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LifeSize Communications and LG Electronics have teamed up to create an all-in-one collaboration system, with video and audio conferencing capabilities housed in a 24-inch high-definition display.
LG’s executive conferencing system, announced June 9, is powered by LifeSize’s HD video communications technology, which is integrated into the display.
The system offers point-to-point HD video calls at 720p30 resolution and includes an integrated 720p camera, microphone setup and speakers. The display itself offers 1920-by-1080 resolution, and the system interoperates with a host of unified communications offerings, video communications systems and IP/PBX installations from third-party vendors, including Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco Systems, Microsoft and ShoreTel.
“Our guiding principle with the LG executive conferencing system was to develop an attractive solution that makes communicating with other video users simple,” Jeff Dowell, vice president of digital signage for LG, said in a statement. “The integration of LG HD display technology with LifeSize’s innovative HD video communications technology results in a natural extension of the high-quality, immersive experience of LifeSize room-based and telepresence systems.”
Officials with both companies said the system is easy to set up and deploy, requiring users to connect two cables. Through a LifeSize GUI, the system can easily be switched back and forth between video conferencing and use as a PC monitor, they said.
“As more people recognize the value of video communications to improve collaboration and productivity, audio conference calls are becoming a thing of the past,” LifeSize CEO Craig Malloy said in a statement.
LifeSize was bought by Logitech for $405 million in December 2009.
Businesses are adopting video collaboration products from Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, Polycom, LifeSize and others as a way of increasing productivity, cutting travel costs and deepening collaboration with partners and customers.
LG officials said they expect LG to start shipping the executive conferencing system in the third quarter, with pricing starting at $2,999.