US / Europe Norway : When you place a phone call, you expect to get through to a company’s receptionist, customer support or an interactive voice service. For video users, however, that ease of access has been impossible without advance coordination between IT departments. That is changing today with the introduction of Entrypoint from TANDBERG, a first-of-its-kind system that allows any videoconferencing user to simply connect at a moment’s notice with an enterprise.

This innovation opens the door to much more ad hoc use of video, dramatically expanding the use of existing video investments. With Entrypoint, standards-based video users can call into a company at one main number or URL address and directly access information over a video menu system, which lists the accessible resources. Making the connection requires no advance configuration from IT.

“Entrypoint provides a more scalable solution for enterprises to connect with the growing number of video users today,” said Fredrik Halvorsen, TANDBERG chief executive officer. “Giving individuals from different organizations a simpler way to connect over video, Entrypoint is expanding the potential business benefits of visual communication. It will create new communities of enterprise video users.”

TANDBERG Entrypoint enables users to connect in three ways:

• Video menus: A welcome screen greets video callers and easily guides them through the options by a simple menu system. This allows customers to reach the receptionist, a customer-service representative or access the company directory.
• 3G gateway for mobile devices: The enterprise can now add 3G video services to their internal communication resources. Employees can call in from their 3G device and participate in meetings visually from wherever they are.
• Audio gateway: An audio participant can attend video meetings or use the organization’s video system as an audio speakerphone.

Organizations with high-touch customer service needs are particularly suited to benefit from Entrypoint. It also extends a new dimension to technical support applications, while seamlessly enabling an organization to collaborate with peers, suppliers and employees.

About TANDBERG

TANDBERG is a leading global provider of visual communication products and services with dual headquarters in New York and Norway. TANDBERG designs, develops and markets systems and software for video, voice and data. The company provides sales, support and value-added services in more than 90 countries worldwide. TANDBERG is publicly traded on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker TAA.OL.