Business Info - issue 139

businessinfomag.uk magazine 14 APP UPDATE No bar to quality Plantronics launches first Polycom video solution for huddle rooms for two to six people Plantronics is entering the huddle room video market with the introduction of a portable, plug and play video bar designed to convert small meeting rooms into collaboration centres. The Polycom Studio is aimed at any company in which employees use a PC or Mac for video collaboration with services like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, Google Meet, CiscoWebex or Amazon Chime. A simple USB connection enables two to six people gathered in a small meeting room to benefit from boardroom quality HD audio and 4K video, with advanced features like NoiseBlock and Acoustic Fence technologies that reduce or eliminate background noise; automatic speaker tracking that focuses in on whoever is speaking within a 120-degree field of view; and a 5x electronic zoom. Research and Market estimates that just 2% of the 32 million huddles rooms for two to six people worldwide have equipment for video conferencing (source: Global Video Conferencing in Huddle Rooms Market 2018-2022 – Looking Beyond the Hype) . Commenting on the Polycom Studio, Ira M.Weinstein, managing partner at analyst firm Recon Research, said: “Enterprises around the world have come to understand the strategic importance of their smaller meeting spaces. In fact, we expect the number of AV-enabled huddle rooms to increase by 15% in the next 12-24 months. With the release of Polycom Studio, Polycom can finally bring its decades of experience in high quality video and audio to smaller rooms with lower budgets. Based on our initial testing, we think Polycom Studio will meet the expectations of even the most discerning huddle room users.” In designing the product, Plantronics has also paid attention to the needs of IT managers. Unlike most USB products that give IT departments little or no visibility into what is being used or any means of managing or updating a device, Polycom Studio connects wirelessly to a corporate network, giving IT professionals ‘no touch’ management of Polycom Studio units across a few huddle rooms, a large campus, or offices around the world. Customers can manage Polycom Studio video bars, along with other Polycom devices, through the cloud with the Polycom Device Management Service for Enterprise or on premises with Polycom RealPresence Resource Manager. No fix, no fee Wiztek has launched an on demand, ‘no fix, no fee’ tech support service for small businesses, business travellers and the self- employed. Accessed by smartphone app or web browser, the 24/7 service puts users in touch with a community of user-rated tech experts offering free consultations by audio, video or chat. Fees for fixing a hardware or software problem start at just £4.90. https://wiztek.com Speakap tackles always on work culture Internal communications platform and social network Speakap is addressing the problem of stress caused by today’s ‘always on’ work culture with a new ‘Do Not Disturb’ feature that allows employees to disconnect outside office hours. Speakap users can turn on the ‘Do Not Disturb’ feature using an iOS/Android app or desktop computer/laptop and schedule start and end times to prevent unwanted interruptions during important events and holidays.When the feature is turned on, a red badge will appear next to the user’s profile image to indicate to other Speakap users that they are in ‘Do Not Disturb’ APP UPDATE mode and may not immediately read/ respond to messages, company updates, comments etc.. Speakap’s open API for integrating other software packages means that businesses can extend the ‘Do Not Disturb’ functionality to HR, CRM, payroll and other applications. www.speakap.com Email alternative NOS Microsystems is encouraging people to ditch email and use its get2Clouds privacy app instead. The cost-free, ad-free, multi-platform app provides a secure alternative to company email, securing every communication and large file transfer with advanced encryption. The app enables users to chat in an encrypted messenger; send large files via the chat or a separate file transfer button; and encrypt data in their cloud, making public clouds a safe storage place. Users can also secure and send files via their network attached storage (NAS), effectively turning their NAS into their own private cloud. Instead of an email address, users of get2Clouds are automatically assigned a 555 number, which they can change to their phone number or to another 555 number. There is also the option of a dual profile with two numbers. www.nosltd.com Even more Speedy Tools and equipment hire company Speedy has launched a mobile app so that customers can use their mobile device to view products and pricing, find depots and hire and buy products for collection or delivery. The app supports complete end-to-end transactions, including the company’s Capital Commitment, which promises customers same-day delivery on selected products if ordered before 3pm (or within 4 hours if within the M25). As part of the launch, and for a limited period, Speedy is donating 1% of every digital transaction undertaken through the app to its charity partners WellChild and the Lighthouse Club. www.speedyservices.com/app Wiztek Speakap Plantronics The Polycom Studio ISSUE 139