Logitech Debuts GROUP Video Conferencing Solution for SMBs

Logitech (LOGI), a company traditionally known for developing third-party mice and keyboard peripherals, is looking to capture a slice of the SMB video conferencing market with the launch of its Logitech GROUP conferencecam solution.

Logitech GROUP is a combination 1080p video camera and tabletop audio speaker being sold exclusively through the company’s managed service provider partners. While Logitech has historically been known for add-ons for laptops and PCs, it is also looking to gain recognition for its fledgling brand of video conferencing solutions.

The company first broke into the market two years ago to little fanfare, but received positive feedback from customers for its selection of mid-market offerings, according to Scott Wharton, vice president general manager of the Logitech Video Collaboration Group.

Wharton was quick to point out that Logitech is not only looking to compete with the likes of large enterprise video collaboration providers like Polycom and Cisco Systems, but to offer an option for companies without any kind of professional video conferencing solution whatsoever.

“Until now, people looking to collaborate over video were faced with a choice between installing high priced purpose-built systems or crowding around a laptop that’s placed at the end of a table. This resulted in a poor experience with coworkers packed together like sardines or falling out of the frame,” said Wharton in a statement. “Logitech GROUP provides the best of both worlds, an affordable solution optimized for large rooms with a wide field of view and crystal clear audio quality.”

Logitech GROUP is priced at $999.99 for both the base speaker unit and a 1080p video camera, which the company believes will make it a popular option for companies with 10-14 users. Two additional speakers can be bundled along with the base unit for an extra $250 (or $299 if purchased separately) allowing for up to 20 users, according to Wharton.

The company is also appealing to SMB customer’s budgetary constraints by allowing them to utilize whichever video conferencing software they prefer, including Skype for Business, Google Hangouts or Cisco WebEx. Users simply purchase the hardware from Logitech and then use the software of their choice, thus cutting out the cost of a subscription-based conferencing solution.

While it doesn’t offer some of the automatic pan/tilt/zoom functionality of higher-end models, Logitech GROUP does have several interesting features for those looking to get their hands on a conferencing solution. Logitech has designed the device to be plug and play, so it can be set up and deployed quickly even by those unfamiliar with the technology. GROUP also has the ability to automatically offload video processing from the user’s computer to the camera itself, thus eliminating strain on the CPU. This is expected to be particularly useful for enterprise customers utilizing laptops, which have limited processing power.

Logitech said it expects GROUP to be available to channel partners in March, although a specific date of release was not announced. The company will also have its new conferencing solution on display at the inaugural Integrated Systems Europe tradeshow in Geneva, Europe.