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How Third-Party Maintenance Providers Offer Better Solutions Than OEMs

A new report published by Gartner Research says third-party hardware maintenance providers are coming into their own as large companies are moving away from OEMs for all their service needs and implementing hybrid maintenance solutions for their businesses. That’s great news for companies like Reliant Technology], who have built a trusted reputation for guiding…

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How Third-Party Maintenance Providers Offer Better Solutions Than OEMs

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A new report published by Gartner Research says third-party hardware maintenance providers are coming into their own as large companies are moving away from OEMs for all their service needs and implementing hybrid maintenance solutions for their businesses. That’s great news for companies like Reliant Technology], who have built a trusted reputation for guiding its clients to solutions that save money, are better customized, and more reactive to mission-critical situations.

Host Shelby Skrhak discusses the Gartner report with Reliant’s Thomas Hodgson, senior account executive, on this episode of the MarketScale Software & Technology Podcast.

“People come to Reliant because they’re getting pigeonholed by the manufacturer, thinking that forklifting their current solution is the route they have to go,” Hodgson said.

Implementing a brand new system is a big hurdle — both in terms of cost and knowledge-base — for small and mid-size companies who use older, sometimes proprietary network systems. So when an OEM stops supporting older versions, companies feel they have no choice but to upgrade. But buying up to the “Cadillac of systems” isn’t always the best solution, Hodgson said.

“In reality, companies can get the same level of service at a fraction of the cost by keeping their legacy hardware,” he said.

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Microsoft's MDEP Signage: From NRF Preview to InfoComm Demo

Microsoft's MDEP Signage: From NRF Preview to InfoComm Demo

Microsoft, MediaTek, and IAdea previewed what they described as the first digital signage solution built on Microsoft's Device Ecosystem Platform (MDEP) at NRF 2026 in January, and Avocor and IAdea demonstrated a pairing of MDEP-based signage with Avocor's new B Series displays at InfoComm 2026 in June, according to AV Magazine and invidis. Neither report describes the technology as shipping in commercial deployments.

  • 01MDEP adds identity management, conditional access, device attestation, and centralized lifecycle control to signage displays, enabling management like traditional IT endpoints.
  • 02MediaTek's Genio 720 system-on-chip, used in MDEP previews, provides industrial-grade performance with 10 TOPS AI acceleration and supports up to ultra-wide 5K or dual 2.5K display outputs.
  • 03MDEP-based signage remains in preview and demonstration status as of June 2026; buyers should verify current availability and understand MDEP licensing costs before purchase decisions.

Sep 11, 2026

IBC2026 Previews Show Vendors Pitching Orchestration Platforms

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Pre-show coverage of IBC2026, held September 11-14 in Amsterdam, shows several vendors including Telestream, PlayBox Neo and Zixi framing announcements around workflow orchestration and hybrid transport reliability rather than single products. Separately, NewscastStudio reported EverPass expanded its Netflix-linked deal to distribute the full NFL slate to bars and restaurants.

  • 01Telestream, PlayBox Neo, and Zixi are leading with orchestration and resilience messaging ahead of IBC2026 in Amsterdam, September 11-14.
  • 02Verify orchestration and resilience claims through vendor documentation, reference calls, and hands-on evaluation before committing to platforms.
  • 03Request documented API boundaries, interoperability testing evidence, and failure detection demonstrations rather than relying on marketing descriptions.

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Software updates are now a buying event at IBC2026

Software updates are now a buying event at IBC2026

At IBC2026 in Amsterdam, Clear-Com and TSL are sending a similar operational message from different angles: the next hard problems are control, monitoring, and safe change in IP workflows. Clear-Com’s Eclipse HX EHX v15 adds ARC (Access Resource Configuration), which the company says enables access to intercom ports and resources without adding hardware, and expands capacity and resource management, according to Sports Video Group. AVNation reports TSL is emphasizing “reduced complexity” for control and monitoring across IP workflows. For ops leaders, the takeaway is to treat qualification, rollback planning, change windows, and licensing and support terms as first-class spec items.

  • 01Clear-Com is attaching new intercom access and resource controls to Eclipse HX via EHX v15 and ARC, so refresh planning shifts from “replace frames” to qualify releases, plan rollbacks and schedule change windows, according to Sports Video Group.
  • 02For distributed productions, FreeSpeak Cell leans on LTE and 5G rather than venue cabling, shifting runbooks toward coverage assumptions, service management and fallbacks when cellular performance drops, according to Sports Video Group.
  • 03AVNation reports TSL is pushing “reduced complexity” for control and monitoring across IP workflows, a sign that configuration, visibility and alarm routing are becoming day-to-day requirements, not optional add-ons.

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