Dear Valued Customers:Dear Valued Customers:
2006 marks our 13th year serving Central Pennsylvania's Systems Integration and Communication needs. It is hard for me to believe that so many years have gone by so quickly. Without you, however, SAGE never could have grown into the company that it has become. It sometimes goes unsaid, but I sincerely Thank You for your continued support of SAGE and our mission to provide this area with the highest level of quality, integrated solutions possible.
These quarterly Newsletters serve, in a small way, of extending our appreciation by keeping you up-to-date on the latest advances in the technologies we provide and the most current successes we experience as a company because of our customers. If you have suggestions on additional ways we could be serving you better, we always welcome your input.
I'm looking forward to many more years as your technology provider.
Respectfully,
Daniel L. Rohrer
President
Harrisburg U Nominated for Non-Profit Innovation Award in Operations/Technology 
Each year the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal hosts several events that honor area businesses and non-profit agencies for outstanding work and innovation with awards such as The Top Forty Under Forty and The 50 Fastest Growing Companies in Central PA. SAGE, having worked closely with the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology in developing technology that enhances the educational experience for their students, is proud to have nominated Harrisburg University for their innovative work in the fields of science and technology. Not only does HU understand the need for educating their students in these fields, but also realizes the best way to teach technology is through practice. Therefore, they have implemented unique operations, systems and information technologies that offer their students the rich, robust technological climate they will find in the working world.
The awards breakfast is scheduled for March 29th. We look forward to hearing the results. Visit us at www.sagetechs.com/projects/hu to learn about some of the technologies that brought them to this great honor.
Rauland-Borg Introduces Digital Education Streaming Solution (DESS) to Telecenter CPS
Rauland-Borg announced the introduction of DESS, an all inclusive LAN/WAN streaming video server with browser-based media searching and control. The system is designed for schools and school districts that use data networks for delivery of educational video content to classrooms and individual students. As the education market shifts from VHS tapes, DVDs and classroom televisions to the world of digital videos streamed to the classroom through workstations and displayed over projectors in place of the TVs...Rauland is moving with the times.
To learn more about this product, read the Rauland Press Release. Visit our web site at www.sagetechs.com/applications/education to see how SAGE can implement these systems into your learning environment.
Rauland-Borg Announces New Analog Master Clock SolutionThe new clock solution from Rauland-Borg leads the market with easy installation and durable design backed by Rauland's Standard 5-year warranty. The new clocks from Rauland provide a complete clock system with reduced wiring requirements and are virtually maintenance-free.
A trend among education facilities when their master clock systems have grown tired and unreliable is to replace them with Wireless GPS Clocks due to the expense and inconvenience of replacing it and its associated wiring. These new clocks can receive power and correction signals from the existing intercom/paging speaker wires; eliminating the need to recable the building to meet the power requirements or to replace batteries in the GPS Clocks every few years. The clocks also feature a quick recovery after power failure.
To read about the many other Integrated Educational Solutions SAGE can provide, visit us at www.sagetechs.com/applications/education.
New Standards and Practices Make Video Conferencing Easy to Use and Dependable 
On September 13, 2005, The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) approved the latest update to ITU-T H.264, a new Advanced Video Coding (AVC) standard. The new standard has nearly doubled the compression efficiency of MPEG4 Video Coding allowing high-quality VTC Streams to be sent at lower bandwidths. By utilizing IP addressing protocols known as SIP (session initiation protocol), VTC communication is initiated at very high levels over conventional IP Networks: taking old H.323 telephone standards or ISDN lines completing out of the equation. What does this mean to you? Higher Quality Video, Increased Dependability and Reduced Complexity of the Systems at Lower Costs to the User.
Read "DIGITAL SIGN OF THE TIMES: "ONLY A MATTER OF TIME" by Alan C. Brawn for a more detailed look at the direction Video Conferencing is going. Alan C. Brown is a principal of Brawn Consulting, a systems integration educational development and market intelligence company and a consultant to Cisco, Telanetix, DynaTek Media, Liberty Wire & Cable, and Visual Appliances.
To read more about the new H.264 standard, visit http://www.itu.int. We will keep you posted of the developments in VTC from Polycom, Tandberg and Sony in upcoming issues of this eNewsletter.
InfoComm International Releases Study Examining "AV Trends in Education"
Acclaro Growth Partners recently concluded a study which examined the growing trends of Higher Education to utilize Advanced AV Technology in their classrooms. In the study, it was determined that the number of classrooms equipped with AV Technologies has increased by 100% each year for the past five years and will reach a level by 2010 where nearly half of all higher education classrooms are AV equipped.
Dr. Randal A. Lemke, Ph.D., executive director InfoComm International, states, "It is encouraging to see colleges and universities looking at AV as a long-term investment that is enhancing the quality of education, while reducing its cost, eliminating academic bottlenecks and assisting recruitment efforts."
To learn more about the "AV Trends in Education" market research study, visit www.infocomm.org. To learn about the many applications of AV Technologies that SAGE has been involved with, please visit www.sagetechs.com/projects.
Extron Introduces Multi-Graphic Processor for Simultaneous Display on Single Screen 
The MGP 464 and MGP 464 DI are Four Window Multi-Graphic Processors for picture-in-picture display of high resolution computer-video graphics and HDTV or PAL/NTSC video sources. The MGP 464 accepts up to 19 input sources and features a true 19x4 input matrix switcher that allows any source to be displayed in any or all four available on-screen windows. Presentations can be fully customized, and also enhanced by incorporating an image or live video as a background.
Download the MGP 464 Product Brochure for detailed information on specifications and applications.
Rauland-Borg Receives FDA Class II Exemption for Responder Line
Rauland-Borg's Responder Line of Nurse Call Communication Systems recently received Class II Exemption from the Federal Food & Drug Administration (FDA) within Sec. 890.3725: Powered Environmental Control Systems. Responder Systems, since their introduction in the late 1970's, have been a vital part of the daily operation of medical facilities in maintaining patient safety and satisfaction. Nurse Call is the first line of communication between a hospital's patients and the nursing staff in emergencies and for general requests. These systems have advanced tremendously in their feature-richness and functionality over the last few years by integrating Wireless Telephones and Pocket Pagers, Staff and Asset Tracking/Locating Systems, Bed Management Systems, Map Information Displays and Enhanced Alarm Management. With these additions, Rauland saw the need to have the FDA's approval of the manufacture and implementation of these systems as Life Safety Devices.
To learn more about FDA Class II Exemptions, visit www.fda.gov.
Rauland Integrates with Patient Care Technology Systems (PCTS) for Bed Management 
To supplement their Responder NET Bed Management Capabilities, Rauland-Borg worked with Patient Care Technology Systems (PCTS) to develop integration with their ED & OR Tracker Systems. The integration allows hospital staff to visually track patient workflow, as well as the patients themselves, other staff and equipment using RFID. With a full integration to the Responder IV call buttons, serve requests automatically sent out to housekeeping or nursing staff seamlessly and efficiently. Hospitals, such as Christiana Care in Wilmington, DE, have noticed marked decreases in walk-out rates, time-in patient intervals and ambulance diversion due to perceived over-capacity issues thus leading to increased volume and workflow efficiencies.
Learn what implementing Amelior ED Tracker in conjunction with the Responder IV System has done for Christiana Care in Wilmington, DE...
Rauland Incorporates New Map Information Displays to Responder NETNew Map Information Display on Responder NET offers staff a complete graphical view of unit floor activity including patient calls, service requests and staff location. Incorporating simple icons and color coding to represent nurse call activity on the floor makes delivering quality patient care efficient and easy. With the addition of the Tracer Staff Locating System, your staff can easily view staff name and level and their location on the floor allowing for instant communication in an emergency.
Download the Responder MAP brochure or visit www.sagetechs.com/applications/healthcare for additional information.
Rauland Introduces Newly Enhanced Alarm Management Capabilities
Rauland has reinvented the concept of "Raising the Standard of Patient Safety". Through the integration of the Responder IV Nurse Call Communications System and the Clinical Safety System, powered by Emergin, patient alarm information can be filtered and delivered directly to a caregiver's wireless device. Detailed patient alarm information allows staff to assess the appropriate response for the alarm without physically walking to the patient's monitor to determine the priority level of the alarm. By filtering alarm information based on pre-determined priority levels, hospitals are able to balance the need for audible patient alarms (JCAHO Safety Goal #6) while maintaining manageable noise levels on unit floors and preventing alarm fatigue...all through a single, sign-on into the Responder NET System.
Download the Responder Enhanced Alarm Management brochure or visit www.spacelabs.com for additional information of their strategic partnership with Emergin. The Clinical Safety System is also compatible with many other manufacturers of patient monitoring system. For a complete list, please contact us at info@sagetechs.com.
Security News Bosch Security Escort Offers Wireless Security
The Security Escort System is an easy-to-use tool designed for anyone and everyone. Students, Residents, Guests, Security Personnel, Nurses, Doctors, Teachers and on, enjoy the peace-of-mind Security Escort provides. Manage your facility with the tools you need at your fingertips. Whether you provide personal security or manage assets such as computers, equipment or artwork, Security Escort allows you to locate and track people and property throughout the systems protected area. SAGE has employed this technology in Assisted Living Campuses in the Central Pennsylvania area to increase resident independence and safety. Applications for this product, however, go far beyond Long Term Care facilities.
For more information on this product, visit www.boschsecurity.us or for an on-site demonstration of this technology, contact us at info@sagetechs.com.
MAXxess EndPoint™ Offers Complete Security Management on One Screen 
MAXxess EndPoint™ is a truly unique and revolutionary software solution
that enhances the interface to any traditional security management
system including access control, CCTV, building management and life
safety. It also integrates non-traditional data sources such as live
news feeds. Endpoint™ delivers time critical information to one screen.is a breakthrough in the delivery and management of critical information. The effective management of disparate information is an increasingly important and a complex process. Based on an innovative architecture, Endpoint utilizes Visual Information Cells™ (VICs) to provide an effective integration of traditional and new security data sources.
Download the Endpoint™ Product Brochure or visit us at www.sagetechs.com/security to learn about custom, Integrated Security Solutions provided by SAGE.
Avaya Releases one-X Quick Edition and Wins Best in VoiceCon Award 
Avaya releases the latest in VoIP Telephony. The one-X Quick Edition delivers intelligent communications to very small businesses and small branches of enterprises. With SIP-based peer-to-peer technology, telephone system set-up and installation is dramatically simplified; plug the telephones into the local area network, and the system configures itself. In minutes, all users have access to the most commonly used set of features including voicemail, conferencing, auto-attendant and call management.
The one-X Quick Edition , an innovative Internet Protocol (IP) telephony solution for very small businesses and small branches of enterprises, has also won the Best In VoiceCon® Award. Avaya one-X Quick Edition was selected by a vote of attendees at VoiceCon® 2006, the leading conference and exhibition for enterprise voice, IP Telephony and convergence in North America.
To learn more about one-X Quick Edition, visit www.avaya.com/products.
Avaya CEO says, "VoIP Telephony is more than cost-reduction case"
During his keynote speech at VoiceCon: Spring 2006, CEO of Avaya, Don Peterson, said that "some IT managers should not deploy VoIP as a way to lower communications costs. Instead, ITs should look at the technology as an operations enhancer." This peaked the interest of Russell Shaw, Features Editor of Von Magazine, a leading IP telephony trade book. In asking enterprise-level VoIP users in his monthly "What Works at Work" column whether VoIP is implemented more for saving money through ROI models or as a way to increase efficiency, he found the answer to be BOTH.
Read his blog on ZDNet at blogs.zdnet.com
SAGE is Hiring!Sage Technology Solutions is growing and looking for technicians experienced in Voice, Data, Video, Sound and/or Security...if you know someone looking to work for a great company, have them visit our web site to see the current positions available and fill out an on-line job application.
SAGE Project Manager, Adam Kirkessner, Returning from IraqIn June 2005, one of our Senior Project Managers, Adam Kirkessner, was called up to duty to serve our country in Operation Iraqi Freedom. We were proud to have one of our own so bravely and selflessly giving himself to the people of Iraq in their fight for independence. It was a difficult challenge without him here over the last six months, especially during the hectic summer construction schedule but we managed to pull things together and complete our 13th successful year serving Central Pennsylvania's Integrated Solutions needs. With the Grace of God beside him, Adam has returned to the United States safely from his tour of duty in Iraq and will be returning to work in the next few months. Many Thanks to Adam for his valor and many Thanks to his family for their sacrifice as well. Welcome Home, Adam!!!
SAGE Named as one of SCN's Top 50 Systems Integrators2005 was a year of great accomplishments for SAGE as a company. Perhaps our greatest was being named one of Systems Contractor News' Top 50 Systems Integrators. Systems Contractor News is a trade magazine dedicated to the sound, video & electronic systems industry; focusing on innovative new technologies and applications in A/V. The Top 50 list recognizes companies that “lead the pack in the systems integration business” and SAGE is proud to be listed among such esteemed company and especially proud to be the only Pennsylvania-based company listed within it.
To learn about some of the project installations that led us to this achievement, please visit us at www.sagetechs.com/projects or email us at info@sagetechs.com.
SAGE Sponsors 1st Annual Honorary Alumni Event at HUHarrisburg University of Science and Technology hosted their First Annual Honorary Alumni Event at the University's facility on Market Street on January 25th. SAGE, being the University's partner in technology since before opening the doors to its Pioneer Class in August 2005, was asked to sponsor the event exclusively to support this scholarship kick-off. With financial support from Rauland-Borg, Crestron, Sanyo and EV/Telex, SAGE's technology partners on the HU Project, SAGE honored the University's request, delivering automated technology demonstrations and financial underwriting.
To learn more about this Press Release, the HU project or view the Event Photo Gallery, visit our web site at www.sagetechs.com/projects. To learn more about Harrisburg University and their commitment to the fields of science and technology, visit www.harrisburgu.net.
SAGE Supports PETE&C at 3rd Annual Expo & Conference
SAGE once again participated in the Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo and Conference (PETE&C) at the Hershey Lodge & Convention Center February 19-21. Giving our support to a collaborative organization whose vision is to meet the technology education demands of all aspects of education. PETE&C is a collaboration of five Pennsylvania Education groups; PETC, PASBO, PAECT, PAIU and PDE, and serves to share the technology experiences of the members of each group with everyone who has a vested interest in education throughout the Commonwealth. With representation from each of these groups, the conference was filled with useful ideas on the best practices for implementing and using technology in "real world" applications that truly reach their students, keeping them engaged in their education and improving achievement.
SAGE is proud to support the efforts of this premier education event in encouraging the integration of the advanced technologies we provided into the classroom. To learn more about PETE&C and the efforts they support, please visit them at www.peteandc.org.
As Summer Approaches...Schedule Your Service Needs The school year will soon be drawing to a close. The summer break is the optimal time to get your telephone, intercom/paging or sound systems tested and/or adjusted, your bell schedules updated for the new year, new teachers added to the auto-attendant or that damaged intercom speaker repaired. The summer, however, is our busiest season. Plan ahead and schedule your service work early to avoid the end of summer crunch.
Contact Craig Brown, our Service Coordinator at 717-653-6641 Ext. 130 or at cbrown@sagetechs.com to get on the schedule. May or June are the best months to get this done.
Ask about our School Assurance, Gold and Platinum Service Maintenance Agreements. For additional information on Service Maintenance offerings, please contact our Systems Specialist, Andrea Neale.
New Service Purchase Order Requirements
At SAGE we consistently strive to improve the level of service we provide our clients. As part of our commitment to our clients we have implemented a new policy within our Service Department of requiring an Authorized Purchase Order prior to scheduling any Work Order for service. This policy is one that many of our clients already require of themselves for their own record keeping and budget purposes. As our Service Department grows, it has become equally important for our own operations as well.
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© 2006 Sage Technology Solutions, Inc.