Jabra has unveiled its PanaCast 50 intelligent bar, which it says is the “first video bar certified for Microsoft Intelligent Speaker”.
The Jabra PanaCast 50’s Intelligent Speaker feature boosts meeting productivity by pinpointing speakers in a room and attributing their names to the transcript. This capability bolsters AI-driven productivity tools like Intelligent Meeting Recap and Copilot in Microsoft Teams, as the PanaCast 50 is engineered to maximise transcription accuracy.
Holger Reisinger, SVP Enterprise Solutions at Jabra, said:
AI assistants have the potential to drive significant productivity gains in today’s hybrid workforce, but the right hardware is critical to unlocking the true value of these technologies. Our PanaCast portfolio provides a gateway to these intelligent experiences, and we will continue to enhance our video collaboration devices with AI-powered feature updates to meet the evolving needs of the hybrid workplace.”
The PanaCast 50 video bar is set to be updated with the Microsoft People Recognition functionality. This feature, combined with the device’s 180-degree field of view, ensures that all individuals in the meeting room are captured in high video quality. Microsoft People Recognition recognises and labels in-room participants with their names on their individual videos and the meeting roster, creating a more equitable hybrid meeting experience.
Additionally, the new Multi-stream Dynamic Composition for PanaCast 50 offers a close-up view of meeting room participants by providing individual video streams for each person alongside a panoramic view of the entire meeting room.
Combined, Jabra stresses that Intelligent Speaker, People Recognition, and Multi-Stream Dynamic Composition position the Jabra PanaCast 50 as a comprehensive solution for hybrid meetings with Microsoft Teams, delivering an inclusive and natural experience for all participants.
A broader selection of Jabra professional devices, including the Certified for Microsoft Teams Jabra Speak2 75, is now available. This has recently been updated to support the Intelligent Speaker feature, offering a more seamless meeting experience.
Upgrades To Jabra PanaCast 50 VBS Android Bar
Jabra is introducing improved meeting adaptability with the BYOD mode for the Jabra PanaCast 50 VBS Android collaboration bar.
This feature, available now, allows users to connect their laptops via USB to the PanaCast 50 VBS, utilising its high-quality camera, microphones, and speakers for meetings on various platforms. Jabra stresses that the laptop becomes the in-room computer for the duration of the meeting, ensuring flexibility without compromising audio and video quality.
Further enhancements to the PanaCast 50 VBS include Enhanced Noise Suppression, distinguishing human voices from disruptive background noises like typing and paper rustling, and ensuring professional sound quality for remote participants.
Additionally, new composition features for Teams Rooms and Zoom Rooms enhance the inclusivity of meetings, such as “Single-stream Dynamic Composition for Teams Rooms”, which provides a close-up view of recent speakers and a panoramic view of the room. Lastly, Multi-Stream Dynamic Composition for Zoom Rooms offers real-time individual video feeds for each in-room participant, supporting up to six streams, including a full room view and five close-ups.
Jabra+ For Admins
Jabra+ for admins is the vendor’s latest cloud-based, API-first software platform, designed for the remote monitoring and management of meeting rooms.
It provides users with a clear visual overview of rooms, locations, and devices, allowing for seamless monitoring and management of all Jabra meeting room solutions. As a unified software platform, Jabra+ for admins will eventually integrate with IT help desk systems and third-party tools, creating a thorough ecosystem for device management. This simplifies the process of updating devices, customising headsets, or integrating with Jabra devices by engaging with a single system.
Jabra+ for admins meeting room management will be available by the end of June, and personal device management is expected to follow later in the year.
Jabra Releases Updates to Elite 8 Active and Elite 10
Earlier this year, Jabra launched its Elite 8 Active and Elite 10 wireless earbuds.
Jabra has announced a series of “experience-enhancing” updates for its latest Elite wireless earbuds. These updates include a new toggle feature for Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), HearThrough, and Sidetone settings, adding voice tone prompts, and customising the device name for a more personalised touch. These enhancements improve user experience by offering greater control and customisation options.
