Califone Wraps 2009 Infocomm
Califone concluded its 52nd annual Infocomm convention last week in Orlando, FL. The world’s largest gathering of AV manufacturers and distributors concluded a busy week of meetings and product launches on an even more upbeat note after the broadcasted general announcement saying that the show attendance was in fact the third highest in its history.
A number of new and upcoming products were shown by Califone for the first time. Some of the notables included:
- Preview of the soon-to-be-released Diggiditto™ Smart Document Camera
- Demonstrations of the new Got It!™ Student Response System
- The first MP3 player on the market designed for use in schools with dual headphone jacks, built-in microphone for podcasting, and maximum playback volume of 85dB for hearing safety and protection
- The first jackboxes to use a USB plug and to alert listeners when the volume playback exceeds 85dB
- Its new active noise-canceling headphone
- The upgraded Spirit™ – the most widely spec’d classroom multimedia player/recorder on school and district bids
- The new Performer Plus™ Audio Pod™
- The upgraded Infrared Audio System with two wireless channels and the ability to work with teleconferencing systems
- The new ClearSound™ Ceiling Speaker
- The line of portable & wireless PA gear
Califone staff met with many of its dealers including Aves AV, AVI-SPL, Camcor, Curtis AV, J.P. Lilley & Son, Long’s Electronics, Metropolitan AV, Nationwide AV, Level 3 Audio, Lee Hartman & Sons, Nisewonger AV, Provision Media, Single Source Group, Smiley’s Audio Video, The Chariot Group, Tierney Brothers, Troxell Communications, W. Schiller & Co., Canadian dealers (Duocom, LR Brown, Inland Audio Visual), European distributor Bretford UK, systems integrators, government & military personnel, businesses and district and higher education professionals.
Califone also held a contest for anyone who stopped by the booth for a chance to win a prepaid trip to next year’s show in Las Vegas. The winner was Mike Painter, an administrator from the nearby Orange County Public School District.
