Polycom has announced two new RealPresence Group Series video collaboration solutions that transform small workspaces into high-powered collaboration hubs.
The emergence of huddle rooms, which Frost and Sullivan predicts will reach into the tens of millions by 2020 due to greater emphasis on open office spaces, has created demand for high-quality voice, video and content collaboration solutions specifically designed for these kinds of ad-hoc meeting environments.
Polycom’s RealPresence Group Convene video collaboration solution is built for any small workspace, including huddle rooms and personal workspaces, and offers participants rich 1080p60 video, content collaboration and audio with an easy-to-use interface.
Designed to work with the RealPresence Group Series solutions and EagleEye Acoustic camera, RealPresence Group Convene delivers rich 1080p60 video and content collaboration, audio and an easy-to-use interface.
Its sleek and compact design is customisable, with a single or dual screen display and tabletop stand or wall mount, allowing anyone to create a productive work environment tailored to their needs and space.
The complete system is easy to set up and also integrates with Microsoft Lync 2013.
Polycom Worldwide Systems Engineering and Product Management senior-vice president Ashan Willy said: "The modern workspace is evolving, giving way to more open and more shared workspaces.
"Organizations are looking for voice, video and content collaboration solutions that can change with their workplace and meet the needs of employees today, tomorrow and well into the future.
"Polycom RealPresence Group Series solutions give both IT and end users the flexibility to collaborate in any type of office environment, including huddle rooms and personal workspaces."
Polycom RealPresence Group Convene works with the Group 500 and the brand new Group 310 video collaboration solutions.
The Polycom RealPresence Group 310 solution features simple installation and a compact design that provides a high-quality collaborative experience.
Building upon the functionality and quality of the RealPresence Group 300 solution, Group 310 adds a new level of clarity to business communications.
Content can be sent and received in up to 1080p60 quality and is easily shared through direct HDMI or VGA connections, or by using the People+Content IP application.
These improvements allow participants to share animations and videos, medical diagrams and CAD drawings, with the same full, rich detail they see on their own computer screens.
SmartPairing technology also allows people to share and annotate on documents from their mobile devices or PCs wirelessly.
Coupled with EagleEye IV, a camera with powerful optical zoom and optional wide-angle lens to capture everyone in the room, andEagleEye Producer technology, which automatically frames participants using the latest in facial recognition, collaboration becomes more intuitive and interactive.
RealPresence Group 310 video collaboration solution also inherits audio benefits, including conversational stereo and NoiseBlock technology, providing an exceptional user experience.
Frost and Sullivan Unified Communications and Collaboration program manager Rob Arnold said: "We are seeing a lot of different approaches to outfit huddle rooms with visual collaboration solutions.
"Many of these require sourcing codecs, cameras, monitors and more from multiple providers.
"This raises potential usability, management and support issues that can cancel out any perceived cost savings.
"Polycom’s approach delivers robust features that users want without compromising the control that IT needs."
The Polycom RealPresence Group Convene and Polycom RealPresence Group 310 video collaboration solutions are now available.