Dimension Data`s audiovisual communications company Videre is set to increase its presence in the dealing room environment through its partnership with UK-based trading room solution specialist Paragon Audio Visual.
"Videre`s sole distributorship agreement with Paragon complements our existing partnership with IPC, a world leading supplier of solutions to the financial community, and enables us to provide a complete dealing room solution," says Evan Hodkinson, business manager at Videre.
Videre will provide several Paragon solutions to enable the financial trader to work more efficiently and effectively. Hodkinson says Paragon`s XT series, which represents the pinnacle of technology in PC and video extension for structured cabling, enables the CPU to be taken away from under trader`s desks and to be put up to 200 metres away.
"Up to four CPUs (including Bloomberg and Reuters boxes) may be stored under the trader`s desk at any one time, generating heat and a confusion of plug points," says Hodkinson. "Paragon`s XT series will ease the trader`s somewhat cramped working environment."
"A bonus is the XT solution series runs over existing category 5 cabling - so these financial organisations don`t have to invest in specialised cabling," he says.
Videre is also going to supply Paragon`s mouse and video switching products. Hodkinson, discussing the benefits of these solutions, says: "Traders will benefit from the multiprotocol keyboards which will enable them to operate up to six PCs or workstations from a single keyboard.
"These intelligent keyboards are Reuters and Bloomberg compatible and will enable the trader`s to be one step ahead in the pressurised trading environment," he says.
Paragon`s TV distribution products will also be a valuable addition to the trader`s working life. "Distributed TV, which will be available as a window on the trader`s desktop, will enable the traders to flick through several channels - CNN or a variety of others - and be on top of breaking news and the latest share price fluctuations," says Hodkinson.
With these kind of product benefits its easy to see why Paragon has an installed base of over 30 000 positions and clients which include Chase Manhattan Bank, ING Baring, Merrill Lynch, and Bank of China. "We hope to add a few major South African financial service organisations to that list," concludes Hodkinson.
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Dimension Data Holdings
Dimension Data Holdings Limited is a global Information Technology Integration corporation based in Sandton, South Africa. The company which is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, has a turnover of approximately US$1.5 billion. The Group has representation on five continents and operates out of 36 countries. The Group has achieved a compound annual growth rate of 98% in turnover and 57% in headline earnings per share over the past 5 years.
The Group is focussed on communications/ networking infrastructure and electronic commerce software applications, two of the highest growth sectors of the information economy.
Videre
Videre, a division of Dimension Data, is the leading supplier of audio and video communication solutions to the local market. The company distributes PictureTel, Polycom, IPC and Ezenia solutions and is a gold partner to Cisco.
IPC`s voice trading system, the most used trading turret in the world with a 90 percent market share in New York and a 61 share in London, forms the heart of Videre`s trading solution.
The Paragon family of products, also available from Videre, enable the trading desk of the future by increasing desk space and trader efficiency with the removal of the CPU`s, multiple keyboards and TV`s from the trading environment, all via CAT5 cabling.
Flat Screens can also be sourced by Videre, from a number of vendors including NEC, EIZO and Compaq, to complement the Paragon offering. Nice voice recorders facilitate free seating and recording of trade transactions.
Project management from Videre, with a managed on-line network monitoring option, offered by holding company Dimension Data, will ensure the success of any trading floor project regardless of size.
Paragon
Paragon Audio Visual Limited is a UK based company specialising in the development and marketing of equipment for the distribution of all types of video and data within the trading room environment.
Paragon AV pioneered the use of twisted pair cabling for the distribution of video and multimedia services in the early 1990`s. Today, services such as business television and video based financial information are delivered throughout many of the worlds trading rooms using Paragon`s technology.
Paragon`s products caused a minor revolution within financial IT and approvals from Reuters and Bloomberg quickly followed. With an installed base in excess of 30,000 positions Paragon products became the standard for others to follow.
The company`s list of clients includes names such as Chase Manhattan Bank, ING Baring, Merrill Lynch, UBS, Rabobank, ABN and Bank of China.
Now a part of Optelecom Inc., following its acquisition in 1997, Paragon has access to state of the art manufacturing and R&D resources at the corporate head office in Gaithersburg, Maryland in the USA.