Twin Cities Video Guidance Positioned to Greet Industry’s Explosive Growth
Company expects to gain from Cisco’s acquisition of TANDBERG
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Eden Prairie-based Video Guidance (www.videoguidance.com), the leading visual communications company in the Upper Midwest providing video conferencing, telepresence and audio visual technologies and services, is in a “ready position,” poised to take on a multi-billion-dollar marketplace.
Last month, Cisco Systems acquired TANDBERG, a global leader in video communications, for $3.3 billion. Cisco says the acquisition accelerates its vision of changing the way people connect and communicate. Media and industry reports concur that the whopping $34 billion collaboration market is growing at a rapid pace.
“The telepresence industry is exploding!” said Michael Werch, president of Video Guidance. “Video is no longer a niche market. Video is the new voice…and it will be everywhere.”
The TANDBERG acquisition is also extremely significant to Video Guidance, which is one of TANDBERG’s key partners. Last month, Video Guidance received TANDBERG’s “Top Growth Partner Award,” given to partners who have exceeded 30 percent year-over-year growth in TANDBERG revenue in 2009. And, last year, Video Guidance received TANDBERG’s “Grant Services Partner of the Year” honor for helping organizations create teleconferencing solutions in telemedicine and distance learning in underserved rural areas.
“Video Guidance has enjoyed a remarkable partnership with TANDBERG, which has played a major role in our strong sales and continued growth,” said Werch. “As Cisco flexes its global muscles, we are shoring up our resources and facilities to take on new business in this multi-billion industry.”
Regarded as one of the premier video conferencing companies, Video Guidance understands how communications patterns are changing and how this evolution affects the way businesses work. The company helps to improve a business’ performance, increase efficiencies and decrease expenses through the integration of real-time communication technologies, such as instant messaging, presence information, IP telephony, HD video conferencing, call control and speech recognition.
Demand for video conferencing evident at high tech conference
Emphasizing the soaring demand for visual communications expertise, Video Guidance recently presented to a packed room at the Minnesota High Tech Association’s (MHTA) annual conference.
“MHTA’s conference had a record number of participants, which speaks to the area’s hunger for innovation, leadership and global competition,” said Peter Lindstrom, MHTA’s vice president of public affairs. “Video Guidance, one of the state’s creative technology leaders, enjoyed a standing-room only audience. Clearly evident of that reception, video conferencing is a hot communications strategy that businesses are seeking so they can reduce out-of-control travel expenses without jeopardizing critical communications.”
Video conferencing eases business disruption due to high fuel costs, volcanic ash
And there is another trend companies are noting. Over the years, rising fuel costs have spiked interest in video conferencing. But most recently, natural disasters, like the volcanic ash, which last month shut down many of the world’s airports and upset the plans of up to eight million air travelers, have also affected the video conferencing business.
“We received a surge of calls from companies desperate to learn how video conferencing can keep their businesses on schedule,” said Werch. “And the advantage went to our already existing customers, whose businesses kept on humming right through the mayhem.”
Video Guidance to move into new headquarters
To accommodate the company’s anticipated expansion and growth, Video Guidance next month will move into its new 9,000-square-foot corporate headquarters in Bloomington’s premier business center, Normandale Lake office Park (8000 Norman Center Dr.). The new space features numerous suites and conference rooms that will showcase the latest in high-definition video conferencing.
“We will demonstrate end-to-end visual communication strategies, ranging from HD desktop videoconferencing for the home office, to the amazing new Telepresence technology for the boardroom,” said Werch.
Designed by Minneapolis-based Edward Farr Architects Inc., the new facility also includes a new demonstration lab that will showcase how visual communications integrates with Microsoft OSC (office communications server) technology and with CallManager, Cisco’s unified communications technology. In addition, a Video Network Operating Center (VNOC) will provide Video Guidance’s customers with managed support for the company’s VG Connect™ conferencing services. VG Connect is an industry-unique integration of video conferencing tools that combines HD video, voice, web, streaming, gateway and management programs into one service.
Werch cannot hide his enthusiasm: “This is a most exciting time for our industry and our company. And we are ready!”
Founded in 1999, privately held Video Guidance, Inc. (www.videoguidance.com) provides video conferencing, telepresence and audio visual technologies and services that facilitate natural, visual communication. Video Guidance’s 2008 year-end results grew an impressive 21 percent over 2007. Strategic alliances include Conference Plus, Tandberg (OSLO: TAA.OL), Polycom (NASDAQ: PLCM), LifeSize, On Stream Media Corporation, Radvision (NASDAQ: RVSN), VBrick, and Accordent.
Video Guidance was also twice named to Inc’s. 5,000 list of the nation’s fastest growing private companies in 2007 and 2008. In 2007, the company has been among the Top 100 of the fastest growing regional companies in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and recognized by The Business Journal as one of the “50 Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies” in the Twin Cities metro area.
CONTACT:
For Video Guidance, Inc.
Gail D. Shore, 952-925-6102
Shore to Shore Communications, Inc.
gshore@winternet.com
KEYWORDS: United States North America Minnesota
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Technology Audio/Video Telecommunications
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