Telepresence: University of Minnesota Issues U-Wide Contract to Video Guidance

By Mini Swamy, TMCnet Contributor

In an effort to ensure that video and audio-based technologies are available to everyone and everywhere, the University of Minnesota issued a U-Wide contract to Bloomington-based Video Guidance.

The University of Minnesota's purchasing services department, which is accountable and responsible for making all purchases for the university, issued the contract, which is now effective.

The Video Guidance’s visual communications contract also includes the Learning Network of Minnesota. Hence, the U-Wide contracts and goods and services are available not only to university departments but also to other state agencies. The Joint Powers Agreement jointly exercises the University of Minnesota's contract with other state and governmental units. As a result, video conference rooms are connected and video systems shared by the statewide video infrastructure.

In a press release, Michael Werch, president of Video Guidance, said that the exciting and inventive visual applications that could expand distance learning, maximize telehealth and engage experts and authorities were endless.

He further added, “We are thrilled to be working with the University of Minnesota and the state to make video-and audio-based technologies available to everyone, everywhere. Moreover, we believe that pervasive video communications will directly impact productivity and performance.”

Tandberg is a Cisco (News - Alert) company, an ITEXPO East participant, and Video Guidance is an award-winning partner of Tandberg. Hence the U-Wide contract will provide hardware, service and maintenance support for Tandberg, Polycom (News - Alert) and Lifesize equipment.

Regarded as one of the premier video conferencing companies, Video Guidance helps to improve an organization’s performance, increase efficiencies and decrease expenses through the integration of real-time communication technologies, such as instant messaging, presence information, IP telephony, HD video conferencing, call control and speech recognition.

For four consecutive years, Video Guidance has been named to the “Inc. 5,000” list of the nation’s fastest growing private companies; and has been named by the Business Journal as one of the “50 Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies” in the Twin (News - Alert) Cities metro area. In 2007 and 2010, the company was among the “Top 100” of the fastest growing regional companies in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

In a related news release, Video Guidance has designed a state-of-the-art visual communications system for Hazelden, the nation's largest private, nonprofit addiction treatment provider, connecting Hazelden Foundation’s national facilities in Minnesota, Oregon, Illinois and Florida.

(source: http://telepresence.tmcnet.com/topics/telepresence/articles/133982-telepresence-university-minnesota-issues-u-wide-contract-video.htm)