Tandberg released full new product range, MXP!

[Timo Savolainen]

I just came from Tandberg's product launch and I must say this was the first time that a manufacturer really had something truly new in a launch event!

Tandberg MXP -page (http://www.tandberg.net/products/tandberg_mxp.jsp)

Higlights of the new products:
- New CPU with a LOT more processing power
- Totally new graphical icon pased GUI
- New remote controller
- 6-point 5+1 embedded MCU in TB6000MXP
- Dual Stream from any site in a MS call
- H.264 in MS and Dual Stream
- H.239 Dual Streaming
- H.235 v3 standard AES encryption
- Brand new MPEG4 based AACLD 20kHz audio (requires the digital natural audio module (DNAM) for stereo functionality)

[GTC]

Whilst we shall welcome the new Tandberg MXP range this just suggests to the industry that Tandberg do not care about either thier install base, channels or customers !!

Yet again, only 18months on, as we have seen so often from Tandberg, if users want the latest TB features they have to buy yet another platform, again!!
- it seems that no upgrade path is available.

Is to be that every 12 - 18 months Tandberg throws away its existing technology because its been developed as far as the processing or hardware will allow and bring another new solution to market and let all its customers suffer without any straight forward upgrade path.
It seems that the 2500 is dead and buried, being replaced with a new 3000 system.

Yes, I hear you say that Sony generally do the same, but at least their products last longer than x18 months !!!

For my money, Polycom develop products that at least have a decent life cycle. An example would be the 'traditional' ViewStation, this lasted some SIX years before it was deemed end of life.
The current 'V' or 'VSX' range I hope would get a longer "innings" than the last Tandberg platform, come on 18months................

[Timo Savolainen]

Yes, I hear you say that Sony generally do the same, but at least their products last longer than x18 months !!!

For my money, Polycom develop products that at least have a decent life cycle. An example would be the 'traditional' ViewStation, this lasted some SIX years before it was deemed end of life.
The current 'V' or 'VSX' range I hope would get a longer "innings" than the last Tandberg platform, come on 18months................

Totally agree with you on the fact that 18 months is just too short time for a products lifetime. Anybody remember when the TB880 was released? Somewhere around 2002, right? Well that makes only a while longer than 18 months but anyways too short.

It's great, though, that the "old" product range (B & E hardware. T800, T880 etc.) are still supported through software. Features like H.264, H.235 and H.239 really keep these oldies alive. Having H.239 on a four years old T800 keeps the system still somewhat usefull.

I'm not sure if it's quite fair to say that Polycoms products have a longer lifecycle. The classic viewstations have been in Polycoms portfolio for quite some time now, but they haven't really been "up there" in regard of techonoly and features. I mean ViewStations have been there for a really long time but what's changed in regards of features in six years?

[GTC]

Funny, I always thought that to benefit from the latest software developments and funky features that Tandberg bought to their portfolio meant that their hardware had to change to actually allow those functions, otherwise why on earth have Tandberg ever needed to release newer hardware platforms..............
It is good however that Tandberg still support their older product line with the new software releases, lets hope they continue to do so?

I really do not understand your comment "I'm not sure if it's quite fair to say that Polycoms products have a longer lifecycle"...........
Have you actually followed the ViewStation history or development?
I have worked with these systems since general release version 3.0 back in 1998, thats when the systems came to market in Europe, the first systems I ever worked on ran verson1.4 !!!

The 'classic' ViewStations have come a very long way indeed:
Don't beleive so, well, lets take a very brief look at this;
- The 'classic' ViewStation was the first system to shake the industry by having an imbedded web server and not one but TWO ethernet ports
- The ViewStation development then allowed for the seperate POTS connection to be used to allow mixed video and audio calls or have the system double as a audioconference system.
- Then the ViewStation then was the first to implement the open standards internal MCU feature.
- Development then allowed multi-monitor full screen layout per site using intenal MP functions
- Implementation was then developed for setting security levels for protecting a deployed system within a LAN/WAN environment
- Ability to transmit dual streamed video (PC content) from any laptop/desktop via either IP or hardware PC card, pre H.239 ratification
- First system to be fully managed centrally or remotely via the imbedded server developments within the system.
- etc etc etc

Don't get me wrong, I am not knocking Tandberg or the new product(s) that Tandberg have bought to the game, its just extremely frustrating when we speak to users and clients and have to inform them that the Tandberg product platform has changed yet again.

Regards
GTC

[Glen Sykes]

Whilst it is a fair comment that 18 months is a short product life cycle, Tandberg have announced that they will continue to support the older products. The first revision of T800 is still capable of many of the features currently available on the T6000MXP. You cannot say the same of the classic viewstation. It's an unfair comparison.

Innovation sometimes means that features demand more processing power than current hardware is able to supply. For example, I don't foresee the VSX7000 having the ability to perform a 6 video site multisite conference, with H.239 dual streams and rate matched endpoints.

If customers want these features, then its an unfortunate fact of life that in some cases they have to pay for it. the other alternative is to purchase a central MCU.

To echo GTC's comments however, it is difficult when Tandberg release something like this, and then we have to explain to customers who purchased the T6000 last month that the new flavour 600MXP outstrips the system that they just bought by a significant margin!

[George]

To echo GTC's comments however, it is difficult when Tandberg release something like this, and then we have to explain to customers who purchased the T6000 last month that the new flavour 600MXP outstrips the system that they just bought by a significant margin!Indeed.... We have a Tandberg 6000 running old version B softare. We wanted to upgrade the software to E so we can run H.264 but low and behold our "particular model" of the 6000 doesn't support the new software version so we have to buy a whole new CODEC as well.

In comparison however this does have precedent in the PC world. You have to look at it like this... The same way you have to upgrade hardware to match current software versions with Tandberg (and other CODECs) is the same way a pentium 2 64K ram PC can't run Windows 2000 or XP. Heck it can't even run AOL 9.0.

Then again the smart thing for Tandberg to do since this seems to be becoming an issue with them would be to make their products modular like a PC. That is, if it's a new feature that requires more memory, make the memory a purchaseable item and swappable. Or make the central processor swappable etc. I mean their smart people. I'm sure they can figure out a way to make money off of a system like this as well. (Training, marked up component prices, paid servicing contracts that include component upgrades).

I had a point here I swear it :ermm:

[tjm2713]

Yet again, only 18months on, as we have seen so often from Tandberg, if users want the latest TB features they have to buy yet another platform, again!!

Is to be that every 12 - 18 months Tandberg throws away its existing technology because its been developed as far as the processing or hardware will allow and bring another new solution to market


The people hath spoken and TANDBERG has delivered, once again.......Technology changes rapidly, as we all know, and its nice to see a VC company that is capable of keeping up with these advancements. The 6000 MXP is another example of TANDBERG staying 2 steps ahead of the game.

[robertk]

I totally agree with tjm2713.

The new Polycom products seams like toys compared to the new Tandberg line.


//Robert

[Gary Miyakawa]

All I'll say is, be sure to check VTCTALK on Monday morning for more interesting developments in the VC industry.

Gary Miyakawa

[trapehzoid]

Funny, I always thought that to benefit from the latest software developments and funky features that Tandberg bought to their portfolio meant that their hardware had to change to actually allow those functions, otherwise why on earth have Tandberg ever needed to release newer hardware platforms..............

Why has polycom introduced new products then? If not to support newer features, why don't the old ones support the new features?


I really do not understand your comment "I'm not sure if it's quite fair to say that Polycoms products have a longer lifecycle"...........
Have you actually followed the ViewStation history or development?

I love this arguement that the Viewstation 'classic' has been supported all this time. Sold and supported with maintanence, but certainly not functionality. The only product really gaining functionality in the last few years has been the FX family, iPower, and now the VSX family. Why do you say tandberg is replacing their product, yet you don't feel the same about the VSX?


The 'classic' ViewStations have come a very long way indeed:
Don't beleive so, well, lets take a very brief look at this;
- The 'classic' ViewStation was the first system to shake the industry by having an imbedded web server and not one but TWO ethernet ports


I can't recall anyone using the dual ethernet ports.. its real use was to try to get around the complexities of using T120 setups.. which wasn't real successful either. And the ports were only half-duplex.. great concept for video.


- The ViewStation development then allowed for the seperate POTS connection to be used to allow mixed video and audio calls or have the system double as a audioconference system.

Nice, but not new.


- Then the ViewStation then was the first to implement the open standards internal MCU feature.


Not with the Viewstation.. with the Introduction of the 512 they did. Not the original viewstation.

Which was also a very poor one unless you were the host. Which.. only got better when.. what.. GASP.. they introduced new hardware (the FX)


- Development then allowed multi-monitor full screen layout per site using intenal MP functions


Yet again.. not on the viewstation.. only on the FX family. Which didn't come out until 2000. Notice how you want to take facts from various sources and mix them all together as if everything were one? Can't do that.


- Implementation was then developed for setting security levels for protecting a deployed system within a LAN/WAN environment

You mean.. PASSWORDS? wow. there's a concept. Did you ask for a patent on that technology?


- Ability to transmit dual streamed video (PC content) from any laptop/desktop via either IP or hardware PC card, pre H.239 ratification

How are you supporting your arguement? This functionality while introduced years ago.. was also EOL'd years ago. The visual concert PC functionality is LONG dead.. and not even compatible with existing technology. Only 'enterprise P+C'.. which BTW.. is only supported on newer hardware (FX, iPower, MGC (after upgrade), and VSX). Not on the viewstation.. so again.. you aren't proving yourself anything but wrong.


Don't get me wrong, I am not knocking Tandberg or the new product(s) that Tandberg have bought to the game, its just extremely frustrating when we speak to users and clients and have to inform them that the Tandberg product platform has changed yet again.


This is the first time they've really changed hardware in over 4 years. The change made almost 2 years ago was merely an incremental boost. The only difference between old and new was 2 features.. and both were still supported. I can't even count how many products polycom has tried to sell me over that same time span that simply don't even exist anymore.

I'd rather be offered a new product with a future then being sold that this old product has a future when obviously it doesn't.. and then to use use the fact this product is still sold as a 'competitive advantage'? I really do feel for everyone who was convinced to buy the 'classic' lines of MPs, etc while the FX was available. Hopefully my FXs will continue to be supported, tho I'm sure its on its last legs.

[George]

All I'll say is, be sure to check VTCTALK on Monday morning for more interesting developments in the VC industry.

Gary Miyakawa
Darn Gary.... always teasing!!

Great, now we've gotta wait over 48 hours to see what you're talking about.:mad:

But hopefully it'll be worth the wait? :banana:

[trapehzoid]

polycom is just going to annouce the next VSX product.. the 'codec' version of the VSX. They were supposed to show it at infocomm but couldn't pull it off.

oh and new VSX software. Some eye candy features, but only one real significant one I can recall.. I'll leave it a suprise, but someone else already introduced the functionality last week. *hint* :)

[Gary Miyakawa]

polycom is just going to annouce the next VSX product.. the 'codec' version of the VSX. They were supposed to show it at infocomm but couldn't pull it off.


You need to get to know your Polycom rep better.... It wasn't on the show floor... (as the MXP wasn't on the show floor either)...

Gary Miyakawa

[trapehzoid]

You need to get to know your Polycom rep better.... It wasn't on the show floor... (as the MXP wasn't on the show floor either)...

Gary Miyakawa

I know it wasn't on the show floor.. it was GOING to be, but wasn't at the last minute. Hence why I said 'they couldn't pull it off'. It wasn't going to be released there, they were going to be showing it 'behind closed doors'. It was going to be hand carried there (IE early prototype), but they decided not to do it.