Den Haag, 1-7-09
KPN has bought a 51% majority stake in Talk &Vision, a rapidly growing company specialized in video conferencing. Talk & Vision will be merged with the video conferencing operations of Getronics and KPN. The acquisition creates a company offering video conferencing services worldwide, with a strong position in Europe and a leading position in the Benelux.
Talk & Vision offers support and maintenance and provides video communications equipment to multinationals, small and medium-sized companies and various industries such as healthcare and government. The company has sales offices in the Benelux, Germany and Great Britain and offers its customers worldwide support. In 2008 Talk & Vision's sales amounted to EUR 13 million. Financial details of the acquisition have not been disclosed. KPN will increase its stake in Talk & Vision to 100% in 2012.
Video conferencing makes it possible to bring people in different locations together. With improved technology and upgraded network capacity, video conferencing offers a good alternative to a physical meeting. The customer can outsource management meaning that management and organization of video operations are performed remotely. This allows video meetings to be arranged remotely across the globe, for connections to be monitored on an ongoing basis to provide ad hoc solutions to any disruptions and for regular, proactive monitoring of the system's features to ensure 24/7 operating capability.
The video conferencing market is growing rapidly. Talk & Vision, KPN and Getronics all reported sales growth of some 35% in 2008 in this field. Video conferencing provides businesses with the opportunity to cut travel and accommodation costs and and as a result increase labor force productivity. Video conferencing can also help cut traffic congestion and carbon emissions. The acquisition of Talk & Vision fits in well with the New Way of Working, a concept that both KPN and Getronics offer their customers. The New Way of Working is also a major pillar of the sustainability policy pursued by both KPN and Getronics.
“The economic crisis has shown that people must work more efficiently and that this is possible. This fits in well with our New Way of Working concept and offers our business customers an opportunity to cut costs,” says KPN Management Board member Eelco Blok.
Talk & Vision's operations will be transferred to Getronics Information & Communication Solutions. As part of KPN, Getronics provides IT and Telecommunications services to the Top-500 corporate clients.
More information:
www.talkandvision.com
www.getronics.com
www.kpn.com