Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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FAQ Topics:

General

Who is Endeleo?

Based in Guildford, England, Endeleo products consolidate, switch, and distribute television and other audio / video sources from one location to another. These products distribute all of the signals over standard computer cable (Cat 5) and then deliver it to the appropriate display device (TV, projector, LCD) on the other end of the connection. Endeleo products also provide an element of control over the Cat5 connection so that the devices and content can be controlled from various locations.

 

Why did AMX acquire Endeleo?

One of AMX’s key strategies has been to develop and acquire technology in the area of content control. We first entered the content control arena with our MAX product line, which stores, manages and delivers DVD and CD content.

  • Endeleo expands this capability even further by providing a way to distribute multimedia content from a central location to many displays in all the standard formats. Television or multimedia distribution, content management and display management are all possible with this single solution.
  • By acquiring Endeleo, we accelerated our time to market while enhancing the content control portion of our business.
  • Endeleo broadens AMX’s capabilities in distributed multimedia projects such as:
    • Classrooms
    • Electronic / Digital Signage
    • Corporate Internal Communications Systems
  • Endeleo also supports our other 2 key strategies of 1) Device Control, by its ability to be managed by AMX control systems and the ability to control via IR other third-party sources, and 2) Asset Control, by having management and scheduling tools that support product configuration and operation in the field.

 

What opportunity is AMX addressing with the acquisition of Endeleo?

The Endeleo product line will allow AMX to broaden our penetration into certain vertical markets including financial, education, entertainment, and electronic signage that already understand the need for video distribution technology.

Additionally, the majority of Endeleo’s customers have a need for device control using other AMX products, such as our touch panels, remotes, central controllers and software. Therefore, we have an opportunity to create blended products that address specific vertical market needs directly, with both a best-in-breed solution and a level of integration that simplifies the dealer’s job.

 

What type of customers use Endeleo products?

Endeleo products are found in most of AMX’s key vertical markets, including:

  • Financial
  • Education
  • Corporations
  • Government
  • Entertainment
  • Retail

Endeleo has a primary emphasis on the commercial sector, designed for customers who want to display various types of content, but many times are unable to pull other types of cable.

 

Specifically, who are some of Endeleo’s end user customers?

Endeleo’s customer base includes ABN AMRO, Bear Stearns, the Chicago Police Department, HSBC, The Metropolitan Police, Credit Suisse, New York Mercantile Exchange, NYC Office of Emergency Management, Sony Computer Entertainment America, and Viacom/MTV, among others.

 

What is the dollar value of the deal?

AMX is a privately-held company and does not disclose the financial details of acquisitions.

 

Company Organization

What will happen to Endeleo’s current employees?

All of Endeleo’s current employees will become AMX employees, focusing on the areas of technical sales support and market development for the Endeleo product line. This group of employees will now be called the Endeleo Group.

 

How will Endeleo and its products be branded after the acquisition?

The Endeleo organization will be fully integrated into AMX and will no longer operate as a separate company. With the acquisition, AMX will have a new product family called “Endeleo.” All of Endeleo’s current products will now carry an AMX logo but will maintain their current brand model names.

 

Endeleo’s main office is in the UK. Where will these employees work after the acquisition?

Endeleo’s UK-based employees will continue to work in their current UK office. Endeleo San Francisco and New York-based employees will continue to work in those cities.

 

Who will take over the research and development function of the Endeleo product line?

Research and development activities centric to the Endeleo product line will continue to be handled by both the Endeleo Group and AMX Engineering Teams.

 

How will AMX further develop this product line?

AMX sees many opportunities to further develop this product, broadening its market applications, functionality and value. Like all of our products, we will devote strategic R&D initiatives to this product line to further its development.

 

Who will take over the manufacturing of the Endeleo product line?

All manufacturing will move to AMX’s standard operations processes.

 

Customer Sales

When does AMX begin selling Endeleo products?

On November 1, 2006, the day the acquisition is announced.

 

Who will sell Endeleo products in the U.S.?

All of the current AMX direct sales and manufacturer’s sales representatives will begin selling Endeleo products as of November 1, 2006. [A list of AMX’s sales reps by region can be found at: http://www.amx.com/contactamx/] Endeleo sales reps in common with AMX will experience no change in process or sales contacts. Endeleo dealers who are also AMX dealers will experience no change in process or sales contacts and will continue to have access to both lines.

 

Who will sell Endeleo products internationally?

The current AMX World Partners Distributor and Dealers will begin selling the Endeleo Product Line as of November 1, 2006 when the acquisition is announced.

 

How long can Endeleo’s current independent sales representatives continue selling Endeleo products after the acquisition?

AMX will be contacting these sales representatives directly on November 1 to discuss the sales process post-acquisition.

 

If I am an existing Endeleo dealer, but not an AMX dealer, will I automatically become an AMX dealer? Will I also be able to sell other products in the AMX family?

Endeleo dealers who are not AMX dealers will be contacted immediately by their prospective regional AMX sales representatives to discuss establishment of a dealer relationship with AMX.

 

If I am an existing Endeleo dealer, how do I continue to purchase Endeleo products and services? Who is my new contact at AMX?

All orders will be processed through and by AMX immediately. Your prospective regional AMX sales representative will contact you immediately to discuss this process.

 

Do AMX and Endeleo have any of the same existing dealers?

Yes, many of Endeleo’s dealers are already AMX dealers.

 

If I am a current Endeleo customer, who do I contact for technical and customer support?

AMX Global Customer and Technical Support hours are 7am to 7pm CST – after hours technical support is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. For Domestic Customer and Technical Support assistance you may call 800.222.0193 or via email at service@amx.com. International customers may contact your local World Partner Distributor or AMX at +1.469.624.7400 or via email at international@amx.com. [A list of AMX’s US Sales Reps and World Partner Distributors by region can be found at: http://www.amx.com/contactamx/]

 

When will training be available?

Product training on Endeleo products will be available online beginning November 1, 2006. More details on classroom instructional and additional online training will be available on the AMX website throughout the month of November.

 

Products/Solutions

(These are meant to be high-level technology overview FAQs. More detailed technology details are available on the AMX Website at www.amx.com in the “Products” section.)

What Endeleo products will AMX sell?

The company to-date has two core product lines, which AMX will continue to sell: TVM Series (Managed Television Distribution System) and a recently launched UDM Series (Multi-Format/Multi-Media System) for video/audio switching and distribution.

 

Can you use AMX systems to control Endeleo products?

Yes. Endeleo has been one of AMX’s InConcert Partners, and as such, AMX and Endeleo have developed APIs that enable AMX control systems to work in tandem with Endeleo products.

 

TVM Series

What products make up the TVM Series and how do they work?

  • The TVM-1600 Managed TV Hub embodies a technology for the switching, transmission and management of television and video over twisted pair cable. Using a single Cat5/Cat5e or Cat6 cable, users can select any channel on demand over distances of 3000 feet / 1000m from the Endeleo TV Hub. With no limit to the total number of screens supported, you can keep adding Managed TV hubs to provide support for thousands of end points.
  • The Managed TV User Module(2 models: TVM Pro Receiver & TVM Basic Receiver) is a small interface unit located at the display device unit that converts the transmitted audio / video signal from twisted pair media to a standard AV signals. It has an RJ-45 input port for the TVM connection and industry-standard A/V outputs (Composite, Left Audio and Right Audio). Bi-directional Infra Red blaster technology at both the receiver and the hub provides the ability to control both displays and video source devices like DVD players, video recorders from either a user or central location. The Professional User Module includes bright LED displays for channel numbers.

 

How many displays and channels can the TVM support?

Each Managed TV Hub supports 16 display outputs and up to 192 video channels per display connection.

 

What if I need to distribute content to more than 16 displays?

Multiple hubs can be chained together providing support and control to hundreds or even thousands of users/displays. Each hub has an Ethernet network port to provide connectivity to the central management system.

 

What are the inputs and outputs for the Managed TV Hub?

The input to the Managed TV Hub is via an industry standard RF feed and the output is presented as an RJ-45 socket for connection to the Cat5, 5e or 6 twisted pair cable. The selected video channel is then transmitted via the UTP cable to one of our Managed TV receivers.

 

What sources can be distributed via the TVM?

TV channels, DVD media, and VCR media. All in either PAL or NTSC format.

 

How do you control the TVM Series?

The TVM Pro Receiver is shipped with an IR receiver port. In addition to channel and volume selection operations, a TVM user can (if granted) control video sources via an IR remote control and can manage (start/stop/play/pause) video storage devices and other media players on demand. Endeleo (now AMX) manufacturers an IR Remote Control that works in tandem with this system, or you can use any other IR Remote. Devices can be dedicated to individual users or allocated as a shared resource.

 

How is the TVM Series set up, managed and administered?

The Endeleo TVM Series is shipped with its own on-board web engine. This allows rapid set up of the system and easy management of channel lineup. Administrators can grant or revoke channel access, centrally switch on/off display devices, and force users to watch a broadcast on a specific channel. This can be done on an ad-hoc basis or as a scheduled event with the Endeleo Enterprise Management Software.

 

What other special features are included with the TVM?

Unique to the Endeleo TVM Series is the ability, via the embedded web engine or Enterprise Management Software, to send messages to users or groups of users on an ad-hoc or scheduled basis. Announcements highlighting the next broadcast or automated emergency alerts can be sent if required. These text messages are persistent on selected displays irrespective of channel changing operations performed by the user.

 

Universal Distribution Matrix (UDM) Series

What products make up the Universal Distribution Matrix (UDM) Series and how do they work?

The UDM1604 from Endeleo is the only true multi-format video/audio switching and transmission system on the market today. Using only one Cat5/Cat5e or Cat6 cable, you can simply switch and transmit any video source to any display device, power on/off display devices, and permission user control to select and play video sources and media servers on demand. It comes all in one package and is fully automated, providing huge cost savings over traditional technologies. The on board browser management system provides either a local or remote user complete control of which source is displayed on which display device.

The UDM1604 accepts up to 4 high resolution inputs in any format (RGB (VGA), Component, S-Video, Composite) and supports both analog and digital audio on each input port. The 16x UTP connected outputs can choose from any of the available inputs.

UDM RX01 Multi-Format Receiver is phantom powered from the UDM hub so no local power supply is needed. As the hub is switched from one video/audio source to another, the UDM receiver detects a change in video signal and will automatically switch the Plasma or LCD screen to its new video format. Distances of 1000 feet/300m are supported at 1280x1024 and higher resolutions are supported at shorter distances. The UDM receiver incorporates the latest chip technology for advanced skew compensation to align the signals on the UTP cable keeping the picture crisp and clear.

 

How many displays can the UDM support?

Each UDM endpoint can drive a display with either composite, D-Video, Computer or YPbPr formats along with either analog audio or S/PDIF.

 

What if I need to distribute content to more than this number of displays?

The architecture can be expanded by adding additional hub units to increase the total number of outputs available.

 

What type of sources can be distributed via the UDM?

Using RGB, Component, S-Video, and Composite formats, many of the following sources are often distributed the UDM:

  • DVD
  • DVD-HD
  • VCR
  • Computer
  • Content Server
  • Cable Box
  • Satellite Box
  • CD
  • Laser Disc
  • Audio Receiver

 

How do you control the UDM?

The UDM receiver is shipped with an IR receiver port. When user control is granted, the user can switch video sources via an IR remote control and can manage (start/stop/play/pause) media players and video storage devices from the screen position.

All UDM receivers are shipped with Endeleo' s IDM (Integrated Device Management) technology. Full control sequences for both IR and Serial control can be stored in the receiver. This provides the ability to switch on/off display devices on an ad-hoc or scheduled basis. Multiple commands can be processed by the receiver and closed loop feedback is possible for use with third party control management solutions.

 

How is the UDM Series set up, managed and administered?

The Endeleo UDM series is delivered with its own on-board web browser and scheduler. This allows rapid set up and naming of all video sources and connected display devices. The system can then simply switch inputs to the display device via the web browser. The system scheduler can power on/off display devices and switch to different video sources at specific times on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

Use the onboard management system to select inputs, run macros, program scheduled events and control both display devices (LCD, Plasma, CRT, Projector, etc) via either RS-232 or Infra Red, and source devices via 4 IR transmitters on the UDM1604.

 

What other special features are included with the UDM?

If you need extra Composite AV inputs, you can use an Endeleo AV balun. This cable assembly enables you to connect up additional Composite AV sources into the four RJ-45 inputs on the front panel of the UDM1604 - making this an 8x16 switcher.

 

Other Technology Questions

How are Endeleo products different from the MAX-Encoder/Decoder from AMX?

The MAX-Encoder & Decoder are based on transporting DIGITAL, compressed content over an IT or Ethernet backbone using standard protocols. You are running signals over any network simultaneously.

Endeleo solutions take a different approach:

  • Uses easily-installed, dedicated, and cost-effective Cat5 cable that is pervasive in buildings today
  • De-couples it from the corporate backbone, avoiding the debate with IT
  • Leverages cost-effective ANALOG signaling to deliver the content
  • You can send control signals over the same CAT5 cable.

 

How will the product be priced?

A price list for Endeleo products will be available in the AMX Account Center on the AMX Website by November 3.

 

Will Crestron systems still be able to control Endeleo products?

Yes. You can still control Endeleo products with Crestron systems. However, as AMX cannot support Crestron software, we can no longer provide the module to do this. Dealers can write their own module or use the Endeleo module that has been available on the website.