We're hiring!
 
That's right, even through the tough economic times, SKC has continued to grow our headcount.  Year to date, we've grown employee count by 15% and we still have open positions listed on our website. 

Why?  Because it's a great time to be in the Unified Communications space! Our clients are demanding technologies that give them mobility, more productivity and most importantly, a quick ROI. In this edition of SKC's Get Connected you will read about ways SKC is delivering UC solutions to our clients.

We are also showcasing a number of recent case studies. Please take a minute and see if any of these apply to your industry. Further highlighting the importance of the UC space, we are excited to review our 2nd annual Smart Communications Technology Summit. We had more than 300 people attend our two-day conference, highlighted by a 90-minute panel discussion with six C-level executives from some of our top manufacturing partners.

SKC's number one corporate objective continues to be Exceed Client Expectations, please let us know how we are doing. 

Thank you for your business and we look forward to working with you in the future!
 

Professionals from across the country convened in Kansas City at the 2nd Annual SKC Smart Communications Technology Summit. The event attracted around 300 people from as far away as California and built on the success of the 2008 Summit, while offering participants a wide variety of opportunities (and some pretty cool take-aways too.)

This year's event kicked off with an Open House at the SKC Headquarters in Shawnee, KS, a suburb of Kansas City, giving clients and prospects a chance to see SKC's technology solutions showcased throughout the building. Attendees then had the opportunity to connect with technology and communications experts from SKC and representatives from their key manufacturers over drinks, food and sports talk at the 810 Zone bar and grill in Leawood, KS.

Thursday's venue was the Sheraton Overland Park Convention Center and offered a chance to visit exhibits from 13 key manufacturers in the communication technology industry. Exhibitors gave live demonstrations of their newest products and answered questions throughout the day. Each of the 13 manufacturers hosted two breakout sessions on a variety of solutions including: telemedicine, classroom technology, logistics, call centers, telepresence and Unified Communications. Architects also had the chance to earn AIA credits from one of the three credited classes. Additionally, SKC held two breakout sessions focusing on their solutions in Unified Communications and in creating a 21st-century learning environment. 

Six accomplished industry experts highlighted the event when they mapped out the future of communications technology, specifically focusing on Unified Communications, in a facilitated panel discussion that included Lorie Buckingham, CIO Avaya; Bob Hagerty, CEO Polycom; Ken Kannappan, CEO Plantronics; Randy Klein, EVP Crestron Electronics; Rashid Skaf, CEO AMX; and Rick Snyder, President Tandberg Americas. Each panelist provided their insight on Unified Communications, economic trends, going green and where the communications industry is headed.

2009 Smart Communications Summit attendees walked away with a plethora of ideas to improve the way they communicate at work every day. We hope there's enough room in those cool swag bags to fit them all.

Stay tuned for 2010 Smart Communications Summit dates. 

The ongoing migration to Unified Communications is making it easier for employees to connect to anyone whenever and wherever using the device of their choice. This transition to better and faster communication has made it much easier for the remote employee to do business more efficiently than before.

Manufacturers have recently been releasing solutions aimed to fit in with the Unified Communications model that can significantly simplify the life of a remote employee.

The Avaya one-X Communicator is a Unified Communications client that manages voice, video, voicemail, audio/ videoconferencing, instant messaging, directories and communication history all in one interface. 
 
TANDBERG's Movi offers HD videoconferencing on your PC, meaning you can stay visually connected to colleagues, customers or suppliers anywhere you need to work.

Another option is the Polycom CMA Desktop, which connects with all standards-based telepresence, room and personal videoconferencing systems.

In this edition of Get Connected, we take a look at the Savi Go in the headsets section below. The Savi Go lets you seamlessly switch calls from your PC softphone to your cell phone.

These products offer the latest in user mobility making them the perfect fit for any on-the-go mobile employee. To learn more about using these solutions in your day-to-day operations, contact an SKC representative today.

Savi Go
Savi Go is the wireless headset system that connects to the PC and mobile phone, offering unparalleled audio quality and flexibility for in-office mobile professionals adopting Microsoft® Office Communicator 2007. The Savi Go lets you seamlessly switch between calls received on your PC via Microsoft Office Communicator Server and those received on your mobile phone.

Avaya's Pending Acquisition of Nortel Enterprise Solutions
On September 14, Avaya was selected to acquire Nortel Enterprise Solutions, pending bankruptcy court approval. Upon court and customary regulatory approvals in Canada, the United States and many European countries, Avaya will provide a roadmap of the combined offerings. To read more on how this affects you as an existing Avaya or Nortel customer, see the SKC press release.

Avaya Aura
As an evolution of the Avaya Communication Manager, Avaya Aura enhances the user experience with new capabilities and simplified voice architecture that can lower costs and increase productivity while leveraging existing investments.

Polycom HDX 6000
At InfoComm, Polycom released the new Polycom HDX 6000, a fully-featured, low-cost, small group telepresence system. The HDX 6000 is an affordable HD solution with unmatched levels of ease and simplicity.

Crestron Digital Media
Crestron recently released their new Digital Media line of products which form a complete, integrated solution that manages, controls and distributes all analog and uncompressed HD digital content.

VBrick Rich Media Studio
VBrick's Rich Media Studio is the only single device that has the power and functionality to combine video inputs and xGA/DVI inputs into one video stream and delivers them live or on-demand. This all-in-one device allows a presenter to seamlessly switch between a variety of inputs to create dynamic presentations.

AMX Epica DG Series
The Epica DG (Digital Generation) is designed to break all the rules of signal routing. Its exclusive digital platform converts between video formats allowing for any input to be routed out to any output simultaneously, regardless of format. This negates the need for external video conversion boxes, simplifying system design and installation for integrators and reduces the overall cost of the system for users.

City of Independence (MO)

The City of Independence stretches its tax dollars by migrating to an Avaya IP Telephony solution from SKC.

Oakland County (MI) Jail and Courthouse

Oakland County provides safety and convenience through videoconferencing.

Oklahoma Army National Guard

Oklahoma Army National Guard protects and serves the nation through videoconferencing.

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis University's Department of Counseling and Family Therapy uses Video on Demand to
enrich the classroom and the community.

SKC Video Training
November 4-5
Shawnee, KS
> Register

SKC South Texas Communication Technology Summit
October 7
Corpus Christi, TX
> Register

PUG Annual Conference
October 11-14
Anaheim, CA
> Register

Texas ESC Region XI
5th Annual Distance Learning Educator Conference
October 14
Fort Worth, TX
> Register

NAEP Great Lakes Region Conference
October 14-16
South Bend, IN

National Conference on Correctional Health Care
October 17-21
Orlando, FL
> Register

Indiana Rural Health Conference
November 4-5
Plainfield, IN
> Register