PQ Networks teams with VCON to expand the African video conferencing market

Issued by Text 100 for Business Connexion

Johannesburg, 05 Jul 2001

PQ Networks, the networking division of PQ Africa, has announced its strategic alliance with VCON, the video conferencing equipment manufacturer, for the delivery of video conferencing solutions to its customers.

"PQ Networks has been a significant supplier of video conferencing solutions to Africa for many years and as such is highly experienced in tailoring precise video conferencing solutions to its customer base," says Haggai Carmon, VCON vice-president of sales and marketing.

"We share the same vision that video conferencing is more than just an enterprise communications solution and that the technology can also provide broad social benefits in a developing country that is geographically vast."

The agreement will enable PQ Networks to deliver the latest VCON Video conferencing applications to its customers, including Media Xchange Manager (MXM).

Tim Knowles, managing director of PQ Networks, says the organisation is enthusiastic about the alliance with VCON and the benefits available through the various video conferencing applications. "We are looking forward to bringing the benefits of video conferencing applications such as distance learning and telemedicine to Africa while continuing to improve business communications for African corporations."

Knowles continues that there are a lot of opportunities available through the deployment of VCON`s MXM as an added value to PQN`s network management branch. "The MXM will allow us to manage and administer video conferencing applications just as we now do with many other services."

During the past six years VCON has developed specialised video over IP technologies and architectures, increasing the usability and scalability of video networks for organisations. "Video conferencing over IP is one solution we are very keen to implement for our customers as it will cut the cost of current teleconferencing," adds Knowles. "PQ Networks partners with world class suppliers in all sectors and the relationship with VCON continues this tradition."

Wainhouse Research recently named VCON as the market share leader in personal video conferencing for the first quarter of 2001 in revenues and units sold.

VCON

VCON is a developer and manufacturer of a comprehensive range of networked video over IP solutions. VCON provides award-winning products with a high quality of service over enterprise IP networks and is the only company to offer centralised management and administration for multi-vendor IP video networks.

The company also offers complete meeting solutions for desktop, compact, and group conferencing over ISDN, ATM, satellite, xDSL and other carriers.

The company markets its products and services through a network of reseller partners, OEMs, and value-added resellers worldwide. Headquartered in Israel, VCON holds subsidiaries in the United States with offices in the Americas (Austin, Chicago, New Jersey, Phoenix, Atlanta, Denver, Washington, DC and Mexico City), Germany, Spain, France, United Kingdom and China. VCON (Sicovam No. 022021) is publicly traded on Le Nouveau March'e. For additional information, visit www.vcon.com.

For more information regarding the revolutionary MXM, visit: http://www.vcon.com/prod.html/MXM/mxm.html

PQ Networks

PQ Africa is South Africa`s leading provider of competitive, innovative and flexible business solutions based on information and communication technology.

PQ Africa`s networking division, PQ Networks (PQN) has become the foremost network systems integrator and solutions provider in South Africa. PQN has established an enviable track record in providing world leading networking solutions encompassing both the wide and local area environs.

Through direct representation of the world`s top network product manufacturers PQN provides through effective sales and pre-sales qualification processes, the most appropriate technology and design to meet the customer`s business requirements.

PQN is actively supplying competitive and innovative solutions to diverse industries such as finance, retail, insurance, telecommunications, manufacture, travel, utilities and government services.

With a support organisation spanning some 23 locations throughout Southern Africa, PQN has the capability to service and maintain the computer networks of companies in all market segments supporting differing geographical and service level requirements. This extensive support organisation and the sophisticated Customer Care Centre enable the outsourcing of network services, such as network management, network operations and maintenance, and bandwidth management.

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