Strategic acquisition sets unprecedented standard for live production communication
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA/CAMBRIDGE, UK, OCTOBER 20, 2008—Clear-Com® Communication Systems, a brand of The Vitec Group, and a leading provider of intercom systems worldwide, today announced the acquisition of the IV-Core technology, which powers groundbreaking voice communication solutions for professional-grade live production communication over standard IP networks. With this acquisition, Clear-Com establishes Clear-Com Research, an R&D facility based in Montreal, Canada, and retains an exceptionally talented team of engineers and business development staff.
Developed by Talkdynamics Technologies Inc., an innovator of IP-based voice technologies, Clear-Com plans to embed IV-Core technologies (Instant Voice Network “IV-N” and Instant Voice Router “IV-Router”) into its traditional and next-generation intercom systems, delivering powerful capabilities such as intelligent signal routing, low-latency IP audio, presence awareness and other advanced features that will radically change the intercom experience in even the most demanding of production workflows.
“Clear-Com has long been a leader in providing mission-critical voice communication solutions for live production,” says Matt Danilowicz, Managing Director of Clear-Com. “The acquisition of this breakthrough technology and the extremely talented engineering and business development team that created it will establish a new standard for flexible, accessible and dynamic intercom communications.”
The product of a four-year research and development effort, the IV-Core suite of technologies is designed to deliver highly secure, low-latency distributed multi-conferencing and group communication capabilities. This unique development achieves ultra-wideband audio quality at low bandwidths. IV-Core also overcomes the performance variation of IP networks (including the Internet) via a bespoke packet-loss recovery algorithm combined with proprietary Instant Voice Routing algorithms. Furthermore, IV-Core technologies provide AES 128-bit encryption for protecting privacy of transmissions -- a security level on par with that of online banking transactions.
The development of IV-Core was led by President Stephane Menard of Talkdynamics, who joins Clear-Com as the Director of IP Development, and Business Development Director Patrick Menard of Talkdynamics, who assumes the role of Sales Director of Clear-Com Concert, Clear-Com’s native IP-based intercom software. The extensive IP knowledge and expertise of the Talkdynamics technical team will remain in the Montreal office, now incorporated as Clear-Com Research, a Canadian subsidiary of Clear-Com. Together with Clear-Com’s Cambridge R&D team, Clear-Com Research will focus on advancing Clear-Com’s voice communication solution offerings with the revolutionary IV-Core technology.
ABOUT CLEAR-COM
Clear-Com® is the global leader of professional communication solutions for broadcast, live performance, military, government and commercial markets. For more than 40 years, Clear-Com’s signature products such as Encore Party-line, Eclipse Digital Matrix, CellCom®/FreeSpeak® Digital Wireless and IP Communications systems have revolutionized broadcast stations, production trucks, houses of worship and performance venues. Recognizing Clear-Com for its history of intercom innovation, production teams around the world achieve ubiquitous communication with products to promote easy interoperability and global connectivity. More information can be found at www.clearcom.com.
ABOUT THE VITEC GROUP PLC
The Vitec Group plc is acknowledged as a global leader in the supply of equipment and services to the broadcasting, entertainment and photographic industries and has established a reputation for technical excellence and superior engineering along with an astute business strategy which has seen it grow by acquisition. Innovation is a cornerstone of the Group’s activities and the organization is committed to a policy of continuous product development. With revenues (2007) of $546m (£274m) and over 2,200 employees world-wide, its products are distributed in almost 100 countries, through a strong, fully-resourced distribution network or direct to the end user or corporate customer. More information can be found at www.vitecgroup.com.
ABOUT TALKDYNAMICS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Talkdynamics is a global provider of IP-based products and technology. Talkdynamics was founded in 2004 to develop and market voice and data solutions designed to provide high-quality, secured and instant voice and data communications to the enterprise, government and mobile markets. The company’s unique technology works on any IP-based wired or wireless network and device. Talkdynamics also provides development tools and embedded technology to software and hardware providers for the development of IP-based voice communication, conferencing and intercom solutions. Core competencies encompass hardware, firmware and software integration, as well as software and protocol development. To find out more about Talkdynamics, visit www.talkdynamics.com or call 450.653.9669.
