Logitech has announced its new BYOD single-cable solution, Extend, to simplify video meetings and improve interoperability.
Logitech Extend is pitched as an easy-to-use, single-cable (Bring Your Own Device) BYOD solution designed for Android- and BYOD-based meeting rooms. According to the vendor, Extend enables users to quickly enter a meeting room and initiate a meeting from their laptop or mobile device using a USB-C cable.
Holly Zhou, Head of Product Marketing, Team Workspaces, at Logitech, wrote in an announcement blog:
All things should be this simple: With Extend, use the USB-C cable to quickly plug in a laptop or mobile device and share content or run video meetings from that device without the need to install additional drivers or software. This means employees and visitors can bring their own laptops to connect to the in-room video conferencing system and display without worrying about platform compatibility, adapters or the need to install anything."
Logitech Extend is priced at $799 and will be available starting in November through Logitech and its authorised resellers.
More Specifics On Logitech Extend
Logitech states that users can set up this two-box solution with category cabling to provide BYOD connectivity up to 100 meters when using the Rally Bar Family and other Logitech conference cameras. In rooms configured for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android or Zoom Rooms Appliances, this setup lets the host temporarily bypass the default video provider.
Logitech suggests that users can connect to conduct meetings in BYOD rooms without a designated provider using the in-room conference camera and display. Microsoft Teams desktop users can leverage Logitech Extend with shared display mode to enhance their meetings and collaboration sessions directly from their laptops.
A standard USB-C power supply can be added to the table-side hub to charge users' laptops or mobile devices with up to 100W of power delivery through the USB-C cable. IT teams can monitor connectivity status and deploy updates to Logitech Extend via Logitech Sync remote management software. Additionally, Extend can be updated using Zoom Device Management and Microsoft Teams Admin Center as part of the Rally Bar family CollabOS updates.
Logitech Extend and Addressing the Interoperability Issue
Logitech explains the Extend solution originated as a way to address the interoperability problems of being a multi-platform organisation or when a visitor arrives at the company's offices and struggles to join a Zoom meeting from a Teams Room, for example. As well as Extend, Logitech partnered with Microsoft and Zoom to release Direct Guest Join on both Windows and Android. It also built "Swytch", a BYOD solution ideal for PC-based room solutions for users who prefer to bring their own laptop.
Logitech suggests that the ability to choose between Extend, Swytch, and Direct Guest Join solves any interoperability issues users might encounter.
