Cisco Announces New Multifunctional Collaboration Devices for Hybrid Work

News Summary:

    --  New Cisco Devices bring seamless collaboration to every corner of the
        office, providing customers with increased choice and flexibility in how
        they work.
    --  Cisco Board Pro G2 provides optimized camera views and AI-powered
        collaboration features that enhance hybrid teamwork.
    --  Cisco Desk Phone 9800 Series empowers customers with the ability to turn
        any desk into a personalized workspace.

ORLANDO, Fla., March 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- At Enterprise Connect, Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today unveiled new purpose-built, multifunctional devices that deliver modernized collaboration experiences to today's hybrid workforce. The company announced the launch of the Cisco Board Pro G2, an AI-fueled and touch-enabled collaboration device and Cisco Desk Phone 9800 Series, designed to bring a modern and personalized productivity hub to any desk.

While research finds that employees are increasingly open to coming to the office, over 50% of employers and employees do not think the office is equipped with the technology needed to power meaningful collaboration at scale. The Cisco Board Pro G2 and Cisco Desk Phone 9800 series are the company's latest innovations designed to support organizations as they transition into permanent hybrid models and reconfigure workspaces to enable seamless collaboration.

"Cisco is expanding our portfolio of collaboration devices to deliver modern experiences to every corner of the office -- from individual workspaces, to meeting rooms of all sizes and configurations," said Jeetu Patel, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Cisco Security and Collaboration. "With AI built in from the ground up, our voice and video devices are changing what's possible for hybrid workers, delivering tangible outcomes that matter."

Cisco Board Pro G2
In this era of hybrid work, people expect workspaces to be equipped with everything needed for rich and engaging Distance Zero collaboration experiences. The new Cisco Board Pro G2 harnesses the collective power of team collaboration with its multifunctional, AI-powered room device designed for a range of small and medium-sized workspaces, including huddle spaces, meeting rooms, classrooms and more. This all-in-one, touch-enabled meeting and collaboration Board provides equitable experiences for everyone joining a meeting -- whether they're sitting around the table in a long meeting room, using the device for ideation or presentations or joining remotely. The Cisco Board Pro G2 also provides:

    --  Inclusive and expanded views: The Board Pro G2 is the only collaboration
        board that features an intelligent 96-megapixel dual-lens camera system.
        Remote participants get better views of people in the room whether they
        are working close-up to the board or further away. A new AI virtual zoom
        capability uses advanced image processing to extend camera reach in
        longer rooms without compromising video quality. Additionally, new
        multi-stream layouts in Webex Meetings allow people to see an overview
        of the entire room plus a close-up of the active speaker at the same
        time.
    --  Advanced, AI-powered capabilities: In addition to providing optimized
        camera views and enhanced audio, an NVIDIA chipset and computing engine
        enable the device with clearer video quality, improved performance and
        better capacity to run web applications.
    --  Flexible collaboration: Customers have the flexibility to use this
        device for a range of collaborative workflows, with the ability to use
        the device for seamless video conferencing, interactive annotation and
        digital whiteboarding -- including Microsoft Teams Rooms certification
        for Microsoft, Miro, Mural and Webex visual collaboration applications.
    --  Simplified deployment and scalability: Unlike other solutions limited to
        be used as companion devices to video conferencing systems while lacking
        peripheral connectivity and requiring camera extensions, the Board Pro
        G2 features an all-in-one design that allows IT and facilities teams to
        standardize deployments and scale faster. Powered by the RoomOS secure
        operating system, it natively supports Cisco Rooms and Microsoft Teams
        Rooms on the same device to provide organizations with the flexibility
        to select their platform experience.

Cisco Desk Phone 9800 Series
To accommodate the flexible workstyles and schedules of today's hybrid and transient workforce, offices have evolved from traditional layouts in which employees are assigned cubicle desks to open floorplans with shared desk spaces. The Cisco Desk Phone 9800 Series was designed with this modernized office landscape in mind, with a goal to deliver seamless, personalized collaboration experiences that have the flexibility to run on-prem or on a cloud calling platform. In addition to bringing enterprise calling features such as premium audio and AI-powered noise removal to every desk, the 9800 series provides:

    --  Personalized productivity at any desk: With the ability to reserve desks
        in advance and use wayfinding to locate them, the 9800 series delivers
        an end-to-end personalized experience. Employees can reserve a desk in
        Cisco Spaces or scan a QR code to check-in, view contacts and call
        history and connect to their calendar to seamlessly join any meeting at
        the touch of a button. The phones are also equipped with a quick-access
        action button that can be customized for evolving organization needs
        spanning IT support, emergency calls and more.
    --  Enterprise-grade security: Customers benefit from secure log-in
        protections as well as end-to-end encryption for meetings and calls with
        the help of Trusted Platform Module 2.0 hardware for secure encryption,
        an industry first for enterprise phones.
    --  Simplified and seamless user experiences: Based on over 20 years of
        experience and 100M units shipped, we've created a sleek, modern take on
        a classic and familiar design. With Cisco's newly released PhoneOS
        software, customers can seamlessly transition between desks and
        RoomOS-powered meeting spaces without compromising the quality of their
        experience.
    --  Simplified manageability: The 9800 series reduces deployment and
        manageability complexities by providing IT admins and facilities with a
        single device for desk reservation and enterprise calling - delivering a
        more connected, manageable and affordable solution. The series also has
        zero touch provisioning and increased visibility to easily identify and
        troubleshoot issues with ThousandEyes.
    --  Product sustainability: Cisco Desk Phone 9800 Series are our most
        sustainable enterprise desk phones, comprised of more than 74%
        post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics. They are also equipped with new
        low power modes to ensure optimal energy efficiency, as well as energy
        usage and carbon emission insights available in Control Hub. In
        addition, two phones in this series have received EnergyStar
        certification, with complete certification of the series expected this
        year.

Both Board Pro G2 and Cisco Desk Phone Series 9800 integrate with Cisco Spaces and Control Hub, simplifying IT management and providing insights that enable IT and corporate real estate teams to make informed workplace technology investment decisions. Please see here and here for more information and availability info.

About Cisco
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that securely connects everything to make anything possible. Our purpose is to power an inclusive future for all by helping our customers reimagine their applications, power hybrid work, secure their enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their sustainability goals. Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X at @Cisco.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks.

About Webex by Cisco
Webex is a leading provider of cloud-based collaboration solutions which includes video meetings, calling, messaging, events, polling, asynchronous video and customer experience solutions like contact center and purpose-built collaboration devices. Webex's focus on delivering inclusive collaboration experiences fuels our innovation, which leverages AI and Machine Learning, to remove the barriers of geography, language, personality, and familiarity with technology. Its solutions are underpinned with security and privacy by design. Webex works with the world's leading business and productivity apps - delivered through a single application and interface. Learn more at webex.com.

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SOURCE Cisco Systems, Inc.