Audio/videoconferencing pact puts the ‘tech’ in Texas
Governments and educators in the Lone Star State can order audio/visual technology products and services directly from Houston-based Data Projections Inc. (DPI), thanks to a new agreement between DPI and the Texas Department of Information Resources.
The contract allows government and education entities to order audio/visual products and services directly from DPI under the Department of Information Resources instead of conducting a separate, open-bid process.
Lower procurement costs should result, according to DPI Vice President of Sales and Marketing Matthew Zaleski.
“Data Projections offers turnkey solutions for clients seeking to purchase a variety of audio/visual products through DIR for a complete, integrated room environment,” Zaleski said. “This contract will give our government and education customers considerable value for their dollar.”
The list of contracted services and products now includes audio, Web and videoconferencing. Some of the manufacturers on DPI’s lineup of products approved by the Department of Information Resources include Polycom, Crestron, AMX, Toshiba, VBrick, Panasonic and SMART Technologies.
The program provides Texas state agencies, cities, counties, public school districts and universities with several benefits, such as allowing customers to take advantage of the state’s purchasing power with pre-negotiated project pricing and streamlined order processing.
Texas government and public education customers can place orders directly with Data Projections by referencing the Department of Information Resources contract (No. DIR-SDD-844) to receive the discounted price. Out-of-state education entities may be eligible to use the contract, and can contact DPI directly or via the company’s Web site for more information.
More governments are considering using Web and videoconferencing, according to Wendy Stanley, DPI’s marketing manager.
“Governmental entities are definitely seeking video conferencing products and applications for conference and meeting rooms as well as personal desktop conferencing systems,” Stanley told GovPro.com. “State agencies are seeing their travel budgets being cut, so they are taking a look at the long-term investment of video conferencing instead of being allocated each budget cycle a set number of travel dollars. Of course, you can also look at the ‘green’ benefits of less travel for these entities.”
Also “on the rise,” according to Stanley: live streaming or recording.
“Products that allow organizations to go back and view videoconferences or town hall meetings can help those organizations get their messages out when needed,” she told GovPro.com.
