Previous Story: Quest pays CA $16 million to settle lawsuit
Next Story: Grokster case may have large impact beyond P-to-P

Sony rebrands, expands IP communication portfolio
By Stacy Cowley

Sony Corp. is introducing several products and a new brand name, Ipela, to its portfolio of IP (Internet Protocol) communication gadgets, such as monitoring and videoconferencing systems.

"We're clearly looking for a bigger slice of the pie," said Sony's IP communication products General Manager Mike McCausland at a launch event Tuesday in New York.

The first products to adopt the Ipela brand include Sony's PCS-G70 large-room videoconferencing system and its PCS-TL50 desktop videoconferencing system, as well as a number of its network video monitoring cameras, such as the SNC-RZ25N pan-tilt-zoom camera and the DF40 and DF70 mini-dome cameras.

Due in mid-2005 are new XIS series cameras, including the high-end XIS-5100 wide-area monitoring camera -- able to cover a 160-degree by 15-degree area -- and the XIS-10DC, which will offer a 360-degree view. The products will launch simultaneously worldwide, including in the U.S. and Sony's home market, Japan, according to John Scarcella, president of Sony Electronics Broadcast and Business Solutions Co.

Sony is also working to advance its video conferencing technology. At Tuesday's event, company officials demonstrated an under-development desktop conferencing system intended to increase deployment flexibility. That system remains a year or two away from being ready for the market, executives said.

Sony is backing its Ipela launch with a US$10 million marketing campaign. It will be showing off Ipela products at several upcoming trade shows, including the ISC (International Security Conference) West, NAB (the National Association of Broadcasters Show) and InfoCom, all in Las Vegas.

Posted March 24, 2005 04:07 PM |