Latest Generation: Simple Doesn’t Mean Less

The latest addition to the all-in-one video bar lineup is Yealink’s MeetingBar A40, launched in September 2024. While video bars are known for their convenience, they can sometimes fall short of the stability, security, and management features needed for robust corporate use. Yealink addresses this with the A40, offering:

• Improved stability through its one-cable solution that handles sharing, BYOD and PD charging all from one desk cable.
• Enhanced security with Android 13 and Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform (MDEP) support, protecting against cyber threats and data breaches in Teams environments.
• Simplified IT management through remote monitoring, reducing downtime and ensuring smooth operations.

All-in-One Solutions: Beyond Video Bars

While video bars are effective for small rooms, Yealink offers a broader range of all-in-one solutions, including devices that integrate touch displays with built-in cameras, microphones, speakers, and digital whiteboards. These solutions offer plug-and-play simplicity but also transform workspaces into collaborative hubs. So how do you choose between a video bar and an integrated board?

Modern Style: MeetingBoard Solution

The MeetingBoard is ideal for newly constructed or renovated offices, where no legacy devices need to be reused. With a similar budget to a video bar, it offers more features like digital whiteboarding for enhanced hybrid collaboration. It’s also perfect for open spaces, executive offices, or even lobbies, as its movable floor stand allows for flexibility without requiring wall mounting. The dual-system compatibility (Android and Windows) ensures it fits into any office workflow.

Traditional Style: MeetingBar Series

For meeting rooms with existing TV setups, Yealink’s MeetingBar series offers a sustainable and budget-friendly solution. It easily attaches to any screen and is perfect for small spaces like huddle rooms or phone booths, where quick setup and affordability are key.

Conclusion

Whether you’re upgrading an existing room or setting up a new collaborative space, Yealink’s all-in-one solutions provide the right mix of simplicity, flexibility, and performance. With options like the MeetingBar A40 and MeetingBoard, Yealink covers a wide range of needs to ensure seamless hybrid collaboration.

Learn more about Yealink’s all-in-one solutions in this guide.

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“Tateside has been the preferred technology partner of London’s Soho Works sites for several years now,” explains Jack Cornish, technical director at Tateside. “Before the pandemic, the technology didn’t need to be focused on videoconferencing, but the working environment has since shifted and the client requested an update that would enable better bring-your-own-device (BYOD) and plug-and-play capabilities as well as a system that could support their preferred Zoom room functionality.”

With high-end interior design and a focus on maintaining immaculate aesthetics across all sites, Tateside needed to honor the unique identity of the various Soho Works sites whilst rolling out a solution that could be replicated to provide a consistent user experience across the brand’s workspaces.

“Our team provides both IT and technology integration for Soho Works,” explains Cornish. “The new meeting room standard is a Neat Bar Pro bundle housed within a Leon Tonecase to hide the technology and improve the overall room aesthetics, plus a Samsung screen. This standard has been rolled out across all Soho Works meeting rooms, based on a Zoom Room system, with adjustments made for specific sites.”

The chosen Neat Bar Pro bundle provides crystal-clear audio via three full-range loudspeakers while the advanced microphone array ensures clear vocal pick-up, with Neat Audio Processing built-in. Thanks to the wide-angle lens and image depth sensor, Neat Bar Pro can detect, enlarge and follow all in-room participants, resulting in more lifelike engagement during video meetings. Furthermore, seamless integration with Zoom ensured a Neat Bar standard was the ideal solution for the Soho Works project.

Ashton Bentley USB-C hubs, which can be neatly mounted under desks, are integrated to support network connectivity and provide fast charging of devices. The Neat Bar Pro bundle provides in-built camera and microphone functions plus a Neat Pad for easy-to-use room control. Each site required a slightly different configuration and solutions for other room styles, including a podcast studio at the Dean Street site and subdivisible meeting rooms at 180 The Strand.

“Overall, Soho Works are aiming for systems that are easy to use with minimal technical knowledge,” continues Cornish. “During these recent updates, we’ve completely done away with Crestron controls for input switching and have implemented a complication-free standard with auto-switching and bullet-proof BYOD connectivity.”

He continues, “Finding that balance between function and aesthetics can be a challenge, but with the solutions available from Neat combined with our bespoke integration, Soho Works now have an easy-to-operate, future-proof set-up suited to the modern working environment.”

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On the platform side, Zoom’s big announcements included features like Zoom Docs, an AI-powered workspace for docs, wikis and work management. This is in addition to new Zoom AI Companion features such as the ability to generate ideas on a digital whiteboard and organization them into categories and expanded access to Zoom AI Companion for education and healthcare customers.

However, the company also made several announcements related to hybrid meetings at Zoomtopia, which is especially important to integrators that serve both residential and enterprise markets.

New Zoom Features for Hybrid Meetings

Following Zoomtopia, Zoom will begin rolling out name tags for each in-office meeting participant, so remote users will be able to identify people by name during the meeting and in meeting transcripts.

The company will also be adding a wayfinding feature next year, providing a map showing a route to the seat a hybrid worker reserved in the office.

In addition, Zoom will be rolling out new features next year for its virtual co-working tool Huddles, including “my office view,” which will help workers know when colleagues are in a virtual huddle or in the physical office along with their presence and location.

Zoom will also be rolling out this December Dynamic Layouts for Zoom Rooms, a feature designed to make it easier to follow a conversation between on-screen colleagues. Now available in beta, users will see video frames shift dynamically in real time as participants raise their hands or begin speaking so remote workers know here to focus their attention.

At Zoomtopia, Zoom also announced the general availability of Intelligent Director, a new feature designed to optimize the conference room experience for hybrid work, using multiple cameras to give every participant their own frame and best visual angle in Zoom Meetings. It supports up to three cameras with the ability to set it up for small, medium and large rooms.

Other hybrid meeting features include a new note-taking feature, improvements to continuous meeting chat, asynchronous video clips and a new scheduling tool.

Specific to AV teams, Zoom is rolling out later this year Pro AV for Zoom Rooms, a new tool for AV professionals to manage multiple physical and virtual audio and video streams. It features a wide range of hardware support and partners for cameras and controllers and is designed for AV experts integrating Zoom into large, custom events.

Zoom Partner Program Updates at Zoomtopia

The videoconferencing and collaboration provider also announced updates to the Zoom Up Partner Program while at Zoomtopia. This update adds three new levels to the partner program: Silver, Gold and Platinum. Partners can onboard to the Zoom Up program in just a few hours of training and move up to higher levels by demonstrating knowledge and skill of the Zoom portfolio.

Rewards re-tiered in accordance with the Zoom Up level achieved, the company says.

Zoom is also adding new offerings and resources, such as a partner customer success program, a partner support program, a new partner licensing program and more.

New Zoom Hardware

Meeting room hardware manufacturers have been helping integrators support their customers’ Zoom Room environments for many years, and many of those manufactures used Zoom’s event to announce new products, features and offerings of their own.

That includes Crestron, which announced Zoom certification for the Videobar 70 and intelligent video cameras and a new Zoom Phone Appliance and Scheduling Panel with Zoom Rooms software.

Meanwhile, HP and subsidiary Poly also announced several new offerings and products, including the Poly Studio Bundle, which the company says is designed to leverage the Zoom Rooms Intelligent Director feature by applying AI to create more equitable meeting experiences in large rooms. The bundle includes three Poly Studio E70 cameras, a Poly TC10 controller, and an HP Mini Conferencing PC.

In addition to the recently announced Poly Voyager Surround 85 UC Bluetooth headset, the company also announced two new HP webcams with 1080p resolution, automatic focus, lighting and color correction, two new wireless keyboards and a Bluetooth mouse.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site CEPro on October 10, 2023. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

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“As more people return to the office, it’s no longer enough to deliver the best remote worker experience; every business needs a solution to deliver the best hybrid meeting experience,” says Smita Hashim, chief product officer at Zoom. “Even with some employees in the office, oftentimes other team members are dispersed, so meeting equity and inclusion become more important than ever. Intelligent Director is the solution that can bring employees together, regardless of location, so they can truly connect face-to-face.”

Intelligent Director is specifically designed for medium- to larger-sized rooms and helps avoid the “bowling alley effect.” Intelligent Director can individually frame up to 16 participants in a Zoom Room using multiple cameras, choosing the best video stream via a Zoom-designed AI, and send that stream to the gallery view of the Zoom Meeting.

An evolution of Zoom’s Smart Gallery feature, which uses a single camera and AI to give each person in a small to medium-sized room their own space in a Zoom Meeting, Intelligent Director takes this same technology for larger conference rooms.

For bigger meeting spaces, it is easier to be hidden by others when only using a single camera; Intelligent Director’s multi-camera configuration and use of video AI technology provide meeting equity to everyone in the room, selecting the best view of each individual, even if they move around or turn their heads. Remote participants can now have face-to-face conversations with each Zoom Rooms participant, allowing in-room participants to be seen and heard.

Intelligent Director is made possible through the support of Zoom’s hardware partner ecosystem. Manufacturers, including Apple, AVer, Dell, HP | Poly, Intel, Logitech, and Yealink have supported Zoom with the computer, controller and camera solutions necessary to produce this major advancement.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on June 27, 2023. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

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Poly Studio Systems for Zoom Rooms provides IT teams with the flexibility to outfit Zoom Rooms of varying sizes, with access to the operating system of their choice, including Poly support for Android and Windows experiences. Poly Studio Systems for small Zoom Rooms feature the Poly Studio R30, medium rooms feature the Poly Studio USB video bar, and large rooms feature the Poly Studio E70. Poly’s lineup of Studio video bars are equipped with advanced AI capabilities, including Poly DirectorAI technology, designed to deliver meeting equity.

The Poly TC10 controller is a brand new device that is included with Poly Studio Systems for small, medium and large Zoom Rooms. The Poly TC10 provides Zoom Rooms users with the flexibility to use the device as a native Zoom Rooms Controller or easy-to-use Zoom Rooms scheduling display. The Poly TC10 will also be available to purchase separately as an accessory and room scheduling display. As a meeting controller, the Poly TC10 can also be paired with the Poly Studio X Series or G7500 videoconferencing system to control the cloud-based video app on the Poly Video OS system.

“Hybrid work is here to stay, and we are excited to strengthen our portfolio of Zoom Rooms systems powered by Poly and HP to deliver true meeting happiness,” says Cary Bran, global head of Zoom Rooms at Zoom. “By joining forces with Poly and HP, we can offer the ‘total package’ of solutions for Zoom Rooms, Zoom Phone, and Zoom Meetings as we continue to push the boundaries of the future of work.”

Andy Rhodes, SVP and general manager of hybrid work solutions & peripherals at HP says, “The future of meeting collaboration will require innovative solutions that allow everyone to be seen and heard with total clarity. Which is why Poly and HP are joining forces with Zoom to create a complete ecosystem of Poly Studio Zoom Room Systems designed to deliver meeting equity, so you show up and stand out.”

Poly Studio Systems for Zoom Rooms with the Poly TC10 controller/scheduler is now available to order in North America and Europe, shipping in late November 2022, and available worldwide in early 2023. The Poly TC10 touchpanel controller/scheduling display is now available to purchase as a standalone accessory, and comes in black or white.

This article originally appeared on MyTechDecisions’ sister-site CommercialIntegrator.com.

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The design of BM35 is thus ideal for the modern, hybrid workplace. Moreover, it ensures that everyone can hear every voice with its 360-degree omnidirectional algorithms, powerful pick-up range and eight-microphones array that supports enriched sound clarity.

As a certified device, the BM35 works seamlessly and intuitively with Zoom meetings and in Zoom Rooms, enabling real-time, in-person and remote interaction. According to MAXHUB, it also meets the cloud-based platform’s high standards for audio quality. Thus, the BM35 is an effective speakerphone solution that delivers an efficient video-conferencing experience for high-quality collaboration, anywhere.

Achieving Zoom Certification for the BM35 Speakerphone

BM35’s achievement of Zoom certification demonstrates MAXHUB’s dedication to building professional-grade, pioneering devices. According to the company, these devices offer exceptional ease of use for the contemporary world of work.

“This latest addition to our Zoom-certified product portfolio is a significant step for MAXHUB in delivering high-end audio solutions built better with Zoom customers in mind. The BM35 promises an intuitive user experience paired with performance excellence for superb video conferencing, every time,” says MAXHUB UC product global consultant Andrew Wong.

Advanced Technology Supports Crystal-clear Audio

MAXHUB’s adaptable BM35 provides great audio coverage in any meeting space or Zoom Room. Optimized for maximum voice clarity, videoconferencing thus feels as instinctive as a face-to-face discussion. MAXHUB says users will enjoy rich, organic conversations thanks to BM35’s full-duplex system. This system ensures participants are heard clearly even while speaking simultaneously.

The BM35 intelligently absorbs and filters out intrusive noise for high-fidelity sound quality. With automatic gain control, it keeps fluctuating speaker volumes to a minimum. This works even as they move around the room. It comes with a 4400mAh built-in battery that can last for up to 15 hours. As a result, teams can let their creative juices flow, unconstrained by time.

The BM35 speakerphone is now available for purchase.

A Growing Zoom-certified UC Product Portfolio

As a prominent communication-solutions provider, MAXHUB is ramping up its Zoom certification expansion program. The company adds that it is focusing on developing intelligent Zoom-ready solutions that meet the needs of the modern workplace.

“MAXHUB is a proud Zoom partner committed to helping professional enterprises achieve fruitful collaboration, anywhere. Together, we’re setting a new benchmark in the virtual-communications market, providing our users greater flexibility as we help them tap into the creative energy of hybrid teams,” says MAXHUB general manager Darren Lin.

Check out MAXHUB products on our sister-site AV-IQ here.

This article originally appeared on MyTechDecisions’ sister-site CommercialIntegrator.com.

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Ensuring Reliable, Consistent Sound

The Zoom Rooms Hardware Certification is a key milestone for Shure in providing consistent, reliable sound for today’s hybrid work and learning environments. To achieve Zoom Rooms Hardware Certification, the products underwent rigorous and comprehensive tests in lab environments.

Shure thus reassures IT professionals and integrators that it will deliver the highest standards in collaboration performance. Meanwhile, end users can enjoy premium audio in an easy-to-use conferencing experience.

“We are pleased Shure has pursued Zoom Rooms Hardware Certification, which sends a signal to customers that the hardware meets the high-performance standards for Zoom Rooms,” says Eric Yu, head of hardware partnership, Zoom. “As many organizations look to enable remote collaboration for virtual participants, customers need scalable solutions to virtualize even the most complex hardware spaces.”

Also Read: Shure Announces its MV7 Microphone is now Zoom Certified

With the recent Zoom Hardware certification, Shure says it has expanded its scalability for complex spaces. The flexibility in Shure microphones and DSP for Zoom Rooms delivers a first-class system to any high-rise conference room or classroom on campus. The new flagship MXA920 also features Automatic Coverage Technology. Per the company, this offers precise control of audio capture with minimal setup. Thus, it reduces installation time and costs for integrators.

Bringing High-Quality Audio to Conferencing Rooms

Designed with Next Generation Array Architecture for enhanced directional audio pickup and more natural, clear speech, the MXA920 Ceiling Array Microphone is easy to use for videoconferencing. According to Shure, it is an ideal choice in array microphones for camera tracking, voice lift and sound reinforcement applications.

IntelliMix Room software DSP gives users more choice for audio processing power. It has scalable options mixed simply within the same software for small rooms to large and complex setups requiring multiple microphones. IntelliMix Room also reduces the amount of hardware in the meeting room, collaboration space, or classroom. At the same time, it provides users with clarity and echo-free audio.

Additionally, the denoising feature removes unwanted common noises, like tapping keyboards and mouse clicking. As a result, it helps ensure that users can always sound their very best.

“Achieving Zoom Rooms Hardware Certification on our new MXA920 Microphone with IntelliMix Room software DSP is a big win for Shure. [It] gives customers the certainty that they have a tested and consistent solution for their needs,” adds Richard Knott, senior manager of global systems alliances at Shure.

According to Knott, the innovative technology in both products helps bring the highest quality audio to Zoom Rooms users. It also streamlines the number of devices needed and simplifies the end-to-end setup process.

Shure states that partnering with and connecting to other technology leaders is fundamental for collaboration. It also helps ensure users can seamlessly connect with the top communication platforms. Thanks to this Zoom Hardware Certification, Shure says IT professionals and AV integrators can rely on a unified, user-friendly and easy-to-install audio solution. The company adds this cohesive end-to-end solution allows participants to avoid distractions from what really matters: effective, productive collaboration and learning.

This article originally appeared on MyTechDecisions’ sister-site CommercialIntegrator.com.

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According to Extron, the products in the Zoom Rooms Certified Design Solutions have been designed and meticulously tested for best-in-class performance and ease of use.

“We are well known for our industry-leading Extron Control for Zoom Rooms – Native Room Controls,” says Casey Hall, vice president of worldwide sales and marketing at Extron. “These newly certified products enable the deployment of award-winning Extron audio technology in workspaces across the enterprise.”

Also Read: Designing a State-of-the Art EMS Simulation Suite at Wake Tech

Extron Products Certified for Zoom Rooms:

• DMP 64 Plus Series Digital Audio Matrix Processors
• DMP 128 Plus Series Digital Audio Matrix Processors
• XPA U 1002 Power Amplifiers
• XPA U 1004 SB Power Amplifiers
• SF 3CT LP and SF 3C LP Ceiling Speakers

All of the complete certified designs, featured solutions, and detailed information on the individual products they include are available on the Extron website.

With Extron control for Zoom Rooms, a single user interface is all users need to control every conferencing, audiovisual and room function. Together, Extron and its partners deliver complete AV and conferencing control across the enterprise.

This article originally appeared on MyTechDecisions’ sister-site CommercialIntegrator.com.

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Konftel product manager Torbjörn Karlsson confirms that the company tested the camera fully as a Zoom Rooms USB-connected device. “The Konftel Cam20 is the second in our product range to be certified to work with Zoom services and helps deliver a natural and fluent meeting experience,” he says.

Karlsson adds, “Zoom Rooms is Zoom’s software-based conference room system that makes it easy to run or join video meetings with a tap of a button.” He states that the product represents a seamless and natural fit. Karlsson attributes this to the combination of the picture performance and simple setup. He also remarks that it achieved the Zoom certification after a rigorous testing process.

Compelling Combination

Karlsson also states that the synergy, reliability and high performance of Zoom and Konftel is a compelling combination. It thus suits the current growing hybrid work trends.

Jeff Fox, Zoom senior product marketing manager, echoes his comments. Fox then says user adoption continues to accelerate as more organizations look to embrace and invest in flexible working.

Related: Konftel Conferencing Solutions Upgrades Marymount Cuernavaca Schools’ Hybrid Learning Experience

“Our Zoom Rooms service delivers a dedicated and seamless meeting experience leveraging certified hardware designed to perform to high standards. Certification of the Konftel Cam20 further adds to the appeal of our Zoom Rooms service at a time when more and more organizations are looking to combine office-based with remote flexibility, further elevating the importance of video meetings across a wider range of environments,” Fox expands.

Auto Framing Capabilities

What’s more, auto framing functionality has also boosted the Konftel Cam20. Karlsson explains that with the addition of auto framing, room participants will always fit within the picture. He goes on, “…This removes the need to manually crop the image with the digital zoom. If someone leaves the room, the framing readjusts. The feature can be disengaged if required.”

In addition, Konftel is a Climate Neutral certified company. This means it offsets all greenhouse gas emissions across its entire product range. Thus, it ensures that organizations conference with a clear climate conscience from the very first meeting.

The post Konftel Cam20 Now Certified for Zoom Rooms appeared first on My TechDecisions.

The school district and Lance Ford, a faculty member and Zoom Room educator, helped design and deploy “superpowered” learning systems using Zoom, Zoom Rooms and tech-enabled furniture from Connecticut-based Salamander Designs.

According to Ford, teachers can struggle with hybrid learning because it is difficult to be seen and heard by remote students, and vice versa. The solution was to combine a Zoom Room device, a screen and a Salamander mobile cart for learning.

“The beauty of this solution is that our own students can physically relocate the system,” Ford said. “This is happening right now in my high school classes. Even when I’m not there, students are moving this self-contained system to where they need it, plugging it in, and everyone is showing and sharing in an instant!”

Live instruction in classrooms often requires large group gatherings where all students may get initial information, followed by individual breakout sessions. While this sounds great, it presents a challenge for educators now that learners are in separate locations. By using a slick combination of large screens on new, thin Salamander Strut Walls cameras, mics and other branded mobile tables, classrooms can be reconfigured in literally minutes.

See Next: CITY Furniture Retailer Streamlines Communications With Zello, Pryme

Zoom Rooms can even build an “acoustic fence” around small groups so that remote students only hear the mics of the group they are working with and don’t hear distracting chatter from other groups in the room. This helps keep remote students involved and engaged.

Salamander furniture also features electric lift for screens and low wall construction. All wiring is hidden to prevent issues, while power setups allow for instant connection to computers and other devices as needed.

“This ebb and flow solution helps engagement, as everyone can move around, sit, stand and even work together at small huddle stations where they can lay their work out and interact with someone on the large display as if they were in the room together,” Ford says.

The setup features multiple cameras and large screens on a dual cabinet from Salamander that allow students offsite to see the classroom, teacher and an annotation white board. In addition, the teacher and students can also see remote learners on one of the monitors while content is shared on another.

“This setup is so, so powerful,” Ford says. “Verbal and nonverbal feedback is most easily shared. Presenters and students alike can view all participants—and that creates the feeling that remote students are transported into the classroom and part of all the interaction.”

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