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As of the publication date of this interview with Codian’s Simon Downey, Norway-based video conferencing giant Tandberg announced that they are acquiring the high-definition (HD) video conferencing gear maker for $270 million in cash and stock. The deal, which is expected to enable Tandberg to more rapidly pursue current opportunities within its core videoconferencing and telepresence markets, is expected to close in the third quarter of 2007.

 

Codian designs and manufactures advanced video conferencing products, which include Multipoint Control Units, ISDN gateways, Video Conference Recorders and Streaming Servers.

 

Rick Snyder, President of TANDBERG Americas, is scheduled to kick off the Green Technology World Conference program with a keynote address in Petree Hall D at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA, on Tuesday September 11 at 9:00am.

 

Snyder plans to describe in practical terms how adopting a strategy to reduce carbon emissions can increase a company’s brand value, driving competitive advantage.

 

“The key to engaging enterprises in the environmental movement is to identify CO2 reduction programs that can be implemented easily, do not sacrifice productivity, and demonstrate measurable ROI for an organization,” explained Snyder. “I am looking forward to sharing the experience of our customers who are reducing their carbon footprint by eliminating unnecessary business travel and implementing visual telecommuting programs.”

 

While we will no doubt hear more about the two companies as the acquisition progresses, I’d like to share this interview I conducted with Simon Downey, senior product direct at Codian, about telepresence and the evolution of the IP communications space in general.

 

Downey will be presenting during the upcoming ITEXPO as part of a panel discussion titled The Dawning of Telepresence. The session is set to take place on Monday September 10 at 12:30pm. For more information on the event click here.

 

 

SD: HD is fast becoming the new standard in video communications, with telepresence emerging as the next big wave. Codian is at the forefront in developing solutions that deliver unrivalled quality experience that allows users to seamlessly integrate their legacy standard definition equipment with today’s emerging technologies, all without limitation or compromise.

SD: IP communications is core to Codian’s DNA. Codian is focused on delivering the best IP communications experience to users regardless of how they connect, where they connect and when they connect.

 

SD: To date, SIP has had little impact on the video communication market. It has accelerated the lower end of the IP communications market, both on voice and desktop video, but it has yet to be widely deployed across meeting room systems. However, as the adoption of Unified Communications gains momentum, we are seeing SIP emerge as the unified standard for IP Communications.

 

SD: The rapid adoption of high definition and telepresence is increasing the demand to provide customers who have traditionally deployed video conferencing equipment with a solution that seamlessly integrates their legacy systems and today’s high end technologies while delivering their users a quality, “in person” experience. At the same time, as our customer base begins to deploy desktop solutions, they want the uncompromised experience and interoperability they’ve come to expect from Codian with their boardroom in a highly scalable solution capable to support thousands of their desktop users.

 

SD: Codian will continue to meet the video communications needs of businesses with products that deliver unrivalled performance, quality and scalability.

SD: IP communications has opened the doors to truly unifying communications across the enterprise, including mobile and fixed telephony, desktop collaboration and end-video communications. This opportunity will create significant challenges for network equipment providers, requiring an integrated solution that is not only scalable and high performing but maintains a superb level of quality and ease of use for the user.

 

SD: We are seeing tremendous growth across the board with the U.S. in the lead, closely followed by Europe and then Asia.

 

SD: It’s a testament to the increasing growth opportunities within the IP Communications space.

 

SD: Microsoft is in a great position to dominate from the desktop; however they have unfortunately chosen to remain partially proprietary rather than adopting a complete standards-based architecture which may slow their penetration. We believe that ultimately they’ll compete with Avaya and Cisco in the PBX business as well as with Cisco, Adobe and IBM in the Web collaboration space.

SD: The increased performance of mobile devices and the replacement of desktop computers with laptops are showing an increased demand for full mobility. As a result, more of our IP communications solutions need to address this notion of any device, any time, any location and over any network.

SD: Your guess is as good as mine. While we don’t have the crystal ball, it’s fair to assume that the exponential growth in terms of performance and network throughput will continue. As a result, today’s high-performance requirements will expand far beyond the boardroom and out to end-user devices.

 

SD: Today’s telepresence solutions create an immersive “in the same room” experience for all; or so you think. More often than not individuals attempting to be part of this experience from their existing video equipment are completely isolated as a result of system incompatibility issues. That is not the case with Codian solutions which provides a no comprise quality HD experience while integrating with legacy standard definition systems. I will discuss how to successfully deploy telepresence and high definition communications across the enterprise network while avoiding potential pitfalls commonly encountered by IT managers.

SD: When it comes to infrastructure required for supporting HD and TP, Codian offers the only comprehensive and end-to-end HD capable solutions available in the market.

 

SD: Codian is the fastest growing voice and visual communications company in the world and has set the standard by delivering today’s most advanced video conferencing infrastructure solutions.

 

Thanks to all the readers of TMC’s green blog for supporting the Green Technology World conference taking place next week in Los Angeles, CA. Our attendance numbers are far ahead of where we thought they would be based on the limited time we had to market this event. We now expect up to 2,000 people to register for the show when all is said and done. In addition there may be some of you who don’t want to use a computer to register just so you can lower your carbon footprint. We completely understand and that is perfectly OK.

 

For this particular show we will be using electricity in our registration system. We are thinking however that at the next event we may get a bank of Inveneo bicycle-powered PCs to handle this task. We are of course evaluating the carbon output of a human breathing hard versus just getting the juice from a wall socket. More to come later.

 

Oh and by the way, I forgot to mention some of the attendees at the show. We have representation at a high level from Boeing, AMD, Alcatel-Lucent, Qwest, Toyota, British Telecom, Ericsson, Lockheed Martin, Texas Instruments, Cisco, Intel and The United Nations, among others.

 

Here are the sessions we will be focusing on next week in LA:

 

 

 

 

Here is more from the press release.

I have a confession to make. I like sports cars. Does that make me a terrible person? Well the answer from an environmental perspective was a resounding yes – until now that is. While every auto maker is going green, I recently came across an extreme green racing machine. The Eco One is touted as the world’s greenest race car and is made from potatoes, cashew nut shells, hemp and rapeseed oil among other plants. (Boy is writing this article making me hungry )

Now that I’ve snacked, I am not afraid to share the car has other food and plant derived components. The tires are made from potato starch for improved fuel economy. The brake pads are made from ground cashew shells and the brake oil is derived from plants.

What’s more, the body is created from hemp and rapeseed oil. And it runs on fuel derived from fermented sugar beet.

If I had heard about this car sooner I would have purchased one. It happens to be the perfect vehicle to get me to TMC’s Green Technology World conference which is just over a week away in Los Angeles, CA.

 

Assuming I got one tomorrow, I could log about 400 miles per day for a week on this little baby and be there before I know it. Actually, Google Maps tells me the 2,837 mile ride can be performed in one day and 18 hours of continuous driving. But then again, I am sure I can do it faster. Remember, the cofounders of Google each drive a Toyota Prius which the last time I looked is no Eco One.

Rick Snyder, president of TANDBERG Americas, recently took the time to answer questions about the telecommunications industries role in the green movement, his company’s efforts to stay ahead of the pack and the upcoming Green Technology World Conference this September in Los Angeles.

 

TANDBERG, a global provider of visual communications, has a stated mission of developing products that reduce CO2 emissions, traffic congestion and unnecessary business travel, while maintaining or improving productivity.

 

For more background on TANDBERG Americas, please read earlier TMCnet coverage of the company here.

 

How is the green movement changing the way your company operates?

 

We’d been using videoconferencing to reduce the need for business travel and improve productivity since 1989. As we grow exponentially, it becomes even more essential that we address our carbon footprint. Recently, with the introduction of Tandberg Movi, all employees with a webcam can join the enterprise video network. Not only does this cut carbon emissions by reducing travel, it promotes visual telecommuting programs.

 

In addition, we are implementing company-wide programs to recycle, use environmentally friendly business materials and reduce printing. Also, two European Union directives on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Reduction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) have been critical to our operations teams.

 

We are conducting a third-party audit of our environmental record measuring travel, energy use and production factors to discover more areas to improve.

 

Have customers been pushing your organization to produce more green products and services?

 

Yes. A number of our customers, such as Vodafone, have corporate-wide climate change programs and are looking to TANDBERG to help them measure the impact that video, and its associated travel reduction has on their CO2 emissions. In the U.S., we’ve been talking with our government customers for some time about how to visually enable their growing telecommuting programs so that more employees and managers stay connected. We’ve put tools and services in place to help customers track and show results, such as our microsite, www.seegreennow.com.

 

How long has your company been focusing on providing green technologies?

 

To be frank, when TANDBERG debuted its first video system almost 20 years ago, we did not think of it as a green technology. We viewed it as a tool to enhance business productivity and reduce cost. We are humbled to realize that what we have been producing all along can be a measurable environmental solution for business.

 

What customer pain does your company take away for customers?

 

In short, we increase productivity by making communication more natural. Visual communication accelerates decision making by reducing the time to gather information and materials. It helps scale knowledge, so that companies can access expertise immediately. It unifies organizations. Companies that communicate well eliminate a lot of wasted time and empower their workforce. Finally, it improves work/life balance, with less travel and higher employee engagement — that means less employee turnover too.

 

For many companies, being environmentally responsible is not foremost in their mind. They are interested in doing what they can, but it is the combination of productivity gains and cost reduction, PLUS the green factor that addresses their concerns.

 

What is the most effective green technology in your opinion?

 

That is very hard to say. It is very exciting to see innovation around this topic taking place in all areas, from green data centers to eco-friendly building materials. I think the technologies that are going to be most successful are those that are cost-effective, easy to implement, use and provide a measurable ROI for customers. Videoconferencing is certainly high on our agenda!

 

What has surprised you most about the green movement?

 

It seems that we get a green “cycle” every generation. When you look back to the 1970’s we all talked about the ozone layer and the energy crisis, and then it seemed to fade away from the mainstream. This time around, though, it seems like market leaders in all industries are truly embracing the movement. It is about action not words.

 

Did you get a chance to see/hear the Live Earth concert?

 

I did and I really enjoyed it. In talking with employees the next day it seemed like the event did its job to raise awareness of the issue and get people excited about doing something. Education and action are the keys if we are to make a difference.

 

Can you make one prediction about the green movement in five years?

 

I think that we are going to see more companies recognize the growing demand for green products and services and begin to enter the market. Those that treat it like a gimmick are going to get drowned in the “green wash.” Consumers are well informed and trends show an affinity with green organizations that are committed and involved in making a difference.

 

What will you be covering in your presentation at the Green Technology World Conference this September in Los Angeles?

 

I am going to share some results from a global survey we have just completed with Ipsos-Mori on environmental attitudes in 15 countries. We are seeing some compelling results about people’s preference for green products and green employers and some surprising results about how different countries stack up in their engagement on the issue.

 

I am also going to share some case studies of companies we have worked with to reduce their carbon footprint.

 

 

I think that we are serious about the green issue and we are acting on it with significant investment. We recognize that we are far from perfect ourselves and that prioritizing environmental responsibility is an operational issue as well as a cultural one. Our green audit is a first step for us and we are interested in becoming more involved in the global conversation around the green topic.

 

Where will your organization be over the next 3-5 years?

 

At the forefront of the industry, leading by example and continually adapting to the demands of our customers and employees. We will be innovating in the ways we address environmental issues as well as issues of workforce engagement, and competitive advantage.

 

In the next five years we expect everyone will have the ability to be visually enabled, supporting the need to reduce CO2 emissions through reduced business travel, while maintaining business continuity. Video will become an integral part of natural communication for everyone in an organization, allowing people to have that intimate face-to-face discussion as if they were in the same room.

I recently had the opportunity to ask Jessica Kersey, senior director of corporate communications with Polycom, about the green movement and how Polycom is helping companies transition into a new era.

 

Polycom delivers end-to-end, rich media collaborative applications for voice, video, data and the Web from desktop and mobile personal systems to the network core.

 

For more background on Polycom, please read earlier TMCnet coverage of the company here.

 

How is the green movement changing the way your company operates?

 

Polycom’s voice and video communications and collaboration solutions are the ultimate green technology as they enable dispersed workgroups in today’s global enterprises to meet and collaborate virtually, which reduces the need for travel. As the market leader in collaborative communications, we use Polycom technology more extensively than virtually any other company. This substantially reduces our need for travel and our carbon footprint as a company. In addition, we are modifying our manufacturing process and bills of material to conform to the various green initiative standards. Operationally we are encouraging our own employees to be environmentally friendly in a variety of ways.

 

 

Yes, our customers are interested in understanding and actually quantifying the impact of collaborative communications on their businesses and want to ensure that they are purchasing Polycom solutions that are manufactured and certified green, as are our solutions.

 

How long has your company been focusing on providing green technologies?

 

Polycom was founded in 1990 and has been providing voice and video conferencing and collaboration technologies that reduce the need for travel for its entire history. All Polycom products are RoHS compliant and we will be WEEE compliant this year. We manufacture our products exclusively in ISO 14001 certified facilities and require our key suppliers to also be certified. We are currently certifying our entire product line as free of carbon-depleting elements. We also encourage recycling of legacy equipment. All Polycom facilities and internal activities are scrutinized to ensure they are environmentally friendly. Our employees are also encouraged to reduce their own personal emissions using Polycom technologies in the office and from their homes.

 

What pain does your company take away for customers?

 

Global organizations today believe they are remaining competitive and adding efficiencies by cutting costs through outsourcing, off-shoring and strategic partnering. In reality those business models, which have resulted from globalization, add distance to the workplace and actually lower productivity and efficiency by preventing people from collaborating and slowing decisions, innovations and response to ever-changing market conditions. Polycom creates top and bottom line value to organizations by improving performance and removing the distance in today’s globally dispersed companies. We do this by delivering the most lifelike and highly productive communications and remote meetings from anywhere to anywhere instantly. An added benefit of our solutions is that they can help companies align their business goals with a lowered impact on the environment.

What is the most effective green technology in your opinion?

 

The most effective green technology is one that completely eliminates the carbon in our atmosphere. Since such a technology does not yet exist, we believe video conferencing is as close to eliminating carbon as any technology available today.

 

 

The speed in which it has become a major topic to our customers.

 

Environmental responsibility, essentially a required check list item today but not yet fully understood, will become de rigeur in business to such a degree that consumers will use their pocketbooks to reward or put certain brands out of business. The byproduct will be a more efficient and pleasant work/life balance as well as an improved environment.

 

What will you be covering in your presentation at the Green Technology World Conference this September in Los Angeles?

 

Polycom has two sessions. One will discuss how incorporating a strategic initiative to increase virtual collaborative communications in your organization can lower your carbon footprint while increasing your global competitiveness and productivity. The other will discuss how using our technologies in one functional area — your data center — can have an immediate positive impact.

 

 

Businesses today are focused on improving their business processes, reducing enterprise operating costs, attracting and growing customer relationships and supporting competitive advantages. The technology budgets are going to investments in company data and telephony networks, remote teleworker solutions and video conferencing solutions. Polycom not only delivers market leading solutions for secure collaboration and mobility that addresses all four of these business issues, but also provides the technology that reduces business travel which is responsible for 18 percent of an enterprise’s carbon emissions.

 

Where will your organization be over the next 3-5 years?

 

Our technologies will be the collaboration engine for every network supporting every desktop, device and conference room while enabling and improving the virtual meeting experience.

Does Will Ferrell have a place in a green blog? Of course he does as BMW has seen it fit to give him the keys to the first BMW Hydrogen 7 for everyday use. This is all part of the Hydrogen 7 Pioneer Program which basically means giving Hydrogen cars to high profile people.

 

Some interesting facts… The car emits nothing but water vapor and is not for sale. Some argue that using hydrogen as a fuel is silly because it actually consumes more energy than it produces but the opposite argument is that over time this should change.

 

Certainly cars become much cleaner vehicles when using hydrogen for propulsion.

 

For more information on celebrities such as Angelina Jolie who have driven this car be sure to check out autoblogGreen for more.

Please accept my invitation to be part of TMC’s newest event. Here is a recent invitation we sent out. In case you missed it, here it is. Hope to see you at this show. Our attendance is already ahead of projections and our free passes will likely be sold out soon.

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If you are concerned about how your company is impacting the environment, or perhaps looking for ways to increase efficiency and reduce your energy consumption while minimizing waste, then you need to join us at the Los Angeles Convention Center on September 11th and 12th for the Green Technology World Conference.

The Green Technology World Conference is the premier event focused on educating you about technologies, essential issues, and trends that enable businesses to operate more efficiently, thereby creating a positive impact on both your business and the environment. The conferences will feature presentations from executives from successful organizations that have implemented green policies and seen tremendous results.

You can attend the Green Technology World Conference for FREE if you register in advance. The conference will feature educational sessions, panel discussions, keynote presentations, networking events, and an exhibit hall featuring leading companies showcasing their green technologies. And it’s all FREE when you register in advance.

Don’t miss this groundbreaking event. We have put a great deal of effort into making Green Technology World Conference a totally unique event that will provide the best information for you, creating an unsurpassed educational opportunity for all. There is no cost to attend, but the benefits can save your company thousands and help save the environment for everyone.

We look forward to seeing you in Los Angeles.

Regards,

The Green Technology World Conference Team

Although air quality problems plague the world’s fastest-growing economy, China is doing what it can to have a true green Olympics. The city of Beijing plans 80 percent of buses and 70 percent of taxis will be fueled via clean energy by 2008.

 

As part of the efforts, 14 electric buses have been running on one bus route for two years in Beijing as a pilot project while 1,300 buses fueled by compressed gas have been put into operation.

 

Of the two million square meters of buildings used for the Olympics, 26.9 percent will be powered by clean energy like solar, wind and geothermal power, the ministry said.

 

The seven main stadiums in Beijing will be equipped with solar generators with a total capacity of 480 KW while 90 percent of the lighting outside the stadiums and hot water supply in the Olympics Village will be powered by solar energy.

 

Beijing will have its first wind power plant by the end of this year with a capacity of 50,000 KW, which will supply main stadiums.

 

While it will take a while to clean the air in China, the Olympics seem like a great catalyst to get the country moving in the green direction.

We often read of reducing carbon emissions but another way to minimize carbon emissions is to bury them underground. Here is a fascinating article on an experiment to bury carbon in Ketzin, Germany. How is it done you wonder? In this case, an 800 meter-deep hole is filled with porous rock. The rock is currently filled with water. The carbon dioxide is pressed into the hole and the small holes in the rock absorb the carbon dioxide as the water is pressed out.

 

The experiment is named aptly CO2Sink and it marks an important experiment in seeing how successful burying carbon dioxide inland can be.

 

Shell, Vattenfall, E.ON, Statoil and RWE are contributing money and expertise to the project, which is overseen by the National Research Center for Geosciences in Germany. The success of this project would be good news as it helps offset the negative environmental impact of increasing coal plants in Europe and elsewhere.

 

Are there risks? Yes. In 1986, about 1,800 people were suffocated at Lake Nyos, Cameroon, when a massive cloud of carbon dioxide escaped from the formerly volcanic site. Environmentalists have warned of similar dangers if leakages occur and gas settles in dips and valleys, where people live.

 

Experts believe the carbon will remain below ground for years but could eventually surface.

 

This experiment is an important one and shows yet another way in which humans can reduce their carbon footprint. Hopefully it will be successful.