Advanced Opens New State-Of-The-Art Toronto Office To Demonstrate SMART Technologies' Business Solutions

In a move to support its rapidly growing corporate AV business, Advanced, Canada’s leading and fastest growing AV and IT systems integration company, today announced the opening of a new state-of-the-art Toronto office to demonstrate the latest SMART Technologies’ business solutions for current and prospective customers. The new office is located in the heart of Toronto, in the heavily trafficked Eaton Centre and Yonge-Dundas Square, at 1 Dundas Street West, Suite 2500. The phone number of the new office is (800)-436-6239.

“Our new Toronto office marks an exciting new chapter for Advanced, as business continues to grow at an incredible rate,” said Mark Mulford, President & CEO of Advanced. “The office combines state-of-the-art technology with a personal approach to instruction that creates a positive and productive learning environment for our customers. We are now able to demonstrate all of the new SMART solutions while enhancing our overall service offering for corporate and higher education clients throughout Toronto.”

 

The new office, which is staffed by Advanced’s sales and engineering teams, features a SMART Board SB885ix interactive whiteboard, SMART 8070i interactive display, and NEC 42” displays with HD video conferencing solutions from Polycom. The office also features a common area and a boardroom that looks over the Toronto skyline.

“With this new office we are able to better serve the needs of the downtown market and use our new demo area to hold meetings and demonstrate a variety of products,” added Mulford.

About Advanced

Advanced is a leading audiovisual and collaborative communications company working with corporations, government agencies, healthcare, and educational organizations throughout Canada and beyond.  Dedicated to innovation in technology and services, Advanced has a strong set of businesses aligned to meet today’s needs.  The company offers presentation and videoconferencing solutions in addition to complete integrated systems, visual collaboration systems, rental and staging services, repair, maintenance, and value-added integration services including design and engineering, installation and audiovisual consulting. Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Advanced also has offices in Toronto, Ottawa, London and Sudbury with partner offices located in Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. To learn more visit www.advanced-inc.com.

CORE Brands Appoints Mitchell Witten Brand Manager For Niles and Sunfire

Strengthening its audio products management team, CORE® Brands today announced the appointment of industry veteran Mitchell Witten to the position of Brand Manager for Niles® and Sunfire®, according to an announcement made today by CORE Brands Audio Segment Director Mark Weisenberg, to whom Witten reports.

“The Niles and Sunfire brands are iconic to both custom installation dealers and consumers,” Weisenberg said today, “and now these great brands have a uniquely qualified brand steward who can ensure that they remain iconic for years to come. Mitch brings more than 20 years of strategic industry experience to our team and this experience is going to immediately benefit our many loyal dealers and consumers who expect the very best in innovation, performance, and value from Niles and Sunfire products.”

Witten comes to his new position at CORE Brands from Monster Products, Inc., where he served as Senior Product Area Manager since 2009 with responsibility for all aspects of audio and wireless technology product development. Prior to this, from 2005 through 2009, Witten was the owner of and principal consultant at 1 Bear & Associates, a Coronado, California based consulting company focused on the marketing and sales of high performance consumer electronics products and technologies.

Other industry experience includes serving as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, as well as Vice President of Marketing and Product Planning, at SONANCE, a division of Dana Innovations, over a period that ran from 2000 through 2005. He also served as Vice President of Business Development at Pioneer Electronics (USA), Inc. from 1997 to 2000 and Vice President of Market Development at Infinity Systems (a Harman International Company) from 1992 to 1997. Additional experience was acquired at Faroudja Laboratories, Cinema Products Corporation, TEAC America, dbx, Lanier/Harris Corp., Third Century Marketing, and Tech HiFi & Audio Innovators.

Witten is a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He is a former member of the CEA Audio Board and CEA MRAV Board and remains very active in the CE and CI industries, often acting as a corporate representative, volunteer, instructor and public speaker for the CEA, CEDIA, HTSA, PARA, PRO, HES, NATM, DAA, ERA and IPRO. A founding member of the Academy for the Advancement of High Performance Audio & Video, Witten has also received numerous industry association and publication design and engineering awards.

Travelocity® Unveils New Waterproof Cases For All Mobile Devices at CES 2013

Moving to meet the growing market demand for cost effective ways to keep valuable smartphones, tablets and e-readers safe from damage caused by water and sand, the Travelocity® division of MIZCO International today announced the market introduction of three new water- and sand-proof cases. The new cases are being showcased at CES 2013 in Booth #30842 in South Hall 3 of the Las Vegas Convention Center, according to David Strumeier, Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing for MIZCO’s Travelocity division.

The new “Travelocity Waterproof Series” is a ready-to-go in-store product and merchandising program that features three cases — a universal smartphone case, an e-reader case and a tablet case that will fit all 9-10” tablets on the market. Every case in the line features a watertight seal, control access through a clear window, an adjustable neck or shoulder strap, a watertight 3.5mm auxiliary jack and built-in UV protection. Available for immediate delivery, the Travelocity Waterproof Series smartphone, e-reader and tablet cases carry retail prices of $9.99, $14.99 and $19.99, respectively.

“The response of our retail partners to the Travelocity line of travel and mobile tech accessory products has been nothing short of phenomenal, “ Strumeier said today.  “And the reason for the line’s success is firmly grounded in the consumer’s recognition of and respect for the Travelocity brand, which is beloved by millions of travelers around the world.  We are extending the reach of this iconic brand by attaching it directly to an ever-growing line of innovatively designed, high performance travel and tech accessory products that meet genuine traveler needs.

“The fact of the matter is that millions of travelers take their phones, tablets and e-readers with them wherever they go, indoors and outdoors,” Strumeier emphasized.  “These consumers need a line of high quality, affordably priced cases that can keep their devices safe from the damage caused by exposure to water and sand — the two most significant threats to these devices.  Our new line of Travelocity Water-Proof/Sand-Proof Series Cases more than meets this growing market demand.”

Also making its debut at CES 2013 is the new Travelocity Universal Sport Armband Series.  Available in navy, pink and black, the Universal Sport Armband offers complete protection for iPhones, iPods and smartphones while ensuring continuous screen visibility and control access through its clear front window. Constructed in soft, comfortable neoprene, the Universal Sport Armband is lightweight, washable and bordered with reflective material to provide extra visibility when outdoors. The armband features an adjustable Velcro band for personalized sizing, and the case design allows for dock and charger connection. The Travelocity Universal Sport Armband retails for $9.99 and is available for immediate delivery.

About Travelocity Global Travelocity® is committed to being the traveler's champion -- before, during and after the trip – and provides the most comprehensive and proactive guarantee in the industry. This customer-driven focus, backed by 24/7 live phone support, competitive prices and powerful shopping technology has made Travelocity one of the largest travel companies in the world. Travelocity also owns and operates: Travelocity Business® for corporate travel; igougo.com, a leading online travel community; lastminute.com, a leader in European online travel; and ZUJI, a leader in Asia-Pacific online travel. Travelocity is owned by Sabre Holdings Corporation, a world leader in travel marketing and distribution.

About Mizco International

Headquartered in Avenel, New Jersey, Mizco International is one of the world's fastest growing suppliers of mobile phone headsets and accessories, as well as imaging and iPhone power solutions. Founded in 1990, Mizco markets products under the Cellular Innovations, DIGIPOWER, iEssentials, Ecko Unlimited, MIZCO Sports, and Travelocity brands. The company currently offers more than 1,000 products through a global dealer network. For more information on Mizco and its product offerings call 1.800.266.4026 or visit www.mizco.com.

ECKOUNLTD "Lights Up" CES 2013 With New GLOW Earbuds

The ECKOUNLTD division of MIZCO International is demonstrating the “brilliance” of its unique fashion & function fusion design philosophy at CES 2013 with the market introduction of a new line of glow-in-the-dark earbud style headphones, available for immediate delivery in six colors — blue, green, red, orange, yellow and pink.  The introduction of the new line was made by Steve Kops, Vice President of Sales for the ECKOUNLTD division of MIZCO International at Booth #30842 in South Hall 3 of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“The new GLOW earbuds are a perfect expression of Marc’s vision of how the consumer electronics industry should better fuse together fashion and function,” Kops said today. “Every product in the ECKOUNLTD line is designed to offer consumers state-of-the-art technology embedded in a fashion-forward design aesthetic. Thanks to its glow-in-the-dark finish, the GLOW earbuds offer consumers a unique twist on traditional earbud design, and allows them the opportunity to show off their earbuds no matter the lighting environment.”

GLOW earbuds feature its namesake glow-in-the-dark, 1.2-meter, tangle-free cable cord, and a vertical in-ear earbud design that isolates noise. Featuring a gold-plated 3.5mm plug and an in-line microphone, GLOW also comes with a silicon carrying case. The headphones produce a high-quality, rich sound with heavy bass response, featuring a 7.8mm driver, an impedance of 16 ohms at 1kHz, a frequency response of 20Hz-20kHz, and a sensitivity of 98 dB SPL at 1 kHz. Available for $29.99, in blue, green, red, orange, yellow and pink, GLOW earbuds are available for immediate delivery.

The GLOW earbuds are part of the third generation of ECKOUNLTD earbuds. This generation features three models in addition to GLOW — BUBBLE, TREK and STEALTH. All models in the line are available in a wide variety of colors and feature a 1.2m cord. The headphones carry suggested retail prices of $19.99 to $39.99 and feature built-in microphones and controls.

About Marc Ecko Enterprises

Marc Ecko Enterprises is a full-scale global fashion and lifestyle company with reported sales of over $1.5 billion in 2009 and approximately 1,000 employees worldwide. Over the past 17 years, the group of companies that comprise Marc Ecko Enterprises (MEE) has grown to include: Ecko Unltd., the largest young men’s brand in better department stores today; Eckored, a young women’s brand both identified by the ‘World Famous Rhino’ logo; Marc Ecko Cut & Sew, a contemporary menswear line; Marc Ecko Entertainment, an interactive entertainment and videogame unit; and Complex Media LLC, a publishing and new media division.

About MIZCO International

Headquartered in Avenel, New Jersey MIZCO International is one of the world's fastest growing suppliers of mobile phone headsets and accessories, as well as imaging and iPhone power solutions. Founded in 1990, Mizco markets products under the Cellular Innovations, DIGIPOWER, iEssentials, Ecko Unlimited, MIZCO Sports, and Travelocity brands. The company currently offers more than 1,000 products through a global dealer network. For more information on Mizco and its product offerings call 1.800.266.4026 or visit www.mizco.com.

DIGIPOWER “Powers Up” Its Universal Charging Solutions at CES 2013

Underscoring its commitment to provide users with innovatively designed, affordably priced universal charging solutions for all of their mobile devices, MIZCO International’s DIGIPOWER division today introduced two new universal chargers — the JS-IPSP “RECHARGE” Power Bank for iPod, iPhone and micro-USB devices and the PD-ST2 Universal Charging Dock in Apple and Android models.  The two new chargers were debuted at Booth #30842 at the 2013 International CES in Las Vegas, Nevada by DIGIPOWER President Maurice Mizrahi.

Providing 5000mAh of power, the JS-IPSP “Recharge” is a compact power pack for iPod, iPhone and micro-USB devices capable of rapidly charging any portable USB device a consumer may have, including mobile phones, tablets, cameras, GPS devices and handheld gaming devices. Its super compact design features one MFI 30-pin Apple connector and one micro-USB connector, allowing for two devices to be charged simultaneously.  Both cables are built in to the power pack providing convenient storage and portability when not in use.  The pack has a 4-segment LED power indicator, a 3.3-feet charging cable and can provide up to five full charges before needing to be replenished.

“More and more frequently, consumers are carrying multiple devices, made by multiple manufacturers, each with their own charging needs,” Mizrahi stressed today. “Our JP-ISPS allows mobile device users to charge all their devices from one portable power source, no matter if it is an Apple product, an Android device or another micro-USB powered device. Finally, consumers no longer need to carry several chargers with them to charge all of their devices, and retailers only have to carry one SKU to support multiple devices, helping to save space and simplify their business.”

The new DIGIPOWER PD-ST2 Universal Charging Dock is available in both Apple and Android compatible models, and features a dock connector that pivots to accommodate the differences in device measurements that occur when new generations of devices are released.  The 5.5-feet USB cable allows for directly connecting to a computer to charge and sync, or to an AC adapter (sold separately) for wall charging.  The Apple model is compatible with all 30-pin Apple products, and the Android version is compatible with all Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets as well as most eReaders and Android smart phones.

“As manufacturers release generations of products, mobile device users are often facing the problem of having devices that are not consistent in thickness or width,” Mizrahi said. “With our Universal Charging Dock pivoting connector, users can be sure all their devices will be accommodated by one charging solution, and no longer will they have to replace chargers every time a new product generation is on the market!

“We strive to provide retailers and consumers with the most useful technology innovations that both increase sales and simplify the lives of buyers,” Mizrahi continued. “These additions to our Universal selection of portable power and charging solutions are our answers to solving the issues associated with today’s mobile lifestyle.”

About MIZCO International

Headquartered in Avenel, New Jersey, MIZCO International is the world's fastest growing supplier of mobile phone headsets and accessories, as well as imaging and iPhone power solutions.  Founded in 1990, MIZCO markets products under the Cellular Innovations, DIGIPOWER, iEssentials, Ecko Unlimited, MIZCO Sports, ToughTested, and Travelocity brands.  The company currently offers more than 1,000 products through a global dealer network.  For more information on MIZCO and its product offerings call 1.800.266.4026 or visit www.mizco.com.

MIZCO Sports “Takes The Field” at CES 2013 With Introduction Of First Line-Up of NFL® Team Logoed Portable Power Products

Following through on its promise to provide dealers with an entirely new level of creativity, innovation and quality in sports licensed merchandise, MIZCO Sports, the newly created division of MIZCO International, today opened CES 2013 with an undisputed touch down play— the introduction of a complete line of individual team-logoed portable power solutions that incorporate each individual team’s colors throughout the product design!

While unveiling the new division’s first team line-up at Booth #30842 in South Hall 3 of the Las Vegas Convention Center, MIZCO Sports Vice President David Strumeier emphasized that, “When we formed MIZCO Sports we committed ourselves to establishing a new benchmark that would translate immediately into major new sales opportunities for our retailers — and the line we are introducing today does just that.  Each team-logoed charger not only features the team logo, it features the individual colors of the team throughout the product design. No other company has done this before.  The days of simply putting a team logo on a product are gone, at least as far as MIZCO Sports is concerned.”

Products being introduced today for delivery on April 1^st include USB Car & Wall Chargers that are compatible with most mobile devices requiring a USB port for charging and power, that plugs into a vehicle’s 12V adapter for on-the-go charging or any standard home outlet (100-240V). Retailing for $17.99, the unit features an LED indicator to show charging status, and a compact design for easy storage.

 

Also being introduced is a series of Car Chargers for Apple devices. Compatible with all 12V power supplies, the charger has a dedicated Apple connector, a one-hour charge time and saves device battery power, with a retail price of $19.99.

Finally, there is a series of 3-in-1 Car/Wall USB Chargers compatible with smartphones, tablets, and other USB devices. Carrying a retail price of $29.99, the 3-in-1 device features dual USB ports that allow for two devices to be charged simultaneously and folding AC blades and car charger connector for maximum portability and easy storage. 

 “Every product will be available with every NFL team’s logo and team colors,” stressed MIZCO Sports Executive Vice President of Sales Jeff Strumeier.  “This is a critical distinction that provides our dealers with a major advantage in selling to their customers.  What’s more, we will be introducing a complete range of self-merchandising displays with the product roll out in April.  Our goal is to provide retailers with a turn-key in-store sales and merchandising program that will maximize sales all through the football season and beyond for those dealers who sell licensed sports merchandise year-round.”

According to David Strumeier, additional NFL team logoed travel and portable power products will follow the initial April deliveries and include Android and Apple chargers, USB power accessories, universal USB car and wall chargers, hands-free microphones, in-car E-ZPass® holders, memory foam tablet cases, retractable cables, rubberized smartphone and tablet holders, eye masks, cooling and heating stadium seats, waterproof cases for iPhone®, iPad®, and eReaders, ponchos, travel pillows, travel blankets, laundry bags, and foldable travel bags.

About MIZCO International

Headquartered in Avenel, New Jersey, MIZCO International (www.mizco.com) is the world's fastest growing supplier of mobile phone headsets and accessories, as well as imaging and iPhone power solutions.  Founded in 1990, MIZCO markets products under the Cellular Innovations, DIGIPOWER, iEssentials, Ecko Unlimited ToughTested, and Travelocity brands.  The company currently offers more than 1,000 products through a global dealer network.  For more information on Mizco and its product offerings call 1.800.266.4026 or visit www.mizco.com

Stampede Predicts 2013 Is The Year Unified Communications Becomes A Practical Reality

The November 2012 announcement by Vidyo that its innovative software platform is being incorporated into Wii UTM Chat, a video communication service that is included with every Nintendo Wii U console, opens the door to a future where peer-to-peer communication will become a daily part of every consumer’s video game play, according to Stampede President & COO Kevin Kelly, and this reality speaks volumes about what lies ahead for profitable peer-to-peer communication in business.

In fact, Kelly predicted today, Vidyo’s announcement represents the tipping point that now transforms a trend toward low-cost video conferencing into a ‘stampede’ toward widespread, peer-to-peer Unified Communications that promises to create unprecedented new business opportunities for ProAV dealers who are equipped and educated to take advantage of all the new field offers.

“Over the last several years we have all seen and experienced how video conferencing has become an increasingly important part of our lives,” Kelly explained.  “What began as high-end video conferencing through dedicated tele-presence systems from companies like CISCO has evolved through lower-cost dedicated VC systems that can be leased for under $100 a month to software-based PC video conferencing solutions, to device-based conferencing. The fact that all of these different conferencing systems can now be combined at any given time, and in a variety of different configurations, is what makes the old era of video conferencing the new era of Unified Communications.”

Kelly believes that 2013 will be the year that Unified Communications becomes a major new growth opportunity for dealers in virtually every vertical market, offering end-users a wide selection of product offerings that cover every need from dedicated enterprise-wide video conferencing systems to software-based, PC-attached solutions.

Even more importantly, according to Kelly, dealers now have the opportunity to benefit not only from the sale of VC hardware and software, but also from the associated sales of displays, audio equipment, and other components that users of VC software surely need to have. Also, the ongoing service contracts on video conferencing systems create annuities for VC dealers that are unheard of in any other sector of the ProAV industry.

“The increased number of video conferencing endpoints is changing the way that people view the need to videoconference, and more people are taking notice of the endless opportunities that VC offers,” added Kelly. “The responsibility now lies with VC dealers to learn more about how Unified Communications can benefit them and their customer base, so that they can be prepared to offer the absolute best in the coming year.”

About Stampede

Known for its value-added distribution, Amherst, New York-based Stampede is the leading distributor of presentation equipment including LCD/DLP projectors and flat panel displays. Stampede provides a complete range of brand name presentation equipment to a variety of audio/video, computer, and home theater resellers and integrators in the United States, Canada and Latin America. These resellers rely on Stampede for value-added services in distribution, marketing and solution- based sales. Stampede annually produces the “Big Book of AV,” an 816-page catalog and companion website (www.BigBookofAV.com) providing hundreds of sales, installation and spec tips for Stampede’s dealers in addition to product details on more than 5,000 SKUs. For more information on Stampede, log onto www.stampedeglobal.com.