From UC & Media Collaboration comes Collaborate Space, a video collaboration app that connects hundreds of users joining from any device, anytime, and anywhere, which includes messaging, calling, and meeting functions. There is also a software upgrade for the Collaborate Pro series, a versatile video collaboration room solution in the market with low-cost appliances, audio endpoints and cameras for any application and room size.
The Converge Huddle
The affordable Converge Huddle conferencing solution for huddle rooms is derived from ClearOne’s latest Converge Pro 2 line of DSP mixers, and it comes equipped with the latest Acoustic Echo Cancellation and Noise Cancellation audio processing algorithms.
Using Converge Huddle, audio and video collaboration applications are accomplished through a single cable connection to users’ Bring Your Own Devices (BYOD), such as laptops, tablets and smartphones that run applications such as Spontania, Skype, Skype for Business, GoToMeeting, WebEx. The Converge Huddle has an option to add a Bluetooth interface shortly after its release.
“Huddle rooms are rapidly becoming one of the fastest growing trends in workspace design driven by the millennial workforce,” said Durai Ramachandiran, ClearOne senior director of product line management, Pro Voice & AV Distribution, “and this trend provides a new opportunity for integrators and consultants to look at their end customers and specify a professional-grade, highly versatile solution for multiple-use huddle room environments at a price point that meets budget requirements. No other pro-audio manufacturer has a solution like Converge Huddle.”
The Converge Huddle pre-connects to ClearOne or all third-party peripheral devices, such as microphones, speakers, cameras, and display screens. It can be mounted under a conference table, behind a display on the wall, VESA mounted, or located in a closet or rack.
The ClearOne Converge Huddle comes with a default configuration to make the installation and settings as simple as possible for integrators. The Pro Console software, which is combined for the existing Converge Pro 2 and the new Converge Huddle, has the ability to choose and configure either Converge Pro 2 products, Converge Huddle products, or both.
The ClearOne Converge Huddle will start shipping in July.
The Converge Pro 2 VT series
The Converge Pro 2 VT series includes both VoIP and Telco interfaces in the same Converge Pro 2 unit.
“ClearOne maintains its leading role in high-fidelity teleconferencing by listening to the needs and concerns of its customers and partners,” said Durai Ramachandiran, senior director of product line management, Pro Voice & AV Distribution. “Partners gained a powerful selling tool with the highly successful Converge Pro 2 line of mixers, and now we are making it easier than ever for them to choose VoIP, Telco or both and ensure that specified ClearOne products are the perfect fit for every project.”
The ConvergePro 2 VT series models function the same as the existing V and T offerings, and models featuring Dante digital audio technology will now fall under the VTD series. Additionally, all models are Avaya, Cisco and ShoreTel compliant, and support a Microsoft Skype for Business built-in client.
The new VT series works with all existing Converge Pro 2 units and all existing peripheral products, including the ClearOne Beamforming Microphone Array 2, USB Expander, GPIO Expander and Dialog 20 Wireless Microphones. The new product names under the VT series are Converge Pro 2 128VT, the Converge Pro 2 128VTD, Converge Pro 2 48VT and Converge Pro 2 48VTD.
Collaborate Space
Collaborate Space provides persistent space to store all sorts of media such as messages, documents, whiteboards, recordings, meeting minutes, or anything else exchanged on a specific topic or project during a call or meeting at anytime, and is accessible from any device, whether it be a mobile, desktop, or room appliance.
“Collaborate Space is designed for both realtime and non-realtime communications using any device, which allows teams to collaborate on their own time,” said Bala Krishnamoorthy, ClearOne senior director of product line management, UC & Media Collaboration. “Collaborate Space can interoperate with traditional SIP/H.323 endpoints and supports phone calls. In addition, the solution will be offered as a self-service model, where users can purchase or renew the license and seamlessly manage their collaboration online via the central web management utility.”
Additionally, Collaborate Space allows users to create public or private channels organised by topic, where the owner can invite team members to join, or anyone can view a channel and join without invitation. The users can communicate and collaborate with their channel members.
Available on-cloud or on-premise, Collaborate Space includes a variety of collaboration tools such as screen sharing, document sharing, whiteboarding, co-annotation, meeting minutes, recording and chat, which are all accessible anytime during a call or meeting.
Collaborate Pro
“The new software upgrade redefines the user interface and enhances the user experience with its application-oriented design,” said Krishnamoorthy. “The software upgrade also brings an interactive whiteboard function to the Collaborate Pro 300, Collaborate Pro 600, and Collaborate Pro 900 systems. This upgrade will also be available for free to its current Collaborate Pro customers with valid support and a maintenance contract.”
The Collaborate Pro room system brings cloud video, audio and web conferencing, SIP/H.323 video conferencing, in-room wireless presentation, interactive whiteboard, capture recording, live streaming and more in a single low-cost appliance – all this with a consistent and simple user interface and experience. Collaborate Pro includes professional quality audio endpoints and cameras that are right sized for any collaboration space or need.
For enterprises which have adopted Skype for Business, ClearOne Collaborate Pro enhances the S4B experience in meeting rooms by bringing SIP/H.323 video conferencing, wireless presentation for up to six users, an interactive whiteboard, capture recording, and live streaming with its optional native Skype for Business client.