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The Power of Being There®
Case Study
Avocent helps iPort see the value
of wireless video extension
“Avocent wireless technology
has afforded us an enormous
convenience that enables us to
reduce installation time,
save on wiring costs and
increase the number of
facilities we can support.”
Brian Greenwood
Director of Information Technology
iPort Media, Inc.
The Customer:
Avocent works with many industries that are learning how digital signage networks can
be used to increase sales. These applications, popular in retail settings, are beginning to
take root in the services sector. And, iPort Media, Inc. is one of the companies leading
the way.
iPort has a unique, private narrowcasting network designed to help eye care professionals
increase their per-patient sales. The company transmits advertising directly to eye
care professionals via networked computers, flat-screen plasma televisions (in waiting
rooms) and LCD screens (in exam rooms). iPort delivers its message at the point of
sale, increasing the purchase of premium products such as lenses, coatings, and
designer frames.
The Situation:
Each optometry office is equipped with high-speed Internet to connect to iPort’s server,
where they have access to various information including news, sports and weather
updates. iPort can also provide specialized content to offices, although most comes directly
from leading vendors. For example, the Johnson & Johnson Transitions commercial
(where lenses that change from light to dark are demonstrated) is a popular clip in
the iPort database.
iPort has installed their systems in the offices of eye care professionals nationwide for
several years. iPort serves 50 locations and plans to add approximately 30 to 40 locations
per month over the next few years. There are 37,000 eye care provider locations in the U.S.
alone that tap into vision-related retail sales. It was a $16 billion business in 2003.
The Problem:
With the rapid increase in location installs, iPort began looking for methods to reduce
installation time and costs. iPort’s initial installations consisted of running a complex array
of CAT 5 copper wires to receivers, computers and video systems. In several cases, iPort had
wiring issues with building materials or configurations that made it impractical to run CAT
5 wire throughout the facility.
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“The Avocent LongView Wireless
solution really simplifies the
installation process and it’s been
working flawlessly. LongView
Wireless is delivering video quality
that has satisfied our most
scrupulous doctors.”
Brian Greenwood
Director of Information Technology
iPort Media, Inc.
The Solution:
iPort’s research focused on finding an
alternative means to connect video signage
systems to networks providing video content.
They found a wireless technology created by
Avocent that could deliver audio, video and
digital data without high cabling costs.
The Avocent AutoView® and LongView®
Wireless products are the world’s first
plug-and-play systems that offer extension,
switching and broadcasting capabilities
without wires. Based on the 802.11a standard
communications protocol, the transmitter
and receiver send audio, video and digital
data through the air up to a distance of 100
feet through walls and greater than 300 feet
in line-of-site situations. Both products
enable local and remote keyboard, video
and mouse connections.
The company installed both the Avocent
LongView Wireless point-to-point solution
and the Avocent AutoView Wireless point-tomulti-point solution that enables broadcasting
from a remote PC to multiple displays.
Avocent provides iPort with a cost-effective
way to service these facilities, increasing the
number of eyecare professionals they can
work with.
Since iPort pays the upfront costs for the
equipment, and then charges the doctor’s
offices a monthly fee based on equipment
and services provided, reduced equipment
costs and installation time has a major
impact on the iPort bottom line. Avocent
helps accomplish this without the need for
additional programming, training or design.
Since the Avocent wireless products require
no new software or operating systems, they
seamlessly integrate all existing software
and hardware, including SCALA, a popular
digital signage software. Avocent LongView
and AutoView Wireless products also give
iPort more flexibility on LCD and plasma
screen placement.
“Avocent wireless technology has afforded us
an enormous convenience that enables us to
reduce installation time, save on wiring costs
and increase the number of facilities we can
support,” added Greenwood. “The ease of the
install made this a really effective tool for us
that could have a dramatic impact on our
bottom line.”
With successful installations in Indiana and
California, iPort plans to roll out additional
Avocent wireless installations nationwide.
“The Longview® Wireless extender, based
on 802.11a and Advanced Encryption
Standard (AES), connects directly to target
devices and serves as the radio interface link
so that the computer can transmit secure
audio and high-resolution video data through
walls – all without VGA cables.”
4991 Corporate Drive, Huntsville, AL 35805
TEL 866.286.2368 FAX 256.430.4030
www.avocent.com
Avocent, the Avocent logo,The Power of Being There, LongView and AutoView are
trademarks of Avocent Corporation or its affiliates. All other marks are the property
of their respective owners. Copyright © 2004 Avocent Corporation.
1004-IPort-CS
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