Cisco has officially announced the launch of new purpose-built, multifunctional devices that will deliver modernized collaboration experiences to today’s hybrid workforce. According to certain reports, the development in question will introduce two overarching innovations in the form of Cisco Board Pro G2 and Cisco Desk Phone 9800 Series. Starting from the former, as an AI-fueled and touch-enabled collaboration device, the Cisco Board Pro G2 basically leverages the collective power of team collaboration using a multifunctional AI-powered room device designed for a range of small and medium-sized workspaces, including huddle spaces, meeting rooms, classrooms and more. Talk about the product on a slightly deeper level, it markedly comes decked up with an ability to offer inclusive and expanded views. In fact, thus far, the Board Pro G2 is the only collaboration board that features an intelligent 96-megapixel dual-lens camera system. As a result, remote participants can expect better views of people in the room no matter whether they are working close-up to the board or further away. Complimenting the same is a new AI virtual zoom capability which uses advanced image processing to extend camera reach in longer rooms without compromising video quality. Next up, there are advanced AI-powered capabilities in play that provide optimized camera views and enhanced audio. Beyond that, the device also features an NVIDIA chipset and computing engine, a combination which enable the device to deliver clearer video quality, improved performance, and better capacity to run web applications. Furthermore, the Board Pro G2 hands to you an all-in-one design that allows IT and facilities teams to standardize deployments and scale faster. The reason why this is such a significant detail is concerned with how most other solutions are limited to be used as companion devices for video conferencing systems, and therefore, lack peripheral connectivity and require camera extensions.
Turning our attention towards Cisco Desk Phone 9800 Series, it conceives for us a personalized brand of productivity at any desk. This involves providing a facility to reserve desks in advance and use wayfinding to locate them. You see, employees can reserve a desk in Cisco Spaces or scan a QR code to check-in, view contacts and call history and connect to their calendar to seamlessly join any meeting at the touch of a button. On top of it, the feature also equips all phones with a quick-access action button that can be customized as per organization needs across IT support, emergency calls and more. Joining the same is a promise of simplified and seamless user experiences where Cisco’s newly-released PhoneOS software helps customers transition between desks and RoomOS-powered meeting spaces without compromising the efficiency of their operation.
Hold on, there is more, considering we still haven’t touched on the series’ enterprise-grade security, which helps customers avail secure log-in protections, as well as end-to-end encryption for meetings and calls, through Trusted Platform Module 2.0 hardware. Another bit of information we cannot go without mentioning is rooted in the product’s sustainability. Going by the claims, Cisco Desk Phone 9800 Series is made using 74% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics. The product line is also given new low power modes to ensure optimal energy efficiency. More on the energy part would reveal a Control Hub, which is there to tell you all about energy usage and carbon emission. In case that wasn’t enough of a testimony for its sustainability, then we must mention how two phones in this series have already received EnergyStar certification, with complete certification of the series expected to arrive this year.
