PPDS is dedicated to helping integrators learn about and test the latest technologies, products and opportunities that can help grow their businesses. Building on its strategy to bring seamless global business locally, PPDS has launched its first full-solutions showroom in Munich, Germany, featuring cutting-edge Philips professional displays and virtual collaboration systems from ClearOne. The new 155-square-meter showroom (1,650 square feet) is designed to highlight new solutions for various spaces and client types, with dedicated rooms set up to demonstrate how new technologies can be integrated to optimize conference rooms, meeting rooms, retail spaces, classrooms, hotel guest rooms and even home offices.

According to Christian Krela, Channel Manager for PPDS in Germany, the new Munich showroom is the company's first demo space to focus on full-room solutions with collaboration and streaming technologies. Each unique space in the showroom provides an example of an optimized technology implementation. The conference room, for instance, features a nearly-invisible ClearOne BMA 360 in-ceiling beamforming microphone and a ClearOne UNITE® 200 PTZ 1080p camera, which are connected to a ClearOne CONVERGE® Pro 2 DSP without requiring any visible wires.

Combined with a variety of display options including an 86” touch screen, multiple digital signage displays and two digital picture frames, this solution provides stunning clarity and simplicity for all virtual collaboration needs. The entire room, including hidden in-wall speakers and a wireless presentation system, is managed by a Crestron control system. Other rooms feature solutions scaled to various needs and budget ranges, such as the classroom, utilizing a Philips 86” interactive touch display in conjunction with a ClearOne UNITE 50 camera, CHAT® 150 USB speakerphone and a wireless sharing and presentation solution.

Several rooms also make use of the built-in Chromecast feature on the Philips B-Line 75BFL2114. Krela added that they considered other camera and microphone solutions but found that ClearOne was the ideal choice to deliver premium performance without requiring visible boxy components or wires, which would detract from the experience and could impact sales. This is particularly important when demoing to end-users who expect a finished, polished design that they can adopt into their own businesses.

The showroom officially opened mid-April 2022 at the conveniently-located Airport Business Centre near the Munich Airport.