It’s been a while since I have posted a blog entry and I apologize for that delay.   It has been a busy year!

Firstly, I want to bring you up to speed on FTR products. You may have already seen our announcements and promotional materials highlighting the launch of a new version of FTR Interrogator (v5) in May, following much anticipation from the market.  In just a short time, we have received a lot of great feedback on this new product and we are looking forward to more of the same.  In the Court market, we continue to expand our global reach, following a major win in Slovenia. We recently issued a Press Release highlighting the installation of FTR products in 352 courtrooms nationwide.  The Project “Audio Recording in Courts” was part of E-justice projects in Slovenia, and was co-financed by the European Social Fund.  A big thank you to all FTR staff and to our local partner that was instrumental in winning the deal and ensuring a smooth and successful implementation.

You may have also noticed (through our recent ads and website banners) that we will soon be launching a new suite of content management products.  For the last 15+ years, we have focused our efforts on developing top-class recording and note-taking solutions that has enabled us to be a recognized global leader in this field.  Now, our clients’ needs have evolved and they need robust, effective tools that can help them manage the vast amount of digital content that has been created over the years.  FTR has, once again, stepped up to deliver precisely these solutions. This foray into content management is an exciting time for FTR, as we develop innovative approaches to solve new problems faced by our clients, while keeping any operational changes to a minimum. It is also an example of our commitment to always deliver the latest in useful, value-adding solutions to the market.

I would also like to use this space to highlight a unique advantage of FTR products, specifically, our powerful, patented technology – ThinkLink®.  Recently, we added a new page to our website that provides more information, but here is a summary:

ThinkLink is the ‘engine’ that enables users to dynamically link their notes to specific points of interest within digital audio/video recordings. While other recording systems are capable of linking notes to recordings, FTR’s capabilities are unique because:

1. Users do not need to be connected to the recording system itself while creating notes.  In other words, a dedicated recording engine (e.g. FTR Reporter, FTR Touch etc) can be running, while the court clerk (for instance), can be taking notes from elsewhere.
2. Multiple people (e.g. clerk, judge and/or attorneys) can be taking their own personal notes, independent of each other and disconnected from the recording system. Each of them can then link their notes to the relevant recording at a later time.

Most importantly, all of this is accomplished without any type of database.  Hence, there is little impact on existing network infrastructure, systems and processes, resulting in lower upfront and capital expenditure as well as ongoing maintenance expenses for our clients.  Do visit the web page on ThinkLink and reach out to us if you’d like to learn more!

Lastly, if you haven’t already, don’t forget to become a fan of our Facebook page or subscribe to our YouTube channel – it’s a great way to keep in touch with both industry and FTR news!

Daniel

Let me begin by wishing all a very Happy & Prosperous, albeit belated, New Year!

As is normal for most businesses at the start of a new year, it has been a very busy time at FTR as we begin to execute on our strategy for the year.  We have a LOT planned for 2011 in all areas of the business – from product development to partnership building to marketing, so it is going to be one exciting year!

I wanted to start the first blog of 2011 by offering some insights on a very key component of FTR’s business strategy – our reseller channel.  As a consumer of FTR products & services, it is important for you to understand the value that our channel brings in delivering a comprehensive solution that meets your needs.

FTR is essentially a manufacturer of software and hardware digital recording and content management solutions for the judicial market (courtrooms, hearing rooms, police interview rooms etc).  We rely on our wide network of resellers and system integrators to sell our products, successfully install and support them and adequately train users on the use and management of the solution.  So, why do we adopt this approach instead of doing everything ourselves? The answer is simple: focusing on product development allows us to generate top quality, reliable products that meet our customers’ needs.  In turn, our reselling partners complement our area of expertise with theirs – conducting a thorough analysis of your needs and requirements, recommending the right product(s), ensuring a successful installation and providing relevant training for users and IT staff.  It also provides our vast user base with access to on-the-ground support i.e. a local company that can quickly resolve any issues quickly.

FTR authorized partners are trained on all aspects of FTR products – from features and capabilities to installation to technical troubleshooting and support.  In addition, they participate in ongoing on-site and/or web-based training to ensure they are always up to date on new products and upgrades.

In essence, our partners are ambassadors of the FTR brand and they have been a key component in FTR growing to be a global leader in digital court recording.  I have no doubt that, as we move through this year and beyond, our partnership with a trusted and committed channel will continue to bring similar successes in new markets.

Until next time…

Daniel

November is upon us and it is hard to believe that yet another year has almost flown by.   With Thanksgiving and the Holiday Season around the corner, I felt it was a good time to reflect on what has been a very busy and successful year for FTR, despite trying economic times.

A lot has happened since I was appointed Executive Vice President of FTR back in late January. We started with the launch of a revamped Premier Partner Plan, comprised of a comprehensive onsite training and certification program for our channel partners.  Apart from receiving a lot of positive feedback, this program has resulted in FTR having an even more committed and energized set of partners ready to assist the growing FTR user base.  We also introduced the latest version of TheRecord Online to facilitate the transcript production process, as well as launched an interactive forum called FTR Community to encourage better and more transparent communication amongst FTR staff, partners and customers.

In May, we released the complete FTR Gold suite of software products such that they were Microsoft Windows 7 compatible.  We also introduced a new pricing scheme for FTR Interrogator, which is a digital audio-video recording solution for police interview rooms.  June saw the launch of FTR Touch – a brand new, touch-screen based digital audio recording device that leverages the technology and benefits of the flagship FTR Gold platform to deliver an enhanced user experience.  We also launched a new FTR website and achieved a significant milestone in re-designing all aspects of our marketing strategy to present a unified look that reflects the strength of the FTR brand.

This was followed up by the release of a Windows 7 compatible version of FTR Hearings in July.  Most recently, we released an updated version of FTR Touch, which delivers more relevant features that translate into tangible benefits for both new and existing clients.  As I write this, work continues on developing a more robust content management solution for our Court clients as indicated in my last post.  Soon we will also be embarking on revising the FTR Interrogator product.

Planning for 2011 is well underway and I can tell you that we have several exciting new products and initiatives in the pipeline.  Stay tuned for more updates on these in future posts!

Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving…

Happy Holidays!

Daniel

So far this year, FTR has had some significant product releases such as the release of our complete FTR Gold suite of software products, as well as FTR Hearings to be compatible with the latest Microsoft Windows 7 operating system.  We also launched a touch-screen-based, dedicated hardware recording device in the form of FTR Touch, which has been very successful in the short time that it has been out.

FTR has been providing digital court recording solutions for over 15 years and many of our customers have been with us since then.  Over this time, there has been a lot of FTR content – both recordings and log sheets – generated, and, the vast majority of it still needs to be available for immediate access when required (versus being preserved in offline backup).  The problem here is that due to the significant amount of stored content, it takes a very long time for users to search and retrieve what is relevant to them, which directly impacts productivity and efficiency.  Market research has shown us that this is a pervasive issue which needs to be addressed.  To that end, FTR is currently developing enhanced content management solutions which will alleviate these problems as well as deliver several other significant benefits.  This suite of solutions is anticipated to be available in the 4^th-quarter timeframe.

At the same time, FTR has been working on an update to the recently released FTR Touch product.  We have received a tremendous amount of positive comments and feedback on this product since its launch back in June.  The FTR Product Management and Development team has used the feedback to validate and enhance the development scope, resulting in an updated and relevant feature set for our clients.  This new version is expected to be available in Sep/Oct.

Watch for more information on these exciting new product launches in the coming weeks!

In the last blog, I highlighted the fact that despite challenging economic times, FTR has continued to invest in product development.  The aforementioned product enhancements are a direct result of this investment; they have been developed after obtaining feedback from you – our valued clients – and to solve critical issues that you are facing.  It is an example of the fact that FTR is listening and we always want to hear from you, whether it be via a post on FTR Community, a phone call or an email.  So, please do continue to let us know what you think.

Wishing everyone a safe & enjoyable Labor Day weekend.

Daniel

In the last blog, I mentioned that 2010 has been an exciting year of achievement for FTR and pointed to a couple of major initiatives launched and products released.  Today I am going to touch upon another major initiative we’ve undertaken in 2010 – to develop and distribute a new channel plan, comprising of solid programs and initiatives to enable our worldwide partners to provide top quality service, training and support to both new and existing FTR clients.

FTR is known to deliver stable, robust products designed to meet the evolving needs of our clients.  Since we sell our products exclusively through channel partners, it is important that the partners representing FTR are knowledgeable about the products and are able to successfully install, configure and troubleshoot the solution to ensure a smooth implementation at the client site.  To this end, we have instituted a comprehensive, on-site training & certification program beginning in May 2010; we have had two very successful sessions to-date, with a third one coming up very shortly.  As a result of the new channel plan and programs, I am proud to say that we have an even more committed set of partners who are available to service the growing FTR customer base with renewed enthusiasm.  I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank FTR’s channel partners for their dedication and commitment to the Company and products over the years!

Despite the challenging economic climate, 2010 has also been a year of investment at FTR – we have invested in new technologies and more marketing programs, as well as accelerated product development, and we will continue to do so through the remainder of the year.  We aim to anticipate the future requirements of this market and to invest precious time and resources today to develop solutions to fulfill those needs of tomorrow.  It is this long-term vision, coupled with timely execution, which has enabled us to be in business for over 15 years, and will undoubtedly continue to lead us to greater successes in the years to come.

See you next time!

Daniel

Hello and welcome to FTR’s new website and our very first EVP Blog!

Over the past few months, FTR has been working diligently to revamp our website to align it with our overall marketing and branding strategy and to provide a richer user experience.  And here it is: the new website. The new face of FTR in 2010!  What may not be so apparent is that it has been a tremendous project to redesign all components of our marketing strategy – brochures, tradeshow booth graphics, advertisements, partner communications and of course this new website – to present a unified look and feel, which reflects who we are as a company and what we do.  To that end, I am proud of what the FTR team has accomplished in just a few short months.

2010 has been an exciting year of achievement for us already….and there is more to come!  Earlier this year, we launched the Microsoft Windows 7-compatible versions of our FTR Gold suite of products and, in June, we will start shipping the eagerly-anticipated FTR Touch units.  FTR Community, which facilitates open and transparent communication by bringing together staff, partners and customers in an interactive forum, was introduced earlier this year; so was the latest version of TheRecord Online, a web-based service which facilitates the transcription process through online collaboration amongst courts, attorneys and transcriptionists.

I hope you will sign up and take advantage of these two exciting portals and provide your feedback to the FTR team.

More updates from FTR in my next blog!

Daniel