CeBIT: Panasonic sees future in digital signage

Hardware vendor Panasonic released its new digital signage products to 50 AV integrators at technology trade show CeBIT.

Digital signage is the use of display screens, digital content and Internet technology to deliver communications across a local or wide area network.

The plasma screens range in size from 37 inch to 103 inch, said Brendan Frawley general manager at Panasonic.

However it’s the launch of an embedded solution that makes these types of products exciting, he said.

“At CeBIT we launched an embedded PC device which integrates into Panasonic plasma, minimising the need for cabling and removing the needed for a separate PC or an air conditioning unit to keep it cool,” said Frawley.

The embedded PC will allow solution providers to add and service content for customers, he said.

“A basic package can start at about $4000 and that includes a plasma screen, an embedded PC device and software. That doesn’t include money that resellers can make from services and providing content,” said Frawley.

However Frawley said the product is not an out of the box product and IT resellers will not be able to sell these types of products and services unless they are willing to invest in AV training.

“We launched the products to high-end AV integrators like TCP and Rutledge because they have the capabilities to provide an all round solution,” he said.

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