May 23, 2023

From desk to boardroom: What to expect from Cisco’s new device range

Matt McAuley
Collaboration Specialist

Hello? Can you hear me? In our last blog we explored how the partnership between Cisco and Microsoft uncovers the secret to better remote collaboration. Now, we want to take a closer look at how this works for the modern hybrid team.

In today’s modern workplace, flexible collaboration is increasingly important. Gone are the days when collaborating with your team meant sitting in an office talking across desks, meeting for coffee in the kitchen, or discussing a project over a bite to eat. The modern workplace is no longer strictly limited to the office, or on site with a client – it’s now wherever your device is.

With the rise of remote work and virtual meetings, it’s important to have the right collaboration tools to bring teams together seamlessly – no matter where they are working from.

Enter Cisco’s new range of collaboration hardware, now certified for Microsoft Teams.  It’s designed to raise the bar for user experience. Featuring native integration of Microsoft Teams, Webex, and Zoom, the Cisco R&D team set out to erase some of the common stress points of online meetings while creating a sense of togetherness that’s been lacking. We looked at three of the key tools to see what they can offer.

Cisco Desk Pro

Perfect for connecting smaller groups working together on projects.

 With a 27-inch, 4K display, the Cisco Desk Pro is aimed at small groups who might’ve once squeezed around a laptop or occupied separate meeting rooms to join that important virtual gathering. The anti-glare touchscreen connects easily to your laptop via USB-C, and features an advanced noise cancelling mic, three directional speakers, and a subwoofer. The Desk Pro’s 71-degree FOV 12 Megapixel camera captures individuals and small groups with impressive picture quality.

Cisco Board Pro

Perfect for brainstorming, meetings with any sized groups, and visual co-creation.

Described as the ‘ultimate room device for hybrid teamwork’, the Cisco Board Pro comes in a choice of 55-inch and 75-inch screen sizes, stand mounted, to fit medium and larger spaces. With 4Kp60 UHD screen resolution, the clarity makes it feel as though remote meeting attendees are in the room. It’s easy to deploy right out of the box – no technician needed. There are plentiful smart customisation options, such as digital signage, visitor management, and occupancy alerts, as well as environmental data to support safety and well-being.

The Cisco Board Pro is far from an average touchscreen. Your team can draw, annotate, and share feedback using the two responsive active whiteboard styluses, alongside remote participants who can simultaneously contribute their ideas. It’s compatible with the usual preferred whiteboard apps such as Webex Whiteboard, Microsoft Whiteboard, Miro, and Mural, creating an infinite digital whiteboard.

Cisco Room Bar

Perfect for presentations, larger groups, and whole of business meetings.

From native video collaboration without a laptop, to BYOD via USB passthrough, the all-in-one Cisco Room Bar does it all. This handy room device features built-in microphones, a 4K camera, powerful codec, crystal clear stereo speakers, and a wide choice of connectivity options – all while supporting the display of your choice. It wakes up the moment you enter the room; a tap or a single voice command will have you joining your Microsoft Teams, Webex, or Zoom meeting in moments. It even uses AI-powered face recognition to identify participants, so you won’t ever trip up on names mid-meeting.

The designers built in plenty of smart features, including intelligent people framing and image cropping, so that everyone in the meeting has an equal presence. Smart speaker tracking automatically ensures that the active speaker is in view, while the 120-degree camera means you won’t all have to cram together, and nobody is missing from view at the edge of the room. The noise-cancelling microphone uses AI to remove background noise.  There’s also an option to connect an external mic to catch speakers at the far end of the longest boardroom table.

Next steps?

Whether it’s a weekly team catch-up, brainstorming a new product, or presenting annual results, organisations that promote collaboration are five times as likely to be high-performing – so raising your collaboration game is a worthwhile endeavour.

As both a Gold Certified Cisco Partner and Cisco’s ANZ Partner of the Year 2022, the Data#3 team are well equipped to help you bring more choice, flexibility, and capabilities to your collaboration solutions. We combine consulting, technical expertise, industry partnerships, and Cisco’s market-leading technology to give our customers an edge when it comes to navigating the complexity of the digital era.

Book a demo with a Data#3 Collaboration Specialist to find out how you can be the first to deploy the Teams experience you know, on Cisco collaboration devices you’ll love.