Monday, March 26th 2012
Logitech Introduces the All-in-One Audio and Video ConferenceCam
Logitech today introduced a new product category for unified communications (UC) and Web conferencing: the all-in-one audio and video ConferenceCam. The Logitech BCC950 ConferenceCam is the first communications tool to combine a full HD webcam with a high-quality, omni-directional full-duplex speakerphone in one USB device, enabling small groups to collaborate in conference rooms, closed offices or shared work spaces.
The BCC950 ConferenceCam features a full HD webcam with motorized pan, tilt and zoom for easily bringing everyone into the picture - either from a control pad on the device or with a convenient remote control. The control pad or the remote can also used to answer calls, end calls, adjust the volume and mute the microphone.Optimized for Microsoft Lync and Skype Certified, the BCC950 ConferenceCam works with most UC and video platforms. With a wide 78-degree field of view and 180-degree video pan, support for 1080p, 30fps HD through plug-and-play UVC H.264 video technology, and a speakerphone that allows everyone in a meeting to hear and be heard clearly from up to eight feet away, the ConferenceCam helps remove the pain point of groups clustering around a computer to be seen and understood during UC calls. Weighing only 20 ounces, the ConferenceCam can be carried easily around an office, allowing for spontaneous meetings anywhere users can place a computer.
"The power of unified communications is driving collaboration across multiple locations and multiple devices, giving people the flexibility to work together wherever they are," said Giovanni Mezgec, general manager for Lync at Microsoft Corp. "The Logitech BCC950 ConferenceCam expands the benefits of UC in the enterprise by providing a simple-to-install, high-quality solution for small-group meetings."
"We have a number of remote workers who value face-to-face time with their colleagues in the office, but we haven't had an appropriate tool for small-group video meetings," said Jim Hayes, IT operations manager for 24HourFlex, an employee benefits solutions provider in Aurora, Colo. "We've been testing pre-production units of the Logitech BCC950 ConferenceCam for more than a month and it's proved to be an ideal solution for this bottleneck. We can now quickly and easily add audio and video conferencing to any room with an affordable device that doesn't compromise on call quality."
The Logitech BCC950 ConferenceCam is ideal for meetings of one to four or more people, whether in conference rooms or individual offices. A high-quality webcam sensor and Logitech RightLight 2 technology improve visual quality in low light and backlit situations, while a razor-sharp Carl Zeiss lens and the camera's autofocus feature allow sharing of detailed documents and other visuals up close, without losing image quality.
"The workplace is rapidly evolving toward smaller and more virtual teams, yet communication tools have not kept pace," said Eric Kintz, vice president and general manager of Logitech for Business. "In looking at the needs of our customers, we saw a gap in solutions that bring audio and videoconferencing to small groups. The Logitech BCC950 ConferenceCam fills that gap by combining a webcam and speakerphone into a single affordable device - transforming PCs and Macs into communications platforms, so businesses can set up more locations for small-group meetings."
Pricing and Availability
The Logitech BCC950 ConferenceCam is expected to be available worldwide beginning in May 2012, for a price of $249.99, from resellers who specialize in the business-to-business market. The product will not be offered by consumer electronics retailers. For more information on the Logitech BCC950 ConferenceCam and other Logitech products for business, please visit www.logitech.com/business or our blog.
The BCC950 ConferenceCam features a full HD webcam with motorized pan, tilt and zoom for easily bringing everyone into the picture - either from a control pad on the device or with a convenient remote control. The control pad or the remote can also used to answer calls, end calls, adjust the volume and mute the microphone.Optimized for Microsoft Lync and Skype Certified, the BCC950 ConferenceCam works with most UC and video platforms. With a wide 78-degree field of view and 180-degree video pan, support for 1080p, 30fps HD through plug-and-play UVC H.264 video technology, and a speakerphone that allows everyone in a meeting to hear and be heard clearly from up to eight feet away, the ConferenceCam helps remove the pain point of groups clustering around a computer to be seen and understood during UC calls. Weighing only 20 ounces, the ConferenceCam can be carried easily around an office, allowing for spontaneous meetings anywhere users can place a computer.
"The power of unified communications is driving collaboration across multiple locations and multiple devices, giving people the flexibility to work together wherever they are," said Giovanni Mezgec, general manager for Lync at Microsoft Corp. "The Logitech BCC950 ConferenceCam expands the benefits of UC in the enterprise by providing a simple-to-install, high-quality solution for small-group meetings."
"We have a number of remote workers who value face-to-face time with their colleagues in the office, but we haven't had an appropriate tool for small-group video meetings," said Jim Hayes, IT operations manager for 24HourFlex, an employee benefits solutions provider in Aurora, Colo. "We've been testing pre-production units of the Logitech BCC950 ConferenceCam for more than a month and it's proved to be an ideal solution for this bottleneck. We can now quickly and easily add audio and video conferencing to any room with an affordable device that doesn't compromise on call quality."
The Logitech BCC950 ConferenceCam is ideal for meetings of one to four or more people, whether in conference rooms or individual offices. A high-quality webcam sensor and Logitech RightLight 2 technology improve visual quality in low light and backlit situations, while a razor-sharp Carl Zeiss lens and the camera's autofocus feature allow sharing of detailed documents and other visuals up close, without losing image quality.
"The workplace is rapidly evolving toward smaller and more virtual teams, yet communication tools have not kept pace," said Eric Kintz, vice president and general manager of Logitech for Business. "In looking at the needs of our customers, we saw a gap in solutions that bring audio and videoconferencing to small groups. The Logitech BCC950 ConferenceCam fills that gap by combining a webcam and speakerphone into a single affordable device - transforming PCs and Macs into communications platforms, so businesses can set up more locations for small-group meetings."
Pricing and Availability
The Logitech BCC950 ConferenceCam is expected to be available worldwide beginning in May 2012, for a price of $249.99, from resellers who specialize in the business-to-business market. The product will not be offered by consumer electronics retailers. For more information on the Logitech BCC950 ConferenceCam and other Logitech products for business, please visit www.logitech.com/business or our blog.
2 Comments on Logitech Introduces the All-in-One Audio and Video ConferenceCam
Just buy a decent HD webcam and a nice USB studio microphone.