentation is running from a server in the data center, preventing any disruption to the service.

"Drawing from years of audio/video technology expertise, ATEN is catering to a variety of A/V integrator needs," Hsieh said. "Some installers require more sophisticated solutions that come with a range of features while others require more economical, straightforward solutions to their particular business needs. Providing for all of the above, we believe that ATEN is poised to make big gains in the lucrative North American digital signage market."