The First Facility Management Blog

Panasonic Communications Company of North America recently introduced its enhanced KX-TDA50G business communications system for small to medium-size businesses that supports a wide variety of phone types (e.g., analog, digital, IP). The system also supports SIP trunking*, which enables customers to reduce connection and long distance costs.

Panasonic’s latest small business communications solution, the TDA50G is designed to meet facilities’ present and future needs. Part of the system’s capabilities is allowing businesses to be more responsive to their customers and stay better connected with colleagues who work from remote locations.

Geared for organizations such as law firms, real estate companies, hotels/motels, and medical offices, the TDA50G system uses wireless technology to automatically route incoming calls to a cell phone. Panasonic also offers a number of industry-specific applications. The system supports centralized voicemail for all locations within an extended voicemail network and records messages automatically. With the addition of an optional KX-TVA series voice processing system, the TDA50G can also manage calls using an automated attendant, integrate voice mail with e-mail, and simplify mailbox management through the use of LCD menus and soft keys.

For larger operations, the TDA50G can be networked with other Panasonic units at branch locations. Key features of the system include:

• Supports analog and digital phones, including DECT cordless phones
• Supports up to 48 extensions
• Supports up to four IP phones (eight with SIP expansion card)
• Built-in Caller ID**
• Support for SIP trunking
• VoIP (Voice over IP) Softphone support, enabling a PC to operate as a system telephone

* Panasonic currently only supports Broadvox and CBeyond for SIP trunking.  SIP trunking is a service offered by telephone service providers.
** Requires subscription to Caller ID service offered by telephone companies for a fee.

Panasonic Corporation of North America and AEG have entered a long-term agreement regarding the mixed use district. The multi-tiered sponsorship agreement, announced on January 7, names Panasonic as one of eight “Founding Partners” of L.A. LIVE, an AEG owned and operated sports, entertainment, and residential district in downtown Los Angeles. The district includes Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, Club Nokia, Nokia Plaza, The GRAMMY Museum, Regal Cinemas, as well as The Ritz Carlton and JW Marriott Hotels. The four million square foot development adjoins STAPLES Center and The Los Angeles Convention Center.

Sports and entertainment fans who attend events at the “Panasonic Powered Properties” will now benefit from the agreement through an infusion of Panasonic technologies designed to improve entertainment, education, safety, convenience, and the environment.

Additionally, the agreement includes cross sponsorship opportunities as well as product integration for Panasonic within AEG owned or promoted properties and assets within North America.

“During this time of economic hardship that is affecting so many aspects of business and everyday life, this exclusive and uniquely structured partnership between Panasonic and AEG is designed to stimulate business for a multitude of companies beyond the principal parties, while also bolstering consumer confidence,” said J.M. Allain, president of Panasonic’s System Solutions Company business unit. “We have worked hard to redefine traditional sponsorships into true partnerships by committing to a comprehensive investment in resources, affirming our company’s emphasis on delivering technology-driven solutions that transcend traditional business systems and consumer electronics expectations.”

LA Live is a mixed use district owned by Los Angeles-based AEG.

“Panasonic presented AEG with a total solution that addresses all of our technology needs, and that fulfills our commitment to providing a world-class live entertainment experience for the millions of guests who come to L.A. LIVE for the best in sports, music and other live events,” said Timothy J. Leiweke, president and chief executive officer of AEG. “The best means of assuring our company’s continued success is to provide the public with the best possible experience attainable when they visit an AEG venue. Panasonic has proven time and time again their ability to deliver that experience with the broadest range of new technologies available from a single entity. We are excited to begin implementing Panasonic’s solutions from both a business and operations perspective.”

Integrated system solutions from Panasonic slated for deployment at AEG properties include LED large screen displays—including what will be the largest LED display in the world at LA Live—as well as digital signage, video surveillance, security systems, television production, and point-of-sale systems.

The Secaucus, NJ-based company’s new name is Panasonic System Solutions Company. This change is meant to reflect its ability to deliver a broad range of customer driven end-to-end technology solutions. 

“In today’s business environment, integrated solutions reach across multiple departments and disciplines. Panasonic is in a unique position to deliver fully integrated solutions across professional and consumer product lines which provides us with an opportunity to work even more closely with customers and reseller partners. Our new corporate identity as Panasonic System Solutions clearly communicates this new direction,” said J.M. Allain, President of Panasonic System Solutions Company. “What hasn’t changed is Panasonic’s commitment to the ongoing development of innovative video surveillance and security systems solutions that deliver interoperability, optimum functionality and scalability to meet the immediate and future needs of the market.”

The 2008 Olympic Games officially begin tonight, and over the next 16 days millions of people will converge in the city of Beijing. In the lead up to this global event, we’ve heard about the numerous venues built to supplement China’s existing sports facilities. This year’s Olympic Games will take place across 31 competition facilities (12 new, 11 pre-existing, and 8 temporary). There are also three non competition facilities–Olympic Village, Olympic Media Village, and the Olympic Main Press Center.

National Stadium aka "Bird's Nest"

Managing and securing all of those spaces will no doubt require diligence by the various facility, security, and hospitality staffs. Following are some of the companies involved in the activities.

Johnson Controls has installed sustainable building solutions in 18 Olympic stadiums and supporting facilities. The company’s installation covers 123 million square feet of Olympics grounds, monitoring more than 58,000 points in stadiums and office buildings. Venues containing Johnson Controls products include:

*National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) with a YORK dual-duty brine centrifugal chillers, ice thermal storage system and chiller plant automation system

*National Indoor Stadium, or Turtle’s Back, with YORK centrifugal chillers connecting to Metasys building management system

*CCTV Headquarters Building, or collaboration building: YORK centrifugal chillers, dual-duty brine centrifugal chillers and ice-thermal storage system, connected to Metasys building management system

*Beijing Olympic Tower: YORK centrifugal chillers and a variable speed drive

*Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Court: Metasys building management system

*Beijing Olympic Forest Park: Metasys building management system

Meanwhile, GE Energy is providing long-term services for a new power plant that will supply electricity for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, as well as heat and power for the city of Beijing in the future. Under a 10-year contractual services agreement (CSA) signed with Beijing Taiyanggong Gas-Fired Thermal Power Co. Ltd (Taiyanggong) of China, GE will provide all parts, repairs and services for two GE Frame 9FA+e gas turbines at the new plant. The agreement also includes risk-sharing mechanisms and performance guarantees to help ensure that the 750-megawatt facility provides reliable and cost-effective heat and power to Beijing.

Taiyanggong is owned by Beijing Energy Investment Holding Co. and SP Power Development Co. Ltd.

GE is a worldwide partner of the Olympic Games. The company has provided support for more than 400 infrastructure projects such as Taiyanggong in and around Beijing, including work at all 37 official Olympic Games competition venues and 168 commercial buildings.

Olympic Village is using Echelon’s LonWorks® technology to create an energy efficiency lighting control system. The smart LonWorks based control system integrates all lighting subsystems to optimize energy usage while maintaining a safe and aesthetically pleasing environment.

The Olympic Village is the largest non-competition venue in Beijing, and will accommodate over 23,000 athletes and team officials for both the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Village has over 370,000 square meters of apartment space, including 22 six-floor buildings and 20 nine-floor buildings, and facilities such as general information centers, meeting rooms, medical clinics, religious centers, multiple restaurants, a library, parking areas, and entertainment and leisure activity centers.

The smart lighting control system integrates lighting subsystems for the apartments, public areas, car park areas, and all landscape and beautification lighting. The system was installed by Lang Meng Technology, Inc., a firm that provides smart home and lighting control solutions based on LonWorks technology.

Panasonic ASTROVISION large display screen systems and enhanced RAMSA professional audio systems will be used across the Olympic venues. Twin 152 square meter ASTROVISION LED screens and 264 RAMSA WS-LA3 large format array loudspeakers will show the action in the “Bird’s Nest” National Stadium.

An official worldwide partner of the Olympic Games, Panasonic is also involved in the security operations. More than 2,000 AV surveillance cameras are installed to help ensure safety and security.

Also involved in security at the Games is Vicon Industries. The producer of video surveillance systems has had its camera domes and pan-and-tilt drives chosen to be part of an integrated video surveillance system to be installed at the “Bird’s Nest.” The opening ceremony tonight and the closing ceremony on August 24 will take place in that facility, which seats 91,000 people.

Vicon China, headquartered in Hong Kong with offices throughout China, is providing local support for this project.

In other security measures, ICx Technologies, a developer of advanced sensor technologies, won the contracts to supply IdentiFINDERs to the Government of China for use at the Olympics. IdentiFINDERS are handheld, radioisotope identification devices (RIID) that are able to locate, measure, and identify sources or contaminations from gamma and neutron radiation.

The units are able to differentiate between dangerous radioactive materials, medical and naturally occurring radioisotopes, such as bananas. This type of equipment is being deployed to detect radioactive materials that might be used as a weapon by terrorists in a radiological dispersal device, a so-called “dirty bomb”.

All the people involved in the Olympics will need to eat, and ARAMARK Corporation will meet those needs as the official catering service provider for 2008 Summer Games. The Beijing Organizing Commmittee (BOCOG) chose the company in May 2008. The signing of the contract with BOCOG marks the 14th time ARAMARK has been selected to serve at the Olympic Games.

ARAMARK, together with its partner Beijing Tourism Group, is providing catering services for the Athletes’ Village, Media Villages, International Broadcast Center, and the Main Press Center at the 2008 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing. ARAMARK will serve more than 3.5 million meals throughout the 60-day duration of both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. In addition, ARAMARK managed the design and construction of the kitchen and dining facilities for the Olympic catering venues.

Let The Games Begin!