Profile: Clearone Inc (CLRO.OQ)

ClearOne, Inc., formerly ClearOne Communications, Inc., is a communications solutions company that develops and sells audio conferencing systems and related products for audio, video and Web conferencing systems and applications. The Company develops, manufactures, markets and services a line of audio conferencing products under personal, tabletop, premium and professional (installed audio) categories. It also manufactures and sells media carts for audio and video conferencing. The audio conferencing products feature the Distributed Echo Cancellation and noise cancellation technologies to improve communication during a conference call by eliminating echo and background noise. In November 2009, the Company completed the acquisition of NetStreams, Inc. In September 2011, it acquired MagicBox, Inc. In February 2012, the Company acquired VCON Video Conferencing.

Professionally Audio Conferencing Products

The professional conferencing products include the Converge Pro, XAP and Converge 560/590 product lines. The Converge SR 1212 product features similar technologies and is used for sound reinforcement applications. The Converge Pro series delivers a feature set and performance improvements, including unprecedented acoustical echo cancellation, noise cancellation, full duplex performance, improved management capabilities, and simplified configuration utilities. The Converge SR 1212 is a digital matrix mixer that provides advanced audio processing, microphone mixing, and routing for sound reinforcement. The Company also offers a Tabletop Controller for the Converge Pro and XAP product lines.

Premium Conferencing Systems

RAV audio conferencing product is a system that includes an audio mixer, Bose loudspeakers, microphones, and a control device that can be either wired or wireless. The RAV product combines the sound quality of a installed audio system with a conference phone and can be easily connected to rich-media devices, such as video or Web conferencing systems, to deliver enhanced audio performance. RAV offers many audio processing technologies from its professional conferencing products without the need for professional installation and programming.

Tabletop Conferencing Phones

MAX line of tabletop conferencing phones utilizes many of the echo cancellation, noise cancellation, and audio processing technologies found in its professional audio conferencing products. MAX product line comprises the product families, including the MAX EX and MAXAttach, MAX Wireless and MAXAttach Wireless, and MAX IP and MAXAttach Internet Protocol (IP) tabletop conferencing phones. Designed for use in executive offices or small conference rooms with multiple participants, MAX Wireless can be moved from room to room within 150 feet of its base station.

The MAX EX and MAXAttach wired phones feature a capability-instead of just adding extension microphones for use in larger rooms, the conference phones can be daisy chained together, up to a total of four phones. This provides even distribution of microphones, loudspeakers, and controls for better sound quality and improved user access in medium to large conference rooms. In addition, all MAXAttach wired versions can be used separately when they are not daisy-chained together. The MAX IP and MAXAttach IP are voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) tabletop conference phones which are based on the industry-standard SIP signaling protocol. These phones can also be daisy-chained together, up to a total of four phones providing room and control coverage.

Personal Conferencing Products

CHAT line of conferencing speaker phones delivers audio performance, and can be used in a variety of applications with a number of devices including personal computer (PC) and Macintosh System (Macs); cell phones, telephones, iPods and moving picture experts group layer-3 Audio (MP3) players and desktop video conferencing systems. CHAT 150 offers many of the same connectivity options as CHAT 50, but features three microphones in a larger form factor for use by a larger number of participants compared to CHAT 50. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009 (fiscal 2009), CHAT 170 and CHAT 70 was introduced. The company complements its audio conferencing products with microphone, media carts for audio and video conferencing. Its selection of wood, metal, and laminate media carts features audiovisual carts; plasma screen carts and video conferencing carts.

The Company competes with Biamp Systems, Harman International, Lectrosonics, Peavey, Polycom, Shure, Aethra, Konftel, LifeSize, Panasonic, Actiontec, Iogear, mVox, Phoenix Audio, Accuwood, Comlink, and Video Furniture International.