Money slated for students entering commercial electronics systems industry

Burnsville, MN, January 23, 2008 — In partnership with the NSCA Education Foundation, Bosch Communications Systems will offer two $2,500 scholarships this year in memory of Robert Bosch. In 1886, Robert Bosch founded the “Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering” in Stuttgart. This was the birth of today’s globally active Robert Bosch GmbH. From the very beginning, the company’s history has been characterized by innovative drive and social commitment. In addition to these scholarships, Bosch renewed its commitment to the NSCA Education Foundation President‘s Club, which will endow a portion of its future scholarship contributions. more

Southlake, Texas (Church Media Group) January 30, 2008 – Church Media Group, a full-service creative agency targeting the church and non-profit ministry markets, has acquired House of Worship Marketing Services (H.O.W.) in a move to expand their influence and fulfill a growing need for manufacturers, distributors and dealers to reach the multi-billion dollar church market.

“For the first time, manufacturers can have one source of contact for all of their church-related PR, marketing, advertising, product development, web initiatives and sales force training,” said Yuri Star, President of Church Media Group. more

PARK RIDGE, N.J., Jan. 29, 2008 – Sony is introducing the industry‘s first 1080i high-definition videoconferencing system, the PCS-XG80.
The new PCS-XG80 system combines 1080i resolution and a high frame rate of 60 fields per second to deliver superb live video quality and a very natural alternative to face-to-face meetings.
Its backward compatibility gives users the option of connecting with HD video quality through the growing number of high bandwidth connections or through standard-definition legacy systems, which comply with industry standards, over IP and/or ISDN. In an industry first, this new system also features BrightFaceTM, Video Annotation, and RF Remote functionality. more

MOUNTAINSIDE, New Jersey (January 29, 2008) – Further solidifying its position as the leading audiovisual, videoconference and sound systems integrator in New England, Verrex today announced two notable, industry project engineers have joined the company‘s Boston-area team. more

AMSTERDAM – Jan. 29, 2008 – Today, AMX® announced that it is using Voice over IP (VoIP) technology to add telephone functionality to its control systems. The company‘s new SIP Communications Gateways harness the power of standards-based Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to extend the features and functionality of an AMX Control System beyond traditional device and environmental control to also include two-way telephony. AMX is demonstrating its SIP Communications Gateways in AMX booth C62 at Integrated Systems Europe, being held in Amsterdam Jan. 29 – 31. more

AMSTERDAM – Jan. 29, 2008 – AMX® has expanded its product portfolio with more than 60 new solutions specifically designed to simplify the way people interact with, and use, audio/video (A/V) equipment in simpler, single-room environments, such as classrooms and conference rooms. The Novara™ product line consists of all-in-one, configurable control pad systems that combine a user interface with device control in one, flush-mount keypad, while the Solecis™ line features switchers, presentation switchers and distribution amplifiers. AMX is demonstrating both product families in AMX booth C62 at Integrated Systems Europe, being held in Amsterdam Jan. 29 – 31. more

Crestron today announced that Rosanne Lang, the company‘s Tradeshow Manager, has been appointed by the board members of InfoComm International to serve as the 2008 InfoComm Exhibitor Committee Chair. As Chair, Lang becomes an active member of the InfoComm Board of Governors, and will play an integral role in representing all InfoComm.
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In an ongoing effort to support its dealers and continuing education within the AV industry, Crestron today announced its newest initiatives for the Crestron Technical Institute (CTI) certification training program. CTI is now offering its “Programming for Certification” course nationwide, making these valuable classes more conveniently accessible to dealers, and has also added new certification levels that recognize the high level of commitment by programmers who attend Masters Classes.
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BUENA PARK, Calif.–Steve Seable has been named Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc. (YCAS) Product Manager for the DSP and Amplifier Group. Seable comes to YCAS from Disney where for many years, he held the position of Head of Audio for the Hyperion Theater at California Adventure in Disneyland. His additional experience includes mixing Broadway musicals, large tours, and television as well as theatre and studio installations. “With much of our focus on DSP products and our new amplifiers, it was imperative that we hire a dedicated product manager to support these efforts,” states Marc Lopez, marketing manager. “Steve‘s background and experience in the installation and live sound markets is a perfect fit with our requirements,” adds Lopez. more

Orlando, Florida, January 17, 2008–Tributaries® Cable is pleased to announce its unprecedented eleventh win in the past twelve years for Best Overall Wire & Cable company in the 2008 Inside Track‘s Supplier Loyalty Test survey.

Since 1985, Inside Track, a consumer electronics industry newsletter, has been helping the owner-operated independent specialist retailer and custom integrators survive and thrive in the face of mass-market competition. Each year, the Inside Track Supplier Loyalty Test survey provides a chance for retailers to grade their manufactures on 16 parameters including: Product Performance, Reliability, Innovation; Distribution Policies that Support Specialists; Obtainable Profit Margins; Technical Support; Resolution of Service, Return, and Repair Issues; Product Changes/Price Protection; Specialist-Friendly Programs; Quality of Sales Reps; Brand Name Recognition; Appropriate Product Assortment; Ease of Doing Business; Inventory Turns or Ease of Installation/ Use; JIT Delivery; and Dealer Training. more