The 2.2-pound device has a touchscreen, speakers and a camera shutter for privacy.
Microsoft Teams: a cheat sheet
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about the Microsoft Teams chat-based communication and collaboration platform.
If you need a special screen for your video conferences, ThinkSmart View from Lenovo has a new device for you. The ThinkSmart View is a working version of the Google Nest Hub for connection with colleagues.
The device is powered by Qualcomm’s APQ8053 system-on-chip and works with Microsoft Teams Rooms. Microsoft has recently converted Skype Room Systems into Teams Rooms for the Teams platform.
The device has an 8-inch touchscreen, full-range speakers, built-in cameras and microphones, a camera shutter and a mute switch. It is Bluetooth compatible for pairing with headsets. It has 2 GB of memory and 8 GB of eMMC storage and weighs 2.2 pounds. Users can join a meeting with one touch.
Creston, Yealink, HP, Logitech and Polycom also offer special devices for video conferencing.
According to Gartner, the global market for social software and collaboration in the workplace is expected to grow to $ 4.8 billion in 2023 from about $ 2.7 billion in 2018.
Slack is still the market leader for collaboration software, but Teams is catching up. According to a survey by the market research firm ETR, the share of large organizations that planned to use Slack in the following quarter fell slightly to 33% in mid-2019, while Teams rose to 65%. Teams are usually bundled with Office, making it easy to choose that collaboration platform.
SEE: Microsoft Teams: a cheat sheet (free PDF)
Joseph Mingori, general manager of Lenovo Smart Office, said smart office technology allows companies to build a more flexible workplace.
“Working with an ecosystem of partners is crucial for strengthening end-users and enabling closer collaboration around the world,” he said in a press release.
Lenovo also launches the ThinkSmart Manager console that allows IT departments to implement and manage ThinkSmart devices remotely. The console offers real-time status on individual devices and generates usage reports.
The ThinkSmart View is $ 349 or $ 449 with a Bluetooth headset. The View and the Manager are available at the end of January 2020.
Best of the week newsletter
Our editors emphasize the TechRepublic articles, galleries and videos that you absolutely should not miss to stay up to date with the latest IT news, innovations and tips.
Fridays
Register today
Also see
The Lenovo ThinkSmart is a special screen for video conferencing with a touchscreen, built-in speakers and microphones and Bluetooth connectivity.
Image: Lenovo
