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= Commend International = Commend is an Austrian-based technology provider that specialises in stand-alone and integrated intercom audio/video security solutions and related services for challenging environments. The company has installed upwards of 15,000 communication systems worldwide in a variety of markets. These include commercial buildings, parking and public transport facilities, town centres, schools and universities, hospitals, industrial premises, road tunnels, airports, and (more recently) 'smart cities'.

Company History
Commend was established in 1971 as a family business providing terminal equipment for third-party intercom systems. The company soon began to develop its own intercom products. Technically, the focus was (and still is) primarily on audio quality, backward compatibility and interoperability with other systems. A special area of research and inventions is background noise suppression.

Early success
Commend's first in-house developments were a fully programmable intercom control station and call terminal, which came on the market in 1974.

In the early 1980s, Commend was one of the first intercom providers to leverage the emerging CMOS microprocessor technology.

Digitalisation
In 1993 Commend introduced the first digital intercom station, followed by a digital intercom server in 1997 and a digital networking add-on card for its servers in 1998. Since then the company has been stepping up its progress towards networked, software-focussed solutions.

A big step for Intercom: Networking
In 1997 Commend introduced the first fully digital Intercom server (GE 700) for fully-networked intercom solutions, and a networking card for previous server generations in 1998. This marked the start of fully digital intercom.

In 2002 Commend followed up with a server add-on networking card for intercom over IP connections.

Innovations along the way
In 2003 Commend introduced OpenDuplex® as a further development of full duplex technology. It enables natural, fully hands-free communication by eliminating the need for manual interaction with the intercom terminal during calls.

In 2005 Commend proceeded to launch Intercom over IP (IoIP®), an audio streaming protocol that allows intercom terminals to interconnect directly over any IP network.

In 2010 Commend took their solution portfolio a critical step forward with the introduction of "Intercom 2.0". For this Commend initiated an all-new generation of call stations, control desks and software controls that was designed to support even complex IP-based intercom projects.

World premiere: Intercom goes virtual
In 2012 Commend ventured into virtual server technology with what was billed as the world's first "100% software-based Intercom server", marketed under the name "VirtuoSIS". This was complemented by a new, improved series of intercom control panels named "Conductor". The first large-scale project based on a VirtuoSIS solution was implemented for German-based steel manufacturer Mannstaedt/GMH Gruppe in 2016.

In 2013 Commend launched into the market of touch devices with its first touchscreen intercom station.

In 2014 Commend was acquired by Dutch-based high-tech conglomerate TKH Group.

Market growth
In 2017 implemented its first large-scale project in the cities market with a comprehensive integrated security communication solution for the City of Calgary; this included around 400 intercom information and emergency call points installed throughout the city.

In 2019 Commend provided Istanbul Airport with a communication solution that comprised more than 300 intercom terminals for staff, passenger and emergency communication. It was the company's largest airport project at the time. A distribution partnership with Harman Professional Solutions was announced the same year to market high-quality intercom for acoustically challenging road tunnel environments.

"A cloud voice"
Since 2019, Commend has been spearheading Cloud-native "Intercom as a service" solutions via its "Symphony" platform.

In 2020 Commend developed and implemented a passenger communication solution for the Digibus project, an Austrian-based joint research project dedicated to autonomous (self-driving) public transport. Later that year Commend opened an R&D office for audio technology in Graz, Austria, based on a close research partnership with the Institute of Electronic Music and Acoustics at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz.

In 2021 Commend equipped the town of Nice in Southern France with a series of "yellow-button" emergency help points connected to the municipal police. Previously, Commend had provided the city with a public address system for flood warnings (2017), intercoms for road bollards (2018), and another public address system for the city's shopping district (2019). Between 2019 and 2021 Commend implemented a similar solution in Cannes, another well-known coastal town on the French Riviera, which was the target of a terrorist attack in October 2020. Among other equipment, Commend's solution included 135 emergency call points placed throughout the city.

In India, Commend emergency call systems are used in the country's "smart city" initiative, starting in 2023.

In the summer of 2023, Commend won the favour of the local media for its support of environmental issues with the installation of a large photovoltaic system for EV charging stations and the public commitment to full carbon neutrality by 2030.

In November 2023, an old post on a humorist website about a funny Commend advertisement poster (involving a pun on a possible mixup of Austria and Australia) went viral. The post caused some misunderstandings that Commend was quick to clear up.

Sound research: boosting audio quality & security
In 2023 Commend launched an AI-driven voice assistant solution for call centres under the name "Ivy". It garnered a New Products & Solutions Award ("Communications & Networking" category) from the Security Industry Association (SIA) upon its launch at the ISC West 2023 security technology trade show.

Sponsorships
For many years, Commend has been actively involved in charity sports events, most notably the annual Charity Challenge and the Salzburg Business Run. The Charity Challenge was initiated by Commend and keeps earning upwards of 30,000 euros in sponsorship money, traditionally for children in need.

Since its beginnings, Commend has been known as an avid supporter and sponsor of Salzburg-based modern visual artists such as Konrad Winkler. They have a featured artist every year, who will provide a collection of works for the Commend Art Calendar, published in a limited edition for friends and customers.