Ingram Micro | IMSN Case Study
INGRAM MICRO SERVICES NETWORK
MEMBER HELPS LAUNCH BOOK TOURS
INTO CYBERSPACE
Bringing LongPen Technology to Reality
LongPen debuted at the London International Book Fair in April 2006,
but fell short of realizing its full potential due to technical complications.
What's more, its original communication infrastructure — a global
multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) system — would have cost
hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
Unotchit sought to overcome these challenges with the help of an
expert IT solution provider, Toronto-based GenX Solutions.
This premier Cisco partner quickly began designing a new communication
infrastructure based entirely on Cisco networking hardware. The
design needed to facilitate communication between two entities — a
broadcast point, where the author was located, and whatever receiving
kiosk was hosting the fans.
Book tours have previously been the optimal path for authors to
provide personalized autographs to fans while fueling publicity
and driving sales.
Recently, however, these travel-intensive events have suffered
from heightened airport security and skyrocketing fuel prices —
making them viable options for only the biggest authors visiting
the biggest cities.
One celebrated Canadian author, Margaret Atwood, had a better
idea: a concept called LongPen technology.
Her invention became the first long-distance, real-time autographing
device to operate over the internet, with an electronic pen
that uses electricity and fiber optics. This interactive technology
enables an author to produce an original signature that's transmitted
long distances and inscribed — in real ink — on the book,
CD or other item.
A growing number of authors, including Dean Koontz, Robert
Kennedy Jr., Norman Mailer and Tim Flannery, have begun
using this technology with astounding success, and more are
sure to follow.
Business Challenge
Time constraints, heightened airport security,
skyrocketing travel costs and the need to go
green have long stifled the use of book tours.
Toronto-based company Unotchit (pronounced
"you-no-touch-it") sought to solve the problem
through a revolutionary long-distance pen-and-
ink technology they trademarked as "Long Pen. "
Approach
Unotchit collaborated with expert solution
provider GenX Solutions to implement a
combination of internet-based video conferencing
and cutting-edge robotics to remotely
autograph books and other items from any
location in the world.
Solution
GenX Solutions turned to Cisco System's
networking hardware — as well as technical
resources available through the Ingram Micro
Services Network (IMSN) — to deploy LongPen
in key global facilities and provide on-site
management for every event.
Results
Since its 2006 launch, LongPen technology
has grown into a viable and cost-effective
solution that enables authors — and many
other celebrities — to interact with fans in
places too costly to physically visit.
REMOTE WRITING TECHNOLOGY
GROWTH INSPIRED — A Bold Vision in Services
Thanks to direct collaboration with Cisco, the system design
was done in about two weeks; rollout began in June 2006 and
full implementation was completed in November.
Each LongPen broadcast point and receiver kiosk features a Cisco
871 router, which is preconfigured to join a Dynamic Multipoint
VPN network (DMVPN) . When in use, these routers direct traffic
to Cisco 1811 routers, which reside in major co-location facilities
around the world. Plus, the 1811 routers enable GenX Solutions
to use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)-VPN technology.
"SSL-VPN enables us to connect LongPen systems to the
network when we're behind corporate firewalls or in other situations
in which standard VPN technology won't work, " says
Martin Warren, vice president of sales for GenX Solutions.
Drawing on Worldwide Resources
Because of LongPen's technological complexity, deploying the
proper networking infrastructure was only half of the solution.
For optimal success, LongPen events may require technical
experts to provide on-site management for both the broadcast
point and receiver kiosk. But since these events can take place
anywhere in the world, finding qualified and experienced technicians
could have been a problem.
Fortunately, GenX is a part of the Ingram Micro Services
Network (IMSN) , an organization of more than 10,000 certified
IT services professionals who work together to provide IT service
and support for customers in all 50 United States, Puerto Rico
and Canada. As GenX learned, this network is also helpful for
identifying technical resources in other areas around the world.
"The IMSN has enabled us to provide on-site technical support
services for a wide range of LongPen events — regardless of
their geographic constraints, " explains Warren. "When LongPen
needs a kiosk installation or has an interested remote user,
the event's location is simply not a barrier. They just tell us
where the event will be held, and we'll make sure the technicians
are there.
"The IMSN has enabled us to increase our service availability,
while allowing LongPen to realize the geographical expansion
that otherwise might not have been possible, " he adds.
Reaping the Rewards
"Our current solution with GenX and Cisco has completely
eliminated our need for an MPLS system, so right there we're
saving hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, " says Bruce
Walsh, vice president of sales and marketing of LongPen.
"Plus, we have complete confidence that this solution can
now do exactly what we set out for it to do. "
Thanks to LongPen, book-signing events can now move beyond
the limits of brick-and-mortar locations into cyberspace — and
the benefits are many. Open the Door to New
Business Opportunities
If you'd like to expand your business or geographic reach like GenX Solutions did, consider partnering with Ingram Micro's On-site
Professional Services (OPS). You'll be able to provide the installation and support your customers require regardless of your location
or available infrastructure. For more information, call (714) 566-1000, ext. 24896, or e-mail imsnservices@ingrammicro.com.
For more information about Cisco networking solutions, visit www.ingrammicro.com/cisco.
For more information about Long Pen, visit www.longpen.com.
Ingram Micro | IMSN Case Study
© 2008 Ingram Micro Inc. All rights reserved. Ingram Micro and the Ingram Micro logo are trademarks used under license by Ingram Micro Inc. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective companies. Products available while supplies last. Prices subject to change without notice. 6/08 58425.1540
pdf