Zoom has seen a surge in usage ever since the COVID-19 pandemic led to more users relying on remote conferencing solutions. The company addressed early security concerns by constantly improving the offering’s privacy and features. The firm also launched a hardware subscription service in collaboration with hardware partners to cater to the needs of businesses.
Now, the company is launching a standalone 27-inch all-in-one touch-enabled device for “home communication” in partnership with DTEN. The device is called the ‘Zoom for Home – DTEN ME’ and comes with Zoom software out of the box. The device aims to make it easy for users to set up and use Zoom meetings right from their homes, as it provides easy access to the service’s popular features.
As for the device itself, it runs DTEN OS and comes with a three-camera setup that provides a combined field of vision of 160 degrees. It also comes equipped with an eight-microphone array and integrated stereo speakers, making it a potent conference system. As for connectivity, the device sports an HDMI port and an RJ45 Ethernet port while also supporting Wi-Fi. The device also lets users link their calendars, which then serves meeting schedules in the left bar on the device dashboard.
Interestingly, TechCrunch reports that the system also supports “ultrasonic pairing” for screen sharing between the laptop or mobile phone. However, the product listing on DTEN’s website does not mention the feature. Jeff Smith, head of Zoom Rooms, said in a statement to TechCrunch:
Zoom for Home is an initiative from Zoom that allows any Zoom user to deploy a personal collaboration device for their video meetings, phone calls, interactive whiteboard annotation — all the good stuff that you want to do on Zoom, you can do with a dedicated purpose-built device.
Pre-orders for the DTEN ME are now live, with the asking price set at $599. Smith added that Zoom will be launching the Neat Bar and Poly Studio X as well, and will be adding more partners for its dedicated systems.