Today, Logitech for Business introduced Logitech Mobile Speakerphone P710e to support high-quality audio and video conferencing on mobile devices.
Much like Unify’s (formerly Siemens Enterprise) “new way to work” mantra, Logitech is adopting “the new office” tagline. This new office supports mobile workers who are working from home, on the road or even in the office with their own devices.
Mobile UC market on the rise?
While traditional hardware vendors like Cisco are becoming increasingly software-centric this year, unified communications vendors like Logitech are hanging onto their hardware roots and capitalizing on the computer peripheral market, particularly mobile device peripherals.
A few years ago, HP and a few others struggled with making tablets work. However, today’s Gartner statistics see a spike in tablet shipments. In addition, ComputerWeekly reports 31% of companies are adopting choose-your-own-device policies (CYOD), compared with 17% of companies with complete bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies. Logitech hopes to translate this renewed mobile UC market focus into bring-your-own-peripheral (BYOP) market sales.
“Our keyboard case for iPads is our largest seller,” said Alan Smith, senior global product manager for audio products at Logitech for Business.
Logitech improves mobile user experience
Since mobile devices have notoriously poor audio quality, especially on speaker, a mobile speakerphone may be desirable for employees looking to conference on the go. The speakerphone has a noise cancelling microphone and dual EQ. It also acts as a docking station for all USB- or Bluetooth-enabled devices. It can maintain two active devices and pair up to eight devices at a time using Near Field Communication (NFC) pairing.
“It provides a steady place to put your device for better user experience for the person on the other end of the call,” Smith said.
While audio quality is the main focus of the portable speakerphone, the added benefit of a docking station might be a huge sell for anyone who has ever tried to hold a mobile phone through the duration of a video conference. Not only would your arm thank you for an alternative resting place, but your coworkers would be grateful for not making them dizzy.
To make the speakerphone mobile friendly, the device comes with a carrying case and 15 hours of battery life – suitable for a two-day trip or a manager’s longest conference-call-filled work day.
The Logitech Mobile Speakerphone P710e ships next month for a suggested price of $169.99.
