IP Communications Featured Articles

Benbria, a global player in customer engagement and notification solutions, has introduced the BlazePoint two-way talkback IP-based paging speakers for higher education campuses, schools, districts, hospitals, retail and public organizations.

BlazePoint IP speakers enable organizations to improve the speed, reach and efficiency of daily and crisis-oriented IP communications.

"BlazePoint IP speakers deliver fast and reliable two-way communication with students, faculty and staff," said Dr. Walt Magnussen, director of telecommunications, Texas A&M University, in a statement.

Magnussen said that this is an integral part of the company’s layered communications plan particularly during a crisis when email and cellular voice networks may be congested due to high volumes.

"BlazePoint delivers added value to our existing mass notification system," said Terry Young, manager of tech services center, Lakehead University.

Young said that this has allowed the university to extend its reach into specific areas such as classrooms, libraries and lecture halls where mobile phones may not have coverage.

Company officials said that BlazePoint serves as a reliable communication channel when conventional methods of email, texting, mobile phones and landline phones fail due to throughput, technical or “contactability” issues.

According to company officials, BlazePoint IP Speakers allow organizations to enhance their daily, crisis and mass notification by instantaneously broadcasting important information.

BlazePoint also enables two-way communication through the speaker, making it reliable and easy for people to communicate one on one or to a targeted group.

"BlazePoint allows organizations to easily and cost-effectively augment their analog systems with Power-over-Ethernet plug-and-play," said Mason Du, vice president of products.

Du said that the simple CAT-5 cable connection avoids costly electrician and wiring costs while helping organizations to effortlessly extend their coverage to new construction and isolated retrofitted areas such as stairwells, washrooms and conference rooms.

Using Power-over-Ethernet capability, BlazePoint only requires a CAT-5 cable connection which makes it effortless to install, configure and maintain. This reduces the need for separate infrastructure for paging, phones and bells, by unifying them into one integrated IP network, making it ideal for new construction or upgrading existing facilities.