Jabra makes hybrid meetings even cosier

KUALA LUMPUR, 5 Oct 2023:

DANISH office audio-video solutions firm Jabra has launched the enhanced version of its teleconferencing device with the Jabra PanaCast 50 Video Bar System – a plug-n-play package that sets up within minutes and doesn’t need an external laptop computer to operate.

While this enhanced package may seem a retrograde to previous teleconferencing offers dating back to the 1990s, Jabra’s Malaysia and Singapore sales head Patrick Khor explained this standalone package was among the most requested by its customers in the medium- to large-sized outfits.

“It isn’t always convenient to bring the participants’ computers to meeting rooms, especially if it also has sensitive data. Lots of instant messages can also pop up on computer screens and disrupt the meetings. Plus, groups can swap out of meeting rooms faster when there’s a high demand, which is fast becoming a common need today.”

Unlike the Panacast 50 videoconferencing device, the latest enhancement integrates a 10.1-inch touch controller to seamlessly manage the meeting experience – this system natively and securely runs Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android or Zoom Rooms.

“Because of the integration, you can’t just get the console to link up to the Panacast 50 device,” Khor explained. “Both solutions are designed to run separately.”

Providing a wider perspective with its 180° field-of-view, the system also can link up to double monitors seamlessly. Audio is handled via four speakers in a stereo setup and a total of eight professional-grade microphones with voice detection and intelligent algorithms.

Such smart features allows this Jabra system to fully present some of the latest videoconferencing enhancements like the Virtual Director, Intelligent Zoom and Dynamic Composition – such that remote participants find their focus automatically pointed to the main presentation, rather than having to guess from an unchanging imagery.

Khor said demand for the PanaCast devices had shot up in recent times, having been initially launched in 2021, as hybrid working trends continue in the post-pandemic era. “Communication needs have changed. Automatic transcripts, whiteboard discussion captures and other productivity-enhancing features have become critical time-savers to improve productivity.”