Industry Briefs

• 05/22/06

:: NEWS

INFOCOMM 2006. More than 28,000 AV manufacturers, integrators, and professionals are flocking to Orlando, FL, this month to see the newest technologies for audio, video, display, projection, conferencing, and more, at InfoComm 2006 (June 3-9). See you there!

GET SMARTER. Interactive whiteboard vendor SMART Technologies is offering subject-specific training seminars for educators who have used a SMART Board for at least one year, or have previously attended a SMART Master’s training session. The half-day sessions focus on how to utilize advanced tools and applications to better engage students in specific subject areas.

HOT POCKETS.Pacific Media Associates, a market research firm specializing in large-screen displays, has identified a hot new trend—pocket projectors. Pocket projectors typically weigh about one pound, use an LED light source (relatively dim by front-projector standards), and are designed for individual or small-group viewing. Technological developments to boost brightness are positioning pocket projectors for more diverse application—and rapid growth.

:: M&A, ETC.

CHAT NOW WITH HOBSONS EMT. Enrollment management company Hobsons EMT has acquired Chat University. Chat U’s blogging and message board products will be integrated into the Hobsons EMT product portfolio, providing expanded tools for recruitment, communications and enrollment management.

COLLABORATING FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. ERP vendor Campus Management has announced a strategic alliance with Tegrity, the provider of class capture and digital notetaking tools. The parties are collaborating to find ways to integrate Campus Management’s CampusPortal and Tegrity Campus software, with hopes to impact student achievement and retention.

HORIZON WIMBA ACQUIRES BROWNSTONE. Horizon Wimba has acquired Brownstone Research Group, joining Brownstone’s Diploma and EDU (test authoring, online homework management, and testing tools) with Horizon Wimba’s suite of collaborative software applications for online education. Going forward, Horizon Wimba plans to incorporate its voice over IP technology into Diploma and EDU in order to create voice-enabled testing and homework assignments for language learning courses.

:: PEOPLE

McNEALY LEAVES SUN. Scott McNealy has stepped down from his post as CEO of Sun Microsystems, but will remain with the company as chairman. Taking the reins is longtime Sun exec Jonathan Schwartz.

NEW HITACHI VP. Hitachi America has announced the appointment of Pete Denes as vice president of its Ubiquitous Platforms Systems Division. Denes will be responsible for sales of Hitachi LCD projectors, professional plasma monitors, interactive panels and whiteboards, and security and observation system projects.

TOSHIBA APPOINTS PRESIDENT AND CEO. Toshiba American Information Systems, Toshiba’s operating company for notebooks, projectors, imaging systems, storage products, and telephony equipment, has named Masahiko Fukakushi as president and CEO.

NEW CTO FOR MIRAPOINT. Secure messaging vendor Mirapoint has promoted Jaspal Kohli to chief technology officer, to drive the company’s e-mail and e-mail security innovation. Kohli was previously Mirapoint’s chief engineer.