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Hardware manufacturers for video room solutions in comparison
In the first part of the video blog we showed where the trend is going with video conferencing solutions and what strategies the big providers have. Now we take a look at what trends the video hardware manufacturers are setting and what solutions they have to offer for meeting rooms.
As described in the last blog, Zoom and Microsoft rely on various certified hardware partners who specialise in audio & video for the respective conference solution. Cisco continues to rely on the strategy of offering everything from a single source.
In this article we would like to give you an overview of what the hardware partners of Microsoft Teams and Zoom as well as Cisco itself have to offer in terms of video room solutions.
As hybrid work environments become more popular, companies are looking for optimal solutions to enable better collaboration for remote workers and office workers - also known as hybrid working. Many companies are therefore starting their journey into the hybrid future with a collaboration tool such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Cisco.
Leading collaboration solutions are now used by millions of active users worldwide and have become indispensable for many businesses. With Teams Rooms kits, Zoom Rooms or Cisco Webex kits, companies can provide plug-and-play hybrid working solutions that cover all needs and support employees in their work. These modern meeting room kits are flexible and mostly easy to set up. Unlike in the past, new features and technologies are coming to market at a rapid pace.
In our blog post from 14.06.2021 we presented and looked at the market leaders of video conferencing solutions. In the following, we present a selection and overview of the better-known video conferencing solutions in this blog post.
Blog
Trend towards video room solutions for all meeting rooms
by Sven Matheja
Crestron
The Crestron Flex system offers a promising proposition for all spaces. Especially the B-series, with the soundbar solution and the integrated IQ camera from Huddly, offers an excellent meeting atmosphere for small to medium meeting room sizes. The integrated microphones can detect voices up to 5 metres and a set of high-end speakers provide good sound. The touch controller is connected via PoE interface. A disadvantage is that Crestron can mainly only be obtained via AV partners and the XIO cloud management solution costs extra. The current Crestron Flex systems still rely on the UC Engine (Intel or Lenovo) with the Windows operating system. Android-based video meeting room appliances are currently missing from the Crestron Flex system portfolio.
Poly
Poly has long been content as a peripheral supplier with high quality devices such as the Audio Trio conference phone, the Poly Studio USB video/sound bar and the high-end Eagle Eye Directory II video camera. Although the Eagle Eye Directory II has been on the market for a few years now, it is the camera that can still compete with Cisco's high-end products. Unfortunately, it is also a lot more expensive compared to the other certified Microsoft/Zoom camera products.
Since 2020, Poly has also been offering the G10-T, a Microsoft Teams Room Windows system that can be ordered individually or as a bundle with camera and audio. For Zoom Room solutions, the focus was on appliance solutions with the Android operating system. The X series was developed with this in mind.
Since Microsoft certified Android as an alternative OS solution at the end of 2020, Poly has now been able to offer the X-Series as an alternative solution for Microsoft Teams. Poly Studio X30, X50 and the new X70 are all-in-one appliances that are certified for other conferencing solutions in addition to Microsoft and Zoom. They are easy to install and operate.
Newly, Poly announced a camera called Studio E70 for Q3 2021, which will be positioned slightly below the existing EagleEye Director II camera. The Studio E70 has two 20-megapixel cameras, 4K sensors and has an innovative feature that allows people to be cut out and visualised as individuals in the conferencing solution, similar to manufacturer Neat's Neat Summetry feature.
Logitech
The Logitech product family has been renewed and expanded with the portfolio released in Q1 2021. The new portfolio consists of the Rally Bar, the Rally Bar mini and the RoomMate. The team rooms support both operating systems, i.e. Windows as well as Android. Under Windows, the device must be extended with a Windows mini PC. For the Android solution, no further component is needed. With the new products, the old weaknesses such as cable management should also have been eliminated.
The Logitech-designed Rally Bar, with its proven 15x optical zoom PTZ camera, captures medium and large conference rooms very well. Meanwhile, RightSight camera control technology is also sophisticated and automatically captures meeting participants. The all-inclusive system offers access to Logitech Tap as well as the Intel NUC Mini PC, a Rally Bar Mini and much more. The speakers and sensitive microphone ensure that every meeting runs smoothly.
Yealink
Yealink probably offers the largest video product portfolio for Microsoft Teams Room or also for Zoom. Two examples of new products released in 2021 are the MVC840 bundle for large rooms with a dedicated Windows PC and the A30 appliance on the Android OS. The hardware investment costs are somewhat lower compared to the other solutions.
MSpeech, a USB speakerphone launched in mid-2021, offers AI features such as speech recognition, transcription and translation. With 10 built-in microphones and 4-watt speakers, MSpeech ensures HD audio capabilities for medium-sized meeting rooms. However, MSpeech is currently only certified for Microsoft Teams.
Lenovo
The redesigned Lenovo ThinkSmart Hub device Gen 2 is again designed for all meeting room sizes. The ThinkSmart Hub Gen 2 combines the controls, cable management and audio into one all-in-one system. For smaller meeting rooms, the built-in speakers and microphones are sufficient. If the Lenovo Hub with the integrated PC Unit seems a little too big on the meeting room table, Lenovo offers an alternative to the Lenovo Hub with the Think Smart Core PC Unit and the Think Smart touch controller. Since the PC Unit is separate from the controller, it can be mounted behind the screen or under the table without any problems. For medium-sized and larger rooms, Lenovo now offers the Think Smart Bar. A promising sound bar that can be mounted below the screen. From the home office or huddle rooms to medium and large conference rooms, the ThinkSmart Cam camera captures the room optimally thanks to its large field of view. The digital camera also features AI technology as well as speaker tracking and room framing functionalities.
Neat
One surprise is Neat. Neat is a start-up company from Norway. Originally exclusively on the market with Zoom solutions and also financially supported by Zoom, Neat recently also announced a partnership with Microsoft. The first certified Microsoft solutions are expected by the end of 2021.
Typically in sleek Scandinavian design, Neat offers three video conferencing solutions. A Neat Bar for smaller/medium sized rooms, Neat Bar Pro for larger conference rooms and the all-in-one product NeatBoard. With its 65-inch multi-touch screen, powerful audio system and wide-angle camera, Neat Board offers a collaboration experience that goes beyond video with the whiteboard and competes directly with the Microsoft Surface Hub.
In addition to its hardware, Neat is also very innovative in its software. All Neat devices have unique sensory capabilities such as Neat Symmetry, which allows everyone to be seen right up close. Neat Symmetry combines advanced AI with high-resolution sensors to focus on every participant in the room, automatically framing them individually and instinctively following them as if they had their own camera persona.
Cisco
To meet the strong demand for smaller and medium-sized rooms, Cisco has responded by launching the Webex Room Kid Series in early 2020. Similar to the Zoom/Microsoft devices, the trend is towards video bar solutions. The large models (Room Kit Pro and Room Kid Plus) have a dedicated codec and are suitable for large meeting rooms such as boardrooms or training rooms. The variants with integrated codec (Webex Room Kit and Webex Room Kit mini) with the 4K 120-degree coverage camera are ideally designed for meeting rooms with 2-7 participants.
As with the large systems, the small Web Room Kit also offers the Speaker Tracking function. This function enables automatic zooming in on the person speaking.
Furthermore, the systems offer automatic noise cancellation to filter out ambient noise. The retail prices of the smaller systems are in a similar range to the certified products from Zoom and Microsoft. All models can be connected via an on-premise or cloud solution, such as Webex or Pexip.
Comparison of hardware manufacturers
Snapshot of supported platforms, devices and features.
Conclusion
There are many manufacturers who offer new interesting solutions at very short intervals. Nevertheless, it is important to continue to pursue a product strategy for a company and not always buy the latest great solutions. Otherwise, this can quickly lead to a confusing situation regarding the management of the different platforms. Although these are certified solutions, you may also need a management tool from the respective manufacturer to operate the system landscape.
In addition to the comments from the first blog entry, you should also clarify the following points when making a video meeting room purchase:
- Compile a catalogue of needs and an overview of the meeting room landscape. The following examples should be included in the catalogue of needs:
- How big are the rooms?
- Do the rooms only need audio and/or video connectivity?
- Should controls for light, blinds or a room booking system be integrated?
- Do the rooms need one or two screens?
- How should the conference be operated? Via a separate touch panel or integrated in the video display?
- Are ceiling speakers to be integrated?
- As already mentioned in the first blog, the solution evaluation should not only assess the individual components, but the whole. In addition to the technical analysis, include the areas of product diversity, manufacturer roadmap, costs, platform management, partnerships, support and warranty in the evaluation criteria.
- Check whether other related purchases (e.g. telephone sets or headsets) or strategy adjustments are planned so that possible synergies can be exploited.
