Converge 560/590
Marketing & Technical Product Overview
October 2005
Converge 560/590
Marketing & Technical Product Overview
October 2005
Converge 560/590
Marketing & Technical Product Overview
October 2005
Converge 560/590 product positioning
Professional
Conferencing
Premium
Conferencing
Performance
Tabletop
Conferencing
Converge 560/590
XAP 2.0
XAP
MAX wired/
wireless
RAV 600/900
Price
XAP and PSR
ClearOne Audio Product Line
Converge
RAV
Max EX and MaxAttach
Max and MaxAttach Wireless
AccuMic
What comes with the Converge 560/590?
+ RF Tabletop Controller
> 50 ft range
+ Emulates a telephone
> Full Dialing / Volume / Mute Functions
+ LCD Display for Phonebook Name Display
> Up to 20 named entries
+ Auto answer / auto disconnect
+ Selectable ring melodies
+ Battery Operated with four standard AAA Batteries
+ Optional Wired Controller available
What comes with the Converge 560/590?
+ Audio mixer
+ Microphone distribution boxes
> 3 industry-standard XLR connectors for use with any style microphone
> Daisy-chain boxes from mixer
> Converge 560 comes with 2 boxes; Converge 590 comes with 3
What comes with the Converge 560/590?
+
+
+
+
Controller (wired or wireless) – same as current popular RAV controller
3 ea. 18” link cables (to link mic distribution boxes)
Rack kit for distribution boxes
CD with configuration & device management software
> Software configures both the RAV 600/900 and the Converge 560/590
What is the Converge 560/590?
+ Looks similar to RAV but is a new platform that stands on its own
> Positioned between RAV & XAP: combined features & functionality
from both platforms
> With mic distribution boxes, integrators now have the ability to
select the type of microphone and speakers to use
> Six and nine microphone input models
+ Part of the Professional Conferencing product line
Mic Distribution Boxes
+ Link like RAV mics (In/Out follows audio flow)
+ Front panel link lights
> Solid Green – indicates proper link
> Flashing Red – indicates improper link; need to check cabling
+ Cable length
> 60 feet total length from mixer to last mic distribution box
+ Can be rack mounted with mixer using the included rack mount kit
+ Can also be strategically positioned throughout the room to minimize mic
cable runs
Converge 560/590 Auto Mixer
+ Distributed echo cancellation
+ Noise cancellation
+ Advanced microphone gating techniques
+ 16 kHz bandwidth
+ Line in / out port
> Supports use of video codecs
> Supports use of external amplifiers
+ Record in / Playback out port
> Supports use of playback systems
Converge 560/590 Auto Mixer
+
Remote Network Management
>
>
>
Integrated Server
Event logging
Remote configuration, control and
checks
Converge 560/590 New Functions (over RAV platform)
+ Filters (like XAP)
> 3 PEQ from 20 to 15 KHZ and -15 to +15 dB
+ Camera Control
> One preset per mic and a home (silence) preset
+ Device Tool box
> Add mic objects
Converge 560/590 Application- Small Board Room with Video Conferencing
ClearOne Equipment List
1-Converge 590
8- ClearOne Button Mics
1- ClearOne VC or Titan Cart
Other Equipment
Video Codec
TV or Plasma
Loudspeakers
Converge 560/590 Application- Web Classroom/Training Room
ClearOne Equipment List
1-Converge 590
8- ClearOne Uni Tabletop Mics
1- ClearOne Presentation Cart
1- ClearOne Podium
Other Equipment
Projector & Screen
Loudspeakers
Podium Mic
External Amp
Converge 560/590 Application- V/C Classroom/Training Room
Wireless Mic
ClearOne Equipment List
1- Converge 590
8- ClearOne Uni Mics
1- ClearOne V/C Cart
Other Equipment
Video Codec
TV or Plasma
Loudspeakers
Wireless Mic
Converge 560/590 Application- V/C Hearing/Deposition Room
Defendant
ClearOne Equipment List
1- Converge 590
6- ClearOne Uni Mics
1- ClearOne V/C Cart
Witness
Other Equipment
Video Codec
TV or Plasma
Loudspeakers
Gooseneck Mic
Judge
Recorder
Prosecution
Product part numbers – rest of world
910-153-560
Converge 560 Wireless (US, Mexico, Brazil, Canada Version)
910-153-561
Converge 560 Wireless (UK, S. Africa, Singapore, HK)
910-153-561-01
Converge 560 Wireless (Germany Spain, Italy, France, Sweden, Poland Etc)
910-153-562
Converge 560 Wireless (Australia Version)
910-153-590
Converge 590 Wireless (US, Mexico, Brazil, Canada Version)
910-153-591
Converge 590 Wireless (UK, S. Africa, Singapore, HK)
910-153-591-01
Converge 590 Wireless (Germany Spain, Italy, France, Sweden, Poland Etc)
910-153-592
Converge 590 Wireless (Australia Version)
910-153-565
Converge 560 Wired (US, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, S. Korea Version)
910-153-565-05
Converge 560 Wired (Japan Version)
910-153-565-01
Converge 560 Wired (UK, S. Africa, Singapore, HK Version)
910-153-565-03
Converge 560 Wired (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Sweden, Poland Etc.)
910-153-565-02
Converge 560 Wired (Australia Version)
910-153-565-04
Converge 560 Wired (China Version)
910-153-595
Converge 590 Wired (US, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, S. Korea Version)
910-153-595-05
Converge 590 Wired (Japan Version)
910-153-595-01
Converge 590 Wired (UK, S. Africa, Singapore, HK Version)
910-153-595-03
Converge 590 Wired (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Sweden, Poland Etc.)
910-153-595-02
Converge 590 Wired (Australia Version)
910-153-595-04
Converge 590 Wired (China Version)
Product pricing & part numbers – North America
Product
Part number
Retail Price
Converge 560 wireless
910-153-560
List price $3099.00
Converge 590 wireless
910-153-590
List price $3499.00
Converge 560 wired
910-153-595
List price $3099.00
Converge 590 wired
910-153-050
List price $3499.00
Gating
+
+
+
+
+
PA Adaptive is always on (set to the AEC reference)
Adaptive Ambient always on (no manual ambient)
Max # Mics set to 3
First mic priority always on
Manual On
> Contributes to the mic parameters
+ Override On
> Does not contribute to mic parameters
When to recommend Converge vs. RAV & XAP
+ When to sell Converge 560/590 vs. when to sell XAP
> Determine number of microphones
- If 1-9 with custom mics & speakers required, recommend Converge
- If 10 or more mics, recommend XAP
> Determine complexity of application
- Single speaker zone: recommend Converge
- Multiple speaker zones: recommend XAP
- Multiple configurations where presets & macros are required (room combining,
etc.): recommend XAP
- More than 1 audio program source (DVD, VCR, CD, PC, etc.): recommend XAP
> Acoustical environment
- Both systems can be tuned for superior performance in both quiet and noisy
environments
- If increased number of microphones are necessary to solve gain issues in noisy
environments, and more than 9 required: recommend XAP
What is the Converge 560/590?
+ Converge 560/590 product design background
> ClearOne identified a price/feature gap & opportunity between RAV and XAP
Product design strategy:
> Combine the ease of setup and use of the RAV with some of the flexibility and
features of XAP
> Create the product at a price point that becomes compelling for budgetconscious applications needing 1 to 9 microphones
> Create a product with customizable microphone options and more customized
audio settings that would appeal to integrators – allows them to add value
> Create a product offering that competes directly with Polycom Vortex in
medium-sized room applications with inexpensive controller
> Expand applications fit beyond what RAV currently covers
Market opportunity
+ Converge 560/590 puts ClearOne in an extremely competitive situation
for:
>
>
>
>
Medium-sized applications
1-9 microphones required
Semi-installed requirement
Budget-conscious requirements
+ ClearOne channel partners are now fully equipped with the most
extensive, most complete audio conferencing product suite in the
industry
> Full range of room requirements can be met with ClearOne solutions,
from small rooms requiring single conference phone to complex installed
audio applications
Competitive pricing analysis:
Converge 560/590 vs. Polycom Vortex 2241/2280
ClearOne
Converge
560
Polycom
Vortex
EF2241
ClearOne
Converge
590
Polycom
Vortex
EF2280
Number of mic inputs
6
4
9
8
Number of line level inputs
2
4
2
4
Number of line level outputs
2
8
2
12
Telephone interface
X
X
X
No
Auto mic mixer
X
X
X
X
Number of independent mic echo
cancellation channels
6
4
9
8
10W speaker amplifier
X
X
X
No
Dial pad controller included
X
No
X
No
LAN connection for remote management
X
No
X
No
Converge MSRP including controller
Polycom MSRP without controller
Converge price advantage
*Note: comparisons are all at U.S. list price
To be announced
Nov 05
To be announced
Nov 05
$3995
Significantly less
$4615
Significantly less
Competitive pricing analysis:
Converge 560/590 vs. Polycom Vortex 2241/2280
ClearOne
Converge
560
Polycom MSRP without controller
Polycom
Vortex
EF2241
ClearOne
Converge
590
$3995
Polycom
Vortex
EF2280
$4615
Add-ons necessary to build Vortex up to equivalent Converge functionality
Vortex Ethernet interface
$375
$375
Vortex telephone interface (needed for
2280)
$995
10W amplifier to power speakers
(needed for 2280)
$50
Controller (basic Polycom VTX-1000)
Total comparative system prices
Converge price advantage
$1299
TBA Nov 05
$5669
Even larger price gap
$1299
TBA Nov 05
$7334
Even larger price gap
TECHNICAL OVERVIEW
Converge 560/590 vs. Vortex dealer cost comparison by # of mics
Converge Dealer Cost less Vortex Dealer Cost
Dollar Delta: Converge
0
-500
-1000
-1500
-2000
-2500
-3000
-3500
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Number of Conferencing Microphones
8
9
Converge 560/590 vs. Biamp dealer cost comparison by # of mics
Converge Dealer Cost less Biamp Dealer Cost
Dollar Delta: Converge
0
-200
-400
-600
-800
-1000
-1200
-1400
-1600
-1800
-2000
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Number of Conferencing Microphones
8
9
Presentation topics
+ Marketing overview
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
What is the product?
How is it positioned?
What is the opportunity?
What is the price? How does it compare?
When do I recommend Converge vs. RAV & XAP?
What applications does it fit into?
When and where will it ship?
+ Technical overview
> Product definition
> New functions
> Technical positioning vs. RAV & XAP
Product applications – Converge 560/590
+ Teleconferencing
> Converge 560/590 provides immediate teleconferencing capabilities for a
medium-sized group conference room.
+ Video conferencing
> Interfaces with set-top and installed video conferencing systems in mediumsized conference environments. Significantly enhances audio performance for
both near and far-end participants.
+ Web conferencing
> Seamlessly integrates the room audio controls with the web conferencing
equipment for significantly enhanced audio performance.
Usage scenarios – Converge 560/590
+ General teleconferencing
> Excellent alternative to XAP installed systems in price-sensitive applications
for custom integrated board rooms and higher-end conference rooms
+ Corporate training & education
> Common scenario: corporate trainers use teleconferencing paired with video
or web conferencing from centralized corporate location
> Converge 560/590’s customizable microphone options with local speech
lift/sound reinforcement make it a perfect fit for this environment
> Chairman override: Converge offers option to gate on the presenter’s mic,
and turn all other mics off in order to prevent unnecessary background noise
being transmitted to far end
Usage scenarios – Converge 560/590
+ Multi-media conferencing applications
> Interfaces with video and web conferencing systems
> Provides significantly enhanced audio performance and configuration control
for rich-media environments.
+ Hearing & deposition rooms
> Provide appropriate microphones for each position in the room
> Capture crystal-clear recordings of both ends of conference with
record/playback jacks on back of mixer
- (Larger court rooms requiring multiple speaker zones and multiple outputs for
individual track recording need the capabilities of XAP)
Product launch milestones
Timeframe
Activity
October 25, 2005
Press release goes out announcing product
October 25, 2005
New product announcement goes out to channel, excluding
pricing info
October 25 – November 30, 2005
ClearOne RSMs and FSEs oversee product training
roadshow, ensuring major dealers are covered. Online
technical training becomes available.
November 30, 2005
Product begins shipping (major markets)
Product shipment schedule
Country
US, Canada, EMEA, Japan, Hong Kong,
Puerto Rico, Costa Rico
South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico,
Brazil, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, China
FCS date
November 30, 2005
TBD according to compliance lab
testing dates
When to recommend Converge vs. RAV & XAP
+ When to sell Converge 560/590 vs. when to sell RAV
> Channel partners’ level of audio conferencing technical expertise
- RAV offers simpler setup out of the box
- Converge gives integrators an opportunity to add value with customization of mic
and speaker placement, and audio setup & fine-tuning
> Application fit
- Size of room: Converge will cover large rooms with expanded mic distribution
capabilities
- Speech lift: if required, recommend Converge
> Budget considerations
- RAV is less expensive, and includes speakers
- Converge offers more flexibility & configuration options for a slightly higher price
MARKETING OVERVIEW