Black Box at the Digital Signage Expo 2012: digital signage for all!

Hallbergmoos, May 9, 2012 – High-resolution, high-performance, and flexible – those are the distinguishing features of the solutions presented by Black Box at this year‘s Digital Signage Expo (12-13 June 2012, Berlin). The IT and Digital Signage (DS) specialist offers tailor-made solutions for a multitude of requirements and preconditions, for example with regards to the already existing cabling or the requested positions of the displays – for small retail businesses as well as for public buildings and megastores. Besides their innovative products, the focus will also be on the extensive service range offered. Experts support the entire process from consultation to planning to installation, logistics and maintenance, and are available through free Tech Support over the phone at any time.

The new digital signage platform MediaFlyer Express is a combination of hardware and hosted solution for easy online step-by-step configuration and administration. It is thus ideal for companies and organizations, even with multiple locations, who are looking for a cost-effective way to improve their internal and external communication through up-to-date and dynamic digital signage systems. The system can easily be integrated into existing networks or used as a standalone solution. Setup is a breeze: once a MediaFlyer Express account has been created, contents can be loaded and the layout specified. Eight predefined layouts are available, though one can create their own easily as well. The platform is browser-based, thus eliminating the need to install design and administration software on the PC, and contents can be controlled easily from anywhere over the Internet.

With the new MediaCento HX, the audio and video content of a HD source can be distributed loss-free to multiple screens and over distances of up to 500 meters over already existing CATx cables. This eliminates costly recabling and displays can be located flexibly where they attract most attention. Besides the full HD image at 36-bit color depth, the HDMI signal includes 7.1-channel surround sound – both transmitted absolutely synchronous and without noticeable delay to all four receivers. The MediaCento system consists of a 4-port transmitter and two different types of receivers. The standard receiver routes the HD signal loss-free to a display connected up to 40 meters away. Consequently, a 1x4 installation requires 4 of these receivers. A cascadable receiver on the other hand allows to connect a display and at the same time extend the HDMI signal via CATx cables to another screen, where either a standard or an additional cascadable receiver for even larger installations can be connected. In addition, the cascadable receiver also serves as a repeater: the maximum distance of 40 (1080p) or 60 meters (720p) can be multiplied to up to 500 meters with interposed receivers. Moreover, it is possible to position the source up to 20 meters away from the transmitter and thus extend the range even further.

Contents can be distributed across even larger distances by using optical fiber cables. The transmitter of the Mini Extender Kit encodes the stereo audio and the DVI-D video signals into an optical signal that is decoded back to the original signal by the receiver. This allows point-to-point connections in full HD and without loss of quality over a distance of up to 1.5 kilometers over a single single-mode cable, or of up to 500 meters over multimode cables. The extender is thus suited for all applications that require video signal extensions to distant locations, for example at airports, in hospitals, or in retail stores. With its compact size of 1.5 x 3.9 x 6.9 cm and its low consumption of 3 watts maximum, the new extender requires little space and power. Despite its thriftiness, it is capable of transmitting resolutions of up to 1920x1200 (WUXGA) at 24-bit color depth as well as audio in CD quality without loss and over large distances, while at the same time being compatible with a great variety of displays and able to read and save their EDID information. That way it ensures smooth transmissions even between displays with different resolutions.

“As an international DS provider, we have extensive expertise and experience, which, together with our comprehensive portfolio, enables us to provide solutions for any conceivable application, regardless of whether it is for a small kiosk or a large-area shopping center,“ says Axel Bürger, Managing Director of Black Box Deutschland GmbH. “Our clients are never left alone, we support them at all stages of the project: from consultation to planning to rollout and beyond. Expertly trained specialists of our free Tech Support can be reached at all hours for help and advice.“

About Black Box:

Black Box (NASDAQ: BBOX) is one of the world’s largest technical services company with focus on design, installation and maintenance of network infrastructure systems. From data communication and telecommunication services to on-site network installations, the company supports more than 175,000 clients in 141 countries with 194 regional offices. With “Free Tech Support“ for free and competent technical advice over the phone, free test scenarios, as well as installation and maintenance services, Black Box offers an exceptional service program. The Black Box main catalogue is well-known in the industry and comprises an extensive product portfolio of approx. 10,000 IT products such as network components, as well as solutions for infrastructures and applications.

The headquarters of Black Box Corporation is in Pittsburgh, USA. Worldwide, the company has approximately 4500 employees, 65 of which in Germany. Black Box Deutschland GmbH has been active on the German market since 1984. Its regular customers include small and medium-sized businesses, as well as big enterprises of various branches, such as services, industry, telecommunications, health care and public administration, as well as the banking and insurance sector.
 
Press Contact: Black Box Deutschland GmbH
Axel Bürger, phone: +49 811 5541 322, fax: +49 811 5541 499
Email: axel.buerger@black-box.de, website: www.black-box.de

PR Agency: Weissenbach PR
Bastian Schink, phone: +49 89 5506 7775, fax: +49 89 5506 7790
Email: black-box@weissenbach-pr.de, website: www.weissenbach-pr.de