Dubai, 02 February 2009 - TANDBERG has expanded its advanced product offering by adding the two most modern telepresence business tools that help companies increase productivity, while keeping operating costs at bay.

TANDBERG - a leading provider of telepresence and related videoconferencing solutions - today announced its launch into the Middle East (ME) market of the TANDBERG Profile, a telepresence-quality 1080p high-definition videoconferencing system, as well as the TANDBERG Codec C60, the next generation video collaboration engine.

Because UAE consumers and the ME market as a whole, is a sophisticated market that is continuously on the hunt for the latest and best technology, TANDBERG believes that the Profile and the Codec C60 will generate wide-spread interest in the region.  The reasons are clear: the Profile boasts a brand new design and offers an ultra sleek look and feel, while the C60 paves a new way of working that enables true-to-life high-definition video for all employees.

The TANDBERG Profile is available in three widescreen LCD display options (single 42", single 52" or dual 52") that offer 1080 x 1920 resolution.  These large widescreens and the PrecisionHD 1080p camera are ideally placed on the TANDBERG Profile, so that participants can truly see eye-to-eye.  The Profile includes a new coder/decoder, a camera, video displays, microphones, speakers and a remote control, and is designed for deployment in team meeting rooms.  It also offers three base options: stand-alone option with foot attachment, wheel base for mobility or a wall-mount kit for a smaller footprint.

The sleek, attractive design of the Profile also incorporates recyclable aluminium materials, keeping in line with TANDBERG's environmental sustainability goals.

"Difficult times require a break with past practices," says Fredrik Halvorsen, CEO of TANDBERG.

"With reduced budgets and a heightened need for communication, many executives are turning to telepresence to replace travel.  With the TANDBERG Profile, we are making a telepresence-quality 1080p HD experience available to teams throughout an organisation.  Moreover, the TANDBERG Profile quickly pays for itself."

The TANDBERG Codec C60 is based on the same advanced technology as TANDBERG's award-winning Codec C90 telepresence engine.  The C60 is designed to enable the highest quality visual experience.  Users are also guaranteed that the C60's simple software upgrades will allow them access to future video features.

With the C60 - the engine supporting the new TANDBERG Profile - TANDBERG has harnessed the power and flexibility of the C90 in a product more suited for everyday use.

"Introducing telepresence as an initiative to drive business forward makes perfect business sense and even more so in economic downturns which impact heavily on operating costs and the bottom-line," says Georges Lemire, TANDBERG's ME General Manager.

Meetings are one of the biggest consumers of time and budget.  Telepresence addresses not only these two issues, but also offer a host of other benefits such as accelerated decision-making, increased staff productivity and reduced need for travel, which in turn leads to reduced travel expenses.  As a direct result of less travel, telepresence also contributes favourably to corporate social responsibility through the reduction of a company's carbon footprint.

According to Lemire, clients who use TANDBERG high-definition videoconferencing solutions also experience heightened employee satisfaction as a result of faster decision-making.

Telepresence offers businesses world-class communication infrastructure that creates an authentic in-person meeting experience and provides an ideal platform for interaction among all employees - no matter where they are.  This technology helps to improve communication between staff as it allows dispersed teams to work together more efficiently.  In addition, it affords work teams easier access to experts in any part of the world.

Other spin-offs for using telepresence include less down-time of staff across all time zones, improved ability to foster partnerships and increased security.

-Ends-

About TANDBERG
TANDBERG is a leading global provider of telepresence, high-definition videoconferencing and mobile video products and services with dual headquarters in New York and Norway. TANDBERG designs, develops and markets systems and software for video, voice and data. The company provides sales, support and value-added services in more than 90 countries worldwide. TANDBERG is publicly traded on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker TAA.OL.  Please visit www.tandberg.com for more information.

TANDBERG is a trademark or registered trademark in the U.S. and other countries.  All other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

TANDBERG Profile:
The TANDBERG Profile has an intelligent, user-friendly interface and is flexible for any team room environment.  Its three widescreen LCD display options (single 42", single 52" or dual 52") coupled with full duplex audio and a strategically placed PrecisionHDÔ 1080p camera allow for better eye-contact and more natural communication.  The sleek, attractive design of the Profile also incorporates recyclable aluminium materials, keeping in line with TANDBERG's environmental sustainability goals.  Moreover, it is part of a TANDBERG Total Solution for complete management and access to intelligent network services.  The TANDBERG Profile is interoperable with any standards-compliant videoconferencing or telepresence system. 

The Profile is driven by the new TANDBERG Codec C60, the next generation video collaboration engine. 

TANDBERG Codec C60:
The TANDBERG Codec C60 is the next generation video collaboration engine that brings telepresence-quality 1080p high-definition to the broadest range of videoconferencing applications.

The C60 is built for a streamlined, high-quality integration experience, with its standards-compliant, professional grade connectors and full APIs.  The added ability to connect up to four microphones and four HD sources, including rich multimedia, provides users with a natural and interactive experience.  Additionally, it is interoperable with all standards-compliant videoconferencing, telepresence and desktop collaboration tools.

The powerful Codec C60 is currently available for purchase as a stand-alone product and as an integration package with the PrecisionHD 1080p camera, microphone, remote control and cables.

For further information, please contact:
Hana Ibrahim
Marketing Manager, TANDBERG, Middle East
Tel: +971 4 364 2418
Video: hana.ibrahim@tandberg.com
E-mail: hana.ibrahim@tandberg.com
Website: www.tandberg.com

Tabassum Farooq
Account Manager, Cicero & Bernay Public Relations
Tel: +971 4 334 2966
Mob: +971 50 910 7003
Fax: +971 4 334 2977
E-mail: tabassum@cbpr.ae
Website: www.cbpr.ae

© Press Release 2009