How to Enable Rooms for multi platforms (Zoom Rooms, Teams, & others)

Within the past year, the Video Call has become indispensible.

In fact, I feel it has become as important as a voice call. With many users coming back to the office flexibility is key.

Many times, people ask us for room system which can run any platform with the simplicity and ease of use of a Zoom Room. To simplify things, big companies could make it easier for end users, but unfortunately, that is not the case. So here is a current state of the market to run multiplatform rooms systems

Option 1: Wireless USB Sharing

Three companies today offer the ability to walk into a room and allow users to share their laptop wirelessly to the room system. In most cases you install an application on your laptop which allows you to connect a desktop app like Teams or Zoom to the installed room camera and audio:

• Barco Click Share CX Series (Link: CX Series)
• Mersive Conference – (link: Mersive conference)
• Biamp Modena (Formerly HRT)

Each wireless sharing system requires a few steps to get a call running once the application is installed.

Option 2: Logitech Swytch

If your organization runs PC (or Mac) based room solutions a Logitech Swytch can be added. The Swytch allows a user to connect their laptop to the room system. It bypasses the installed PC based room system and switches over to the laptop.

In our testing of the Swytch we noticed it required Display Link Drivers and would only show on a single display in a dual monitor room.

So far it is one of the better options on the market today.

Honorable mention: the Crestron Flex MX line allows a similar functionality to bring a laptop to the room and run alterative platforms on the room system.

Option 3: Unlocked Conference Room PC

Over the years we have steered clients away from this due to a variety of reasons. Although at the end of the day the users just want to hop on to any platform, so we are back to operating a desktop system with a wireless keyboard/mouse. It works, but it can provide an inconsistent user experience as it allows different users to change the setup and leave the system in disarray for the next user.

Option 4: Cloud conversion gateways

Once again, I feel like this is a step back in time to the world of hardware-based codecs. Cloud application-based services like Pexip allow you to bridge into the world of Teams, Google & H.323/SIP (which can also get you into Zoom with a cloud connector).

Option 5: Current Room System

Make do with current room system interoperability. Currently both Teams and Zoom allow their room system to do some inter platform calling. To say the least it has been challenging to get a consistent user experience in our office. Each system has its own caveats and ad-hoc calling is not an option.

In all honesty ...

I feel the users wants an easy way to switch between platforms. We do it on our mobile devices all the time without issue, but not we have companies trying to hold their user’s hostage to their platform and recommended hardware. Reminds me of the days of hardware-based codecs and frustrated user experiences.