Zoom Unveils Device Support, Channel Programs

Zoom Video Communications on Wednesday rolled out new device support and enterprise management for Zoom Rooms, as well as new programs for its partners.

Zoom Rooms features video and audio conferencing, wireless content sharing, and integrated calendaring running on off-the-shelf hardware, as well as digital signage and scheduling display.

Laura Padilla, Zoom‘s head of business development and channels, tells Channel Partners these announcements are “part of our ongoing efforts to make the deployment, management and use of Zoom Rooms completely frictionless.”

Zoom’s Laura Padilla

“Our hardware and channel partners are integral to these efforts,” she said. “We work closely with our hardware providers to optimize everything from our integrations to the purchasing process, and with our channel partners to make sure they have the resources they need to provide their customers with the full Zoom platform.”

Several hardware providers now are shipping their Zoom Rooms kits globally, such as Logitech and Yealink, and additional hardware partnerships include Lenovo and Poly.

By the end of this month, Zoom Rooms will be able to count the number of attendees in any room, providing insight into room utilization and large meeting attendance. Also, Zoom will launch a beta version of Zoom Device Manager, which allows enterprises to mass update their Zoom Rooms iOS controllers and scheduling displays. Zoom plans to extend this service to other devices in the future.

In addition, Zoom Rooms for Touch now supports features such as multishare, automatic shape detection and pen thickness adjustment.

Zoom also is enhancing its partner programs to support and grow its channel. Among the new programs for qualifying partners:

“The channel program enhancements are in a sense straightforward: It’s about providing them with a better understanding of our services, with marketing materials such as data sheets, and the ability to reach our team more quickly with questions,” Padilla said.