Tag Archive for: UC

Jabra PanaCast Meet Anywhere Bundles – Exceptional Value 

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The Jabra PanaCast Meet Anywhere and Meet Anywhere+ Bundles are a great value, portable, convenient, and easy way to video enable any space! The carry case is convenient and allows you to neatly and securely store and transport the Jabra PanaCast Meet Anywhere Bundles. Previously, I carried these same items in a plastic storage bag stored in my backpack. Check out this YouTube Shorts video! I was so excited to hear about them and receive one of these new bundles to test! Here’s a video featuring an unboxing, overview, and quick demo of this bundle so you can see how simple it is to start a personal or group video call wherever you are.

Inexpensive Flexibility 

It’s not a secret that video collaboration is here to stay. The Jabra PanaCast Meet Anywhere Bundles are an excellent option for organizations still debating whether they will return to the office, remain remote, or adopt a hybrid model. Suppose you are on the fence about committing to a particular in-room video system for your meeting spaces. In that case, the Jabra PanaCast Meet Anywhere Bundles allow you to inexpensively video-enable your team members to set up a video meeting from anywhere. They can also use the Speak 750 for conference calls from their mobile device or to enhance the audio quality when streaming media from their laptop! 

What’s in the bundle? 

Four Jabra PanaCast Meet Anywhere / Meet Anywhere+ Bundles are available, including Microsoft Teams Certified variants. They include a camera and speakerphone so you can participate in a video meeting from anywhere. 

  • 8402-129 Jabra PanaCast Meet Anywhere (Jabra PanaCast, Speak 750 MS, 1m / 3ft USB A-C cable, Travel Case) – Microsoft Teams Certified – MSRP $650 (USD) 
  • 8402-229 Jabra PanaCast Meet Anywhere (Jabra PanaCast, Speak 750 UC, 1m / 3ft USB A-C cable, Travel Case) – MSRP $650 (USD) 
  • 8403-129 Jabra PanaCast Meet Anywhere+ (Jabra PanaCast, Speak 750 MS, Table Stand 1.8m / 5.9ft USB A-C cable, Travel Case) – Microsoft Teams Certified – MSRP $750 (USD) 
  • 8403-229 Jabra PanaCast Meet Anywhere+ (Jabra PanaCast, Speak 750 UC, Table Stand 1.8m / 5.9ft USB A-C cable, Travel Case) – MSRP $750 (USD) 

Personal and Group 

With an adjustable 180-degree field of view of the Jabra PanaCast camera (How to adjust Jabra PanaCast FOV via Jabra Direct) and the Jabra Speak 750  mic pick-up range of up to 2.3m/7.5ft, you can quickly set up these bundles for a personal or a group video call wherever you are. You can wirelessly link two Jabra Speak 750 speakerphones if they are within a 4m/13ft range of each other; the Link button will be visible. To temporarily link the audio between them, tap the Link button on both speakerphones. To unlink the speakerphones, tap the Link button on one of the speakerphones. (Instructions on how to link two Jabra Speak 750 speakerphones)  

Jabra PanaCast Meet Anywhere

Jabra PanaCast camera 

Jabra PanaCast features three 13-megapixel cameras for 180° Panoramic-4K coverage with patented real-time video-stitching technology, ensuring every attendee is seen while enabling you to make the most of any meeting space. Intelligent Zoom detects where people are, while Vivid HDR automatically optimizes video quality. Compatible with all leading Unified Communications (UC) platforms, it delivers easy plug-and-play video collaboration to your teams for productive meetings anywhere. 

Jabra PanaCast Meet Anywhere

Jabra Speak 750 

The Jabra Speak 750 is a compact premium, two-way full duplex speakerphone so both sides can hear and be heard clearly, for natural communication even when you’re all in different places. With a dedicated Microsoft Teams button (Microsoft variants only) to instantly connect you to your meeting, and a plug-and-play connection for all leading Unified Communication platforms, including Zoom, Google Meet, and more, it offers a seamless meeting experience with fast and powerful communication, anytime and anywhere. 

Jabra PanaCast Meet Anywhere

Jabra Direct – Free Software 

Jabra Direct is an application with a simple user interface that lets you get your Jabra device(s) connected to softphone(s) and ready for calls and music. It also allows you to personalize your Jabra device, update your device firmware for the best possible performance, and get remote call control over your softphone(s).  

Jabra Direct enables you to have remote call control (answer/end call, mute, redial etc.) from your Jabra audio device. Jabra Direct will automatically detect and enable remote call control for the softphones installed on your computer.  

The Jabra Direct dashboard is a user-friendly status menu available from the desktop notification area, typically accessed via the lower right corner of the desktop. The dashboard shows the status of your Jabra device if any updates are available, and if your softphone(s) are ready for use. By clicking your Jabra device in the dashboard, you will be linked to the Jabra Direct main application for managing setting preferences, starting firmware updates, or accessing applications that might be available for your Jabra device.  

The device setting control in Jabra Direct enables you to configure your Jabra audio and video device to fit your personal preferences. 

Jabra releases updates that improve performance and add new functionalities to your headset, speakerphone, or camera. The Jabra Direct Firmware Updater is a native functionality within the Jabra Direct app, enabling a seamless upgrade of firmware on your Jabra devices. To receive firmware update notifications, go to Settings and switch Update Notifications to ‘On.’ 

Exceptional Value 

The Jabra PanaCast Meet Anywhere Bundles are an exceptional value! For only $650-$750, you can inexpensively provide your team members with a bundle that allows them to quickly and easily join or start a video meeting from anywhere! If you purchase the items in these bundles separately, it would cost over $900 and would not include the portable carry case!  

Call One, Inc. is a Jabra Authorized Partner and can help your organization with audio and video devices for personal and group use. As a Nationally Certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) and Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), we can help satisfy Supplier Diversity initiatives. Contact us to learn more about Jabra PanaCast solutions for your business!  

Yealink UH36 USB Headsets

12 Days of Call One | Day One: Updated Yealink UH36 USB Headsets

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 Yealink UH36 is a USB wired headset especially designed for Unified Communication, office, and contact center professionals, featuring high-quality audio, exceptional wearing comfort, proven integration of Yealink IP phone and device management platform, ensures your every conversation a great experience. Yealink UH36 USB headsets come with USB and 3.5mm jack connectivity options, free to plug into various devices: IP phone, PC, tablet, and smart phone. UC and Microsoft Teams variants available!

Yealink Dynamic EQ and Wideband HD Audio Technology make every conversation rich and clear on UH36 headsets. The passive noise cancellation and the noise-canceling microphone eliminate background noise, enhance the audio privacy in the workspace.

Features and Specifications:

  • Dual or single headset
  • Plug and Play ready
  • USB connectivity to Yealink IP Phones, includingT41S/T42S/T46S/ T48S/T42U/T43U/T46U/T48U/T53/T53W/T54W/T57W/T58A/VP59 USB and 3.5 mm support to PC and Mobile Devices
  • Noise-canceling microphone
  • High definition voice/wideband speaker performance
  • Protection technology (safeguards users from acoustic injury)
  • Integrated LED lights and updated warning tone
  • 330° posable boom arm for quick adjustment

Before and After the Update

On the outside, nothing is noticeably different with the design, comfort, or weight of the product. The real change is what lies within. With our testing (Video below) we found a slight increase in microphone quality, with a sharper yet smoother sound. Things like the mute, volume up/down, and the dedicated Microsoft Teams button transfers over to the current model.

Overall we are impressed with the updated UH36, and the performance it puts out. If you have any question regarding the product, feel free to reach out to one of our reps and they’ll be sure to help with any questions.

This is our fist 12 Days of Call One video, where we compared the sound quality of the original Yealink UH36, and the new updated UH36. How do they compare? Well, see for yourself:

UC Ms headsets ADAPT 660_lifestyle_alt

What’s the difference between UC and MS Headsets?

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Online articles report that as of April 30, 2020, Microsoft Teams had increased its Daily Active Users to 75 million. Leading manufacturers partnered with Microsoft have developed a full line of Microsoft Teams certified devices to support users in individual and group workspaces. Today there are audio & video peripherals, PCs and mobile devices, IP Phones, all-in-one collaboration devices, room systems, and large screen displays all certified for Microsoft Teams.

To keep things short and sweet, we’ll focus on headsets. When it comes to business-grade headsets by Poly, Jabra, EPOS, Logitech, Yealink, and Bose, they all offer UC and Microsoft Teams certified headset models. 

What’s the difference between UC and MS headsets? This is a frequently asked question. In this week’s video, we tackle this and four other frequently asked questions when it comes to selecting a UC or MS headset for your environment.

  • When should I use a UC vs MS model? 
  • If I use multiple platforms like Microsoft Teams, Cisco, and Zoom, do I use the UC or MS model?
  • What does the Microsoft Teams button do? 
  • Will the Microsoft Teams button work in a multi-platform environment? 

If you are upgrading to Teams from Skype for Business, you won’t need to replace previously replaced devices. All Microsoft certified devices are supported for both Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business. There is one key difference between previously certified devices and it’s the Microsoft Teams button that provides additional functionality. 

UC and MS headsets offer multiple wearing styles, USB-A and USB-C connectivity, along with Bluetooth and DECT wireless options to support the various employee types and use cases across organizations. 

If you would like to learn which variants are best for your environment, contact us Monday-Friday, 8 am-5 pm ET. In the meantime, get answers to the questions above by watching the video and check out additional videos on our YouTube channel! 

Lack of employee training reduces UC adoption. I would like to add that not having the right device also hinders UC adoption/success…

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By Danny Hayasaka

October 16, 2015

Yes, it’s true that UC adoption suffers due to lack of employee training. I remember in our company when we first deployed Microsoft Lync (now Skype for Business), the individuals more involved understood and were aware of all the great features that were available to them. However, not everyone did and there was a lot of pushback, complaints, etc. Being device specialists, we had our pick of devices. Initially, everyone had desk phones optimized for Lync. After about three months, the majority of employees had removed their desk phones and opted for wireless headsets (single and multi-connectivity) and/or USB speakerphones. And of course they have a USB webcam for video calls and we have conference cam in a conference room for voice/video calls.

As a communications and collaboration specialist, I encounter several scenarios daily where customers are simply unaware of all the feature/functionality their UC platform offers.

We often get calls from customers who have had a UC platform for months or longer and have just now discovered they can “click to call”. They thought all they had was Presence and IM capabilities. Of course, now they want a “USB Headset”. As we probe a little more to understand their daily routine, we come to find in many situations, customers need more than just a USB corded headset.

I say this because often times when organizations are budgeting for a UC platform, they tend to budget $30 for a USB corded headset. Unfortunately, in most cases, that isn’t the solution. Organizations need to take time to consult with a communications and collaboration devices specialist who can walk them through the various options.

Every organization has various use cases, employee types, environments, and applications. It’s important to develop employee profiles and understand how they work on a daily basis. Are they desk-centric meaning they spend 90% or more of their day at their desks. Are they office-mobile? Meaning they spend part of their day at their desks and the other part moving about the office. Are they mobile? These are your “road warriors” who spend their time in cars, lobbies, planes, trains, hotel rooms, etc. Additionally, there are different environments. You can’t use a $30 USB corded headset in a conference room. You need different devices. What about in a lobby or other common areas?

Then, of course, we need to understand if they have multiple devices i.e. Laptop/PC, Desk Phone and/or Mobile device. Would it be beneficial to connect to all three or any combination of the three or two? Device manufacturers today offer solutions that allow multi-connectivity.

Wait there’s more, which UC platform? There are multiple headsets, phone, audio conferencing, and video conferencing device manufacturers however only a select few offers Optimized, Certified, Interoperable, Compatible with the various UC platforms. A communications and collaboration device specialist can help customers navigate through the overwhelming options and narrow down the choices to the appropriate devices so their employees utilize the UC platform more effectively. Of course, it is important for the organization to do its best to provide training. Our organization has provided this type service in the past and is strongly considering making it a regular line item as we know from our own experience how challenging it can to get employees to utilize the new UC platform.

 

 

UC or Microsoft Variant when choosing headsets?

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By Danny Hayasaka

June 12, 2014

More and more organizations have hybrid communications and collaboration platforms that involve many of the major voice and UC platform providers. It’s very rare to find a company that is 100% Microsoft Lync, 100% Cisco, 100% Avaya, etc. The majority have a mix of platforms.

Some organizations have two, three, four or more various communications and collaboration platforms which increases the challenge of selecting the right, compatible device. Some companies have Cisco and Microsoft Environments or Avaya and Microsoft. Some have other lesser known VoIP platforms plus they use Google Hangouts or Skype for video. The point is, it’s not so simple selecting a compatible headset with all the “web-based” applications and collaboration platforms in use.

In my earlier blog about “Which Wireless Headset is the Best” I discussed there are multiple variables to consider when selecting a wireless headset. Voice and Collaboration platform is one of those variables. Understanding exactly which platform/s the headset will be used with helps in identifying the compatible device.

For now, I’ll focus on Microsoft Lync & “Other” platform and Plantronics, Jabra, and Sennheiser headsets as they have UC and Microsoft Optimized variants of their USB model corded and wireless headsets. VXi offers Microsoft “compatible” headsets however currently do not have “optimized” variants. Additionally, Logitech Business USB headsets are Lync optimized however do not have different UC and Microsoft Lync variants.

Important note for Plantronics, Jabra, and Sennheiser: They offer software that enables and is sometimes necessary to support some feature/functionality depending on softphone like answer/hang up from headset or inline control. The software is either for individual download or for IT to use as a tool to remotely access and control the various devices.

Plantronics Software link: Spokes & Plantronics Enterprise Management (PEM)

Jabra PC Suite (Individual)

Jabra Xpress (IT)

Sennheiser Software: Cisco Jabber Plugin, Sennheiser Updater, IBM Sametime, HeadSetup

For Plantronics in mixed platform environment where Microsoft Lync is not the main voice platform, it’s recommended to select UC variant of their models with Plantronics Spokes or PEM. In an environment where Microsoft Lync is being used as the main voice platform, then Microsoft Lync Optimized variant is recommended.

When it comes to Jabra and Sennheiser in a mixed environment, they recommend Microsoft Lync Optimized variant over UC models. Again, it’s always best to download Jabra PC Suite, Jabra Xpress or Sennheiser appropriate software.

The best thing you can do is engage a device-centric partner that takes the time to understand your environment discusses the various options available.