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Barix Adds New Playout Hardware and Software Features to RetailPlayer Background Music Streaming System

New PoE-enabled RetailPlayer SP400 playout device and portal enhancements make scalable solution even easier to install and manage, while updated subscription model offers free access to basic RetailPlayer Portal functions at no cost

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, November 20, 2019 — Audio over IP leader Barix today announced powerful new extensions to its flexible and cost-effective RetailPlayer multi-site background music streaming solution that further simplify installation, operation and management for systems integrators and end-users. A new playout hardware model supports Power over Ethernet (PoE) to minimize wiring requirements, while new software capabilities allow player devices to be turned on or off automatically and tightly integrated into third-party management systems. Last but not least, an updated subscription model offers access to the platform’s core, cloud-based management functionality at no cost.

Barix will showcase the new enhancements at the upcoming ISE 2020 show in Amsterdam, where the company will exhibit in stand 8-K275 from February 11 to 14.

Providing the latest background music delivery technology on the market, Barix’s RetailPlayer solution enables retail, hospitality and corporate customers to easily manage streamed music and messages across any number of locations over the internet with stringent security. Robust hardware playout devices at each receiving site feature advanced buffer technology for fast channel switching and resilience to varying internet performance, while the cloud-based or customer-hosted RetailPlayer Portal provides centralized configuration, management, status monitoring and stream switching through a web browser or mobile device.

The new RetailPlayer SP400 playout hardware combines the same optimized buffer management, exceptional audio quality and compact form factor of the earlier RetailPlayer S400 model with new support for Power over Ethernet, enabling the devices to be remotely powered over the network via a PoE-equipped network switch. This simplifies installation by minimizing cabling requirements while flexibly enabling the units to be installed in locations without an available power outlet. With the RetailPlayer S400 and new RetailPlayer SP400, customers can now choose: “power socket” or PoE.

“The new RetailPlayer SP400 hardware is part of our ongoing mission to simplify installation in a wider range of environments,” said Silvan Sauter, Project Manager, Barix. “It is ideal for spaces where a power outlet is not readily available, but even if the installation has power nearby for a speaker amplifier, using PoE means one less thing to plug in and run wiring for.”

Barix has also revised its RetailPlayer Portal pricing model to offer a free basic account with no subscription cost. “Customers can register and manage as many devices as they want for free on our RetailPlayer cloud management platform”, said Reto Brader, CEO of Barix. “This free subscription includes basic stream management as well as mobile phone based remote channel selection and volume control features, plus the new on/off scheduler. We plan to offer a fee-based Premium subscription in the future for more bandwidth-hungry applications, but for the current functionality, RetailPlayer Portal is now free of charge for everyone.”

Barix has been continually adding features to the RetailPlayer platform since its introduction in 2018, the latest of which is on/off scheduling of player devices with support for time zones.

“With this feature, a retail chain can automatically turn off the background music in all of their stores after closing time, or a single restaurant could automatically turn off their outdoor music at night so it doesn’t disturb neighbours while keeping their interior music playing,” explained Sauter.

Barix’s RetailPlayer Portal offers powerful and secure management of any number of RetailPlayer devices from an intuitive, cloud-based interface. For customers who already have bespoke management portals they want to continue using, Barix offers consulting services and a new proxy server option that provides a straightforward API for communicating with RetailPlayer hardware endpoints. This enables developers to easily integrate the player devices into their own private portals without needing to manage lower-level communication details themselves. Contact [email protected] for more details on this option.

The new subscription pricing model, on/off scheduling and third-party integration functionality are available immediately, with the RetailPlayer SP400 hardware slated to begin shipping in March. Barix is now accepting pre-orders for the new model, and customers can be notified of updates by subscribing on the Barix website.

Barix: We Move Audio (www.barix.com)

Barix supplies simple and reliable solutions and components to systems integrators and end users worldwide.  We move high-quality audio across IP networks, adding value to customer solutions for more than a decade with hundreds of thousands of devices installed worldwide.  Background music distribution with dynamic advertising insertion for retail shops, bars and hotels; public address solutions for schools and public spaces; and intercom and entry systems for facility surveillance, protection and security are among the many applications of Barix solutions.  Barix also supports OEM projects for a number of Global 500 listed companies serving many industries worldwide.

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