ISE 2020: TEAMS and ZOOM Focus

Integrated Systems Europe is the world’s biggest event for AV professionals, and this year it did not disappoint. Spanning across 15 halls, with over 1,300 exhibitors and 80,000 registered attendees, it was an event that kicked off what is set to be an inspiring year for the industry.

We sent our Technical Director and Sales Engineer to check it out. After a few hours of exploration (during which our poor sales engineer got very turned around!), it was clear to see that the big focus of the event was Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

Microsoft Teams

Poly were heavily promoting a direct Microsoft Teams integration in their Studio X30 Video Bar (single screen) and Studio X50 Video Bar (dual screens). The units are set to release later this year and are highly anticipated as they will be Teams enabled from the box.

Here’s what they had to say about the X30

“Just because your meetings are in small spaces doesn’t mean those meetings aren’t important. Meet the Poly Studio X30, an all-in-one video bar for huddle and small rooms. It’s radically simple to use with support for leading cloud video services built right in — no PC or Mac required. Voices are crisp and clear, thanks to a beamforming microphone array and acoustic chamber design. Built-in, wireless content sharing lets users share from their devices without the need for cables or pucks. Setup, management, and maintenance are all streamlined, too. Say hello to lower IT costs.

• Ideal for rooms of up to six participants
• Compact, lightweight design easily fits on top or underneath display
• Affordable price delivers excellent huddle room performance without breaking the bank”

And here’s what they had to say about the X50

“The Poly Studio X50 video bar delivers radical simplicity in a small, elegant package. In small- and medium-sized rooms, connect easily with whatever video collaboration software you may use. Experience full boardroom-quality audio, advanced camera capabilities, and quick wireless content—all in one sleek video bar. And say goodbye to unnecessary pucks, cords, and cables, along with the PC or Mac to drive the meeting, since the Poly Video OS runs the show. Easy to install, easy to manage.

• Ideal for rooms of up to 10 participants
• Surround everyone with the rich, legendary sound with stereo speakers that deliver immersive, room – filling audio
• Dual monitor support ensures you have the ideal setup for many types of rooms
• Be heard clearly with our next generation microphone array”

Zoom

Zoom was on a mission this year to promote its brand new EMEA HQ in Amsterdam. Top of the agenda: Party Time. Our Sales Engineer went to investigate (nothing to do with the free drinks!)

The party was held at the new HQ, which was about 2km from ISE and had an impressive turn out. Founder and CEO Eric Yuan even made an appearance via Zoom video! The office is a hub for employees and services all around Europe and is set in a beautiful, modern collaborative space. The team were very impressed!

Aside from the festivities, the message was clear this year – Zoom is an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, across mobile devices, desktops, telephones, and room systems.

Seamless integration with hardware was a big theme and one that manufacturers like Poly, Yealink, Crestron and Avocor were keen to emphasise. You can see them in action at our Berkshire demo room.

A particularly strong example of zoom integration was at the Yealink stand, who were keen to promote the CP960-UVC80 Zoom Rooms Kit which is designed for medium and large meeting rooms. It is a complete Zoom Rooms package containing a full hardware suite (mini-PC, camera, audio devices) as well as the requisite software and license.

The Yealink CP960 Conference Phone runs on an Android-based OS and includes a five-inch multi-touch screen for a flawless Zoom Rooms console experience with no need for additional console devices. The inclusion of a pair of Yealink wireless microphones and the utilization of Yealink’s DECT technology enable voice pickup distance of up to 40 feet, allowing every meeting participant to be involved and clearly heard.

The Yealink UVC80 features a 12x optical PTZ camera for sharp, smooth and stable video with a deep focus field. The wide-angle horizontal field-of-view lens and adjustable camera angle provide a broad view of large conference rooms.

But it wasn’t just cloud software at this show, lots of new and improved hardware was also showcased. The recurring themes were curved screens for huddle rooms, high brightness screens for rooms with bright natural light, and modern speaker solutions.

Curved Screens

Samsung were showcasing an extra wide 49” monitor that is perfect for desk or huddle room videoconferencing. The model pictured isn’t yet released but was very exciting for our team, who noted that it was the most promising development in screen technology this year. Definitely one to watch.

High Brightness Screens

Samsung also featured their new OH55F – a 55”, 1920×1080 screen with a brightness of 2500 nit. Optimised for 24/7 operation and indoor/outdoor use. This screen would be perfect for use in rooms with windows that let in a lot of natural light. A little niche but one of those products that solves a very real problem for some installations.

Modern Speaker Solutions

We were on the lookout for modern, stylish and discrete sound options as we have noticed a trend in this type of specification. There were plenty of options available, but our two favourites were the Work Pro SN8 8” pendant speaker and the Cornered Audio C3 and C5 speakers.

The SN8’s were stylish and packed a good punch in terms of sound quality. They looked great independently but also looked impressive in a cluster. Plus, the range comes in a variety of fun colours for the quirkier workspaces.

Cornered C3 and C5 speakers make for a discrete and elegant installation, with a unique 90-degree triangular design. Fits well vertically or horizontally in the corners of rooms or coupled together in a mid-wall position. Available in black, white or brushed aluminium, they make for a professional and interesting design piece in the conference room.

Find out more

If you’d like to find out any more about Zoom or Teams, get in touch and we can arrange a demo at our completely integrated demonstration suite in Berkshire.

If you liked any of the new technology mentioned, please do email hello@videocentric.co.uk and we can discuss sourcing options.