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IP phone systems use a Power over Ethernet (PoE) network. Until recently, connecting overhead paging systems usually involved employing a VoIP gateway to connect analog speakers. Telcom & Data, a leader in overhead phone paging systems, is proud to introduce CyberData’s IP drop-in ceiling tile speaker as a favorable installation alternative. The ceiling speaker is a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE 802.3af) and Voice-over-IP (VoIP) loudspeaker that connects easily into local area networks. By eliminating the need to cut a hole in the ceiling, installation time is cut by 70%.

The speaker easily fits most ceiling tiles with a 1’ x 2’ “drop-in” design. The device can be used with the majority of SiP-based IP PBX and it can play audio from a multicast source in a non-SiP setting. The speaker is IP addressable and works like any IP end point on the phone system.

When Ricardo Trinidad, President of Telcom & Data, was asked about the CyberData speaker, he said, “This new innovation from CyberData really makes VoIP paging installation a breeze. On top of that, the speakers offer crisp and clear sound.”

For more information on VoIP Paging, visit Telcom & Data's website or call 1-800-335-0229.

In loud offshore environments, visual indicators are needed for effective emergency communication. According to the UK Offshore Operation Association, “Visual warnings in the form of high-intensity flashing beacons should be provided in areas subject to high ambient noise to supplement the acoustic alarm signals.” Telcom & Data, a leader in offshore technology, recommends Cooper’s XB13 flashing beacon.

The XB13 flashing beacon is constructed to meet rigorous offshore requirements. Tough corrosion resistant GRP material makes the beacon impervious to the harshest outdoor conditions. The device is fully weather proof and can operate in temperatures between –40°F to +131°F. Various colors are available, making the product adaptable for different signaling purposes.

When Ricardo Trinidad, President of Telcom & Data, was asked about the beacons, he said, “Cooper Industries is one of the most trusted names in emergency communication. I am happy to carry these beacons because they are rugged and reliable. And they are absolutely critical for safety in loud offshore settings.”

For more information about Cooper Industries’ XB13 flashing beacon, visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.

ZTE’s M900 offers the highest value conferencing platform in the industry at $195 per port. However, at 128 ports, small businesses may not be able to justify the cost ($25K), nor do they need 128 ports. ZTE has partnered with Vidtel to create a perfect solution for small enterprises. Vidtel’s cloud based MeetMe video conferencing service is now available for use with ZTE's hardware and software-based endpoints. Applicable products include ZTE’s T800, T700, and T100. The partnership allows small firms to utilize the ZTE video conference hardware and software, without an additional hardware purchase or monthly payments. A three-year agreement with Vidtel for eight endpoints in a Vidtel meeting room is approximately $10K and additional ports can be added at any time.    

Vidtel provides an exceptional any-to-any service. That is, users can engage in conferences across different platforms, without the need for expensive bridges and exchange services. Connections can be made with businesses using any other brand of H.323 or SIP video conferencing platform, including Cisco/Tandberg, InFocus, LifeSize, Polycom, Skype, and Google Talk.

When David Jackson, Strategic Accounts Manager at TK6, was asked about the Vidtel and ZTE partnership, he said, “ZTE and Vidtel have teamed up so that small and medium enterprise users can, from a cost, ease-of-use, and interoperability standpoint conduct effective video conferences.”

For more information on ZTE products, visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.

Offshore platforms are prone to unusually hazardous conditions. In these environments, it is very important to have safe and reliable communication. Telephones must be specifically designed to handle severe weather and other dangerous conditions. Telcom & Data, a leader in offshore technology, recommends Guardian’s EXT-401 explosion proof phone.

The Guardian EXT-401 has many great features and benefits for offshore workers. For instance, the buttons on the phone are oversized so they can be easily pressed while wearing gloves. To handle outdoor environments and extreme weather, the device features corrosion resistant and moisture resistant circuitry. The phone can withstand temperatures ranging from -40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Guardian has designed the phone with rugged copper-free cast aluminum housing and a heavy duty handset cord. The device is constructed to contain explosions within the equipment. This prevents an explosion from igniting the hazardous environment outside the phone.

Ricardo Trinidad, President of Telcom & Data, said, “We are so proud to partner with Guardian. As far as I am concerned, the EXT-401 sets the standard for offshore telephones. It’s virtually indestructible and meets all the requirements for hazardous prone sites.” Specifically, the EXT-401 meets the requirements for Class I Division 1 and Class 2 Division 1 areas judged to be hazardous due to the presence of flammable gasses, vapors, dust or fibers.

For more information on Guardian’s EXT-401 explosion proof phone, visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.

Offshore platforms present some of the hardest, loudest, and most volatile work conditions of any industry. Under these hazardous conditions quick and reliable communication is essential for safety and productivity. Telcom & Data, a leader in offshore technology, is proud to introduce the Guardian AB-1000 acoustic phone booth to deliver audible communication in offshore environments. Acoustic Phone booths protect users from harsh weather conditions while drastically reducing background noise.

When asked about the importance of acoustic phone booths, Ricardo Trinidad, president of Telcom & Data, said “Everybody who has ever worked in a loud offshore environment knows communicating over the phone is impossible without an acoustic phone booth.” The Guardian AB-1000 model reduces noise levels by as much as 25 decibels.

The AB-1000 model boasts many excellent performance features. The model is made of tough GRP material. The booth is maintenance free, UV and corrosion resistant, and can withstand chemical attack. Additionally, the phone booth can be equipped with strobe lights, loud ringers, and explosion proof speakers to aid in the signaling of phone calls to workers.

For more information on the Guardian AB-1000 Acoustic Booth, visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.

ABOUT Telcom & Data:
Since 1996 Telcom & Data has been providing thousands of telecommunication solutions to organizations around the world to measurably improve communications. The company offers numerous emergency notification and hazardous area phone products for industrial, construction, and offshore settings. Telcom & Data maintains a network of over 1500 technicians with locations in Chicago, Milwaukee and Miami.

ABOUT Guardian Telecom:
Founded in 1986, Guardian's predecessor, Newco Safety Tel Inc. set out to develop and market a new generation of hazardous area telephones for use in locations where dangerous explosive atmospheres could be present. Guardian’s state-of-the-art production facility and qualified personnel continue to design and produce top quality telephones with a full range of features, making safe communication economically available to everyone, regardless of their work environment.

Almost everybody has had the experience of sitting in the back a school classroom and being unable to hear the instructor.  This situation is faced by many students in our schools every day. Because the students can’t hear the teacher properly, they have trouble paying attention, they don’t participate, and they don’t learn the material.  However, this situation can be avoided through use of voice amplification systems.  When using voice amplification, teachers can speak at their natural voice level and students can hear the teacher at an equal volume level no matter where they are located in the room.  It’s a very simple way to invest in our children’s future.

“Long-term studies show that overall scores go up 7% when

every classroom is amplified. (These findings were validated

twice by the U.S. Department of Education [MARRS Project].”

(“The Benefits of Classroom Amplification.”, MARRS-Study Info, 2005)

Teachers that use voice amplification report an increase in student participation, focus, and attentiveness.  These benefits ultimately lead to an increase in academic achievement.  Teachers benefit from voice amplification too.  Educators have reported less fatigue, vocal stress, and absenteeism. 

At Telcom & Data, we recommend Bogen’s Orator.  The Orator is easy to use and delivers great sound quality.  See the video below for details:

Don’t miss the opportunity to give our children the best education possible!

For more information about the Bogen Orator, visit telcom-data.com or call 1-800-335-0229.

Telecom & Data, a leader in teleconferencing products, has seen in-house conferencing bridges flourish in popularity. Growing demand to use teleconferencing for client meetings, sales presentations, team meetings, quarterly reports, and webinars have motivated businesses to seek lower cost conferencing solutions. By owning an in-house platform, users eliminate the per-use fees associated with subscription based services. According to Sonexis, a leading provider of in-house conferencing solutions, users have reported savings as high as 80%.

Another benefit of in-house conference bridges is enhanced security. Often very sensitive and confidential issues are discussed in corporate teleconferencing meetings. An in-house conferencing system can be installed behind the corporate firewall where it will be protected from viruses and other invasions. With an external service provider, documents are generally transferred to the outside provider during the conference. Consequently, this material is exposed outside the corporate network and becomes vulnerable.

Sonexis Conference Manger is used by more small and medium sized businesses than any other in-house bridge on the market. The product’s ease of use and adaptability has made the product a favorite in the industry. Users simply plug Conference Manger into their voice (PSTN) or data network (VOIP) and within minutes the company can schedule, launch, and record conferences. Popular applications (like Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, and the Web Browser) provide the interfaces that make Conference Manger accommodating for any user. The device is typically installed within one hour and scales easily from 12 to 1,000 ports of audio and 5 to 1,000 seats of Web. With the bridge’s unique design, businesses can always add more features, users, or protocols.

Ricardo Trinidad, President of Telcom & Data, said, “Our company motto is ‘improving your business through telecom’. Offering in-house conferencing platforms is a perfect fit for our business. They pay for themselves within months of use. This is exactly what we want for our customers.”

For more information about In-house conference bridges, visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.

Trisys telephone call recording system is perfect for small and medium sized businesses looking for a cost effective and user-friendly product.

Telcom & Data, a leader in business telecommunications, is proud to introduce Trisys Replay call recording system. The system includes a server and accompanying software. The device allows businesses to simply and affordably record phone conversations in high quality digital sound. Firms record phone calls for quality assurance, dispute resolution, and fraud protection.

To regulate quality assurance, businesses can record customer service calls. Correspondingly, a business can use the recorded calls to train its staff by correcting mistakes and identifying positive exchanges. Firms also use call recording for dispute resolution. For example, if a customer says they were quoted the wrong price, the accused business can simply check their phone records to verify the allegation. In turn, a business can ensure its suppliers keep verbal agreements. Firms also use call recording to verify fraudulent calls are not being made from their business. Phone system hackers can make illegitimate calls to locations all over the world if a business is not monitoring their phone calls closely.

There are five versions of Trisys call recording hardware to meet the unique needs of different phone system arrangements. Replay T1 records voice activity over T1 PRI trunks. Replay ST is used for analog and digital phone systems. Replay ATS is used for connecting to analog ports. Replay SIP is used to record voice activity in a SIP-based IP PBX environment. Replay RTP is a station side recording solution for IP phone systems.

When Ricardo Trinidad, President of Telcom & Data, was asked about the importance of call recording, he said, “Call recording is absolutely essential for any business. It’s a powerful tool for training employees and preventing fraud.”

For more information about Trisys Replay call recording systems, visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.

Telcom & Data, a leader in paging and amplification systems, is proud to introduce Bogen’s Orator. The Orator is a voice amplification system designed for school classrooms, lecture halls, and conference rooms. The system amplifies the instructor’s voice and in turn enhances the students’ ability to listen and comprehend the message.

A voice amplifier is critical for an optimum learning environment because it allows students in every area of the classroom to hear the instructor at an equal volume level. In fact, the Mainstream Amplification Resource Room study found that overall scores increased by 7% when every classroom was amplified. This fact was confirmed twice by the U.S. Department of Education. Moreover, teachers who use classroom amplification systems have reported an increase in student participation and focus.

A voice amplifier also benefits teachers. When using the Bogen amplifier, the teacher can speak at his or her natural voice level, reducing voice strain. Teachers using a voice amplifier have reported a decrease in fatigue, vocal stress, and absenteeism.

 When Ricardo Trinidad, president of Telcom & Data, was asked about the importance of Bogen’s Orator voice amplification system, he said, “We always here in the news that we need to improve our schools. This is a very practical way to help our students and teachers.”

The Bogen Orator package includes a receiver base, one or two mic transmitters, an infrared sensor unit, an infrared sensor cable, two security keys, an adjustable lanyard, and a rechargeable lithium battery.

For more information about Bogen’s Orator, visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.

Telcom & Data, a leader in industrial phone systems, is proud to announce that Guardian emergency VOIP telephones are now available. Guardian’s HDE series phones are designed for use in public settings where immediate support or hands-free communication is required. Applications include elevators, universities, parking facilities, medical centers, amusement parks, and building entrances.

The phones boast many outstanding features. The units have a durable exterior with a rust resistant finish. The telephones function in severe conditions including extremely cold weather, rain, and noisy environments. The units may be set to autodial two numbers or to ring down through a PABX. The phones feature an emergency push button. Once the button is pressed, the phone automatically connects to the intended location. An LED provides a visual confirmation of a call connection.

When Ricardo Trinidad, President of Telcom & Data, was asked about the phones, he said, “These phones are critical for public safety. With the simple push of a button, the caller receives immediate help. It couldn’t be easier.”

For more information about Guardian’s HDE series emergency phones, visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.