Barix Announces Partnerships with SchoolView Technologies and Calypso Control Systems for Technology Integration in K-12 Schools

Three companies come together to develop tightly integrated A/V control and distribution solutions for administrators and teachers

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, May 22, 2008 — Barix AG, a pioneer in IP-based audio, intercom, control, and monitoring, today announced two new business and OEM product development partnerships with hardware and software companies dedicated to furthering technology in K-12 schools and classrooms. The companies will exhibit a series of low-cost, scalable products and platforms for IP-based audio distribution in schools, including security, at the upcoming Infocomm 2008 (June 18-20, Las Vegas Convention Center) that are a result of the new business and technology alliances.  The end-to-end solution for schools and classrooms enables school administration staff to easily schedule bells, distribute music, make live and pre-recorded announcements, and play other audio to specific rooms, or throughout the campus.  All products are now shipping, with live deployments including the Franklin Independent School District in Franklin, Texas.

At Infocomm 2008, Barix (Booth C3785) will exhibit its complete range of Audio over IP solutions for education, A/V, security and other markets. Representatives from new business partner SchoolView Technologies, LLC of Plano, Texas will also be on hand to provide information on its CampusSV™ system for school-wide audio and video control and distribution. Meanwhile, Calypso Control Systems (Booth N6071) will showcase its new CA-1000SV audio amplifier, which integrates Barix IPAM 200 decoding modules to provide an all-in-one audio decoding and amplification box for audio playback over speakers and PA systems.

“Barix is proud to announce these partnerships heading into Infocomm to provide a single solution to address all audio distribution needs,” said Johannes G. Rietschel, CEO and Founder of Barix AG. “The CampusSV system from SchoolView is an innovative software solution that integrates exceptionally well with our Audio over IP solutions for voice, sound and music distribution and transmission in schools.  Barix is also pleased to announce that Calypso Control Systems is integrating Barix Audio over IP technology and OEM modules into its new CA-1000SV audio amplifier.  This provides Calypso and its customers with access to leading edge technology and an open, software-programmable platform from Barix at a very attractive price.”

SchoolView Technologies, LLC, a software provider of advanced applications to schools through intuitive user interface controls, brought Calypso and Barix together to design the CA-1000SV for the purpose of developing a fully integrated, single-platform audio decoding and amplification device that also interfaces with its CampusSV system. The new device is ideal for integration within an IP backbone for the distribution of bells, music, live and pre-recorded voice, and other audio sounds scheduled through CampusSV to specific classrooms or throughout the campus.

Calypso Control Systems is a manufacturer of a full range of control, interface, connectivity, audio and hardware devices that are designed to create an integrated classroom technology solution for teachers. In addition to Barix, the company is an ideal partner for SchoolView, which interfaces with Calypso products in two ways: from the school-wide, administrative control perspective; and at the teacher’s desktop for control of projectors and other video equipment inside the classroom.

According to Michael A. Yonks, President of SchoolView Technologies, LLC, the company’s partnerships with Barix and Calypso Control Systems provide a complete solution for the management and control of technology in schools today and into the future.

“The complimentary nature of the three companies and our philosophies to deliver cost-effective, easy-to-use products and applications to educators is what essentially bought us all together,” said Yonks. “The Barix range of Audio over IP products provides the architecture that fits seamlessly into our application for connecting commands to any number of classrooms, no matter how large the school.  Together with Calypso, the entire platform combines what were once very separate subsystems, from bells to security to digital signage, into a single, efficient and easy-to-use application.  And since all three companies’ products are modular and expandable, administrators can scale and add capabilities as their budgets allow.”

David Parish, President of Calypso Control Systems, LLC, noted that his company brings a classroom-oriented approach to the partnership that allows the three companies to so effectively deliver customized solutions suited to both the administrator and the teacher. The result is a tightly integrated platform that allows control and distribution of all multimedia flowing throughout the school.

“Calypso provides supplemental classroom control for the teacher in the form of wall-mount button panels, as well as all the backend hardware that manages distribution and control of video and various audio functions in the room,” said Parish. “The audio portion of the puzzle is where Barix enters, having integrated its IPAM 200 modules into our new audio amplifier. The Calypso CA-1000SV combines the practical reality of traditional analog amplifier requirements, while accommodating the need for streaming audio as a new multimedia service that is present in the classroom. It brings much more efficiency to the installation, reduces costs for the school district, and takes care of present day needs while anticipating the evolving needs of streaming audio to the classroom.”