Cisco unveils meetings for the 21st Century
workplace
workplace
Finally, an end to the
misery of meetings
misery of meetings
SINGAPORE, Mar. 21, 2017 – Cisco today set out to overhaul Asia’s traditional
meeting and meeting room experience with the launch of Cisco Spark™ Board,
a new hardware and software solution designed to bring meetings into the 21st Century and
ready for today’s mobile, always-on workforce.
meeting and meeting room experience with the launch of Cisco Spark™ Board,
a new hardware and software solution designed to bring meetings into the 21st Century and
ready for today’s mobile, always-on workforce.
Introducing Cisco Spark™
Board, a sleek new plug-and-play, all-in-one device for team collaboration
that lets you wirelessly present, white-board, and video or audio conference
whether you are in the physical conference room or not.
Board, a sleek new plug-and-play, all-in-one device for team collaboration
that lets you wirelessly present, white-board, and video or audio conference
whether you are in the physical conference room or not.
While businesses are more
connected than ever, there is still one area of the workplace that remains at
odds with the digital transformation taking place elsewhere – the meeting room.
Surprisingly many meeting rooms today still only contain a speakerphone and
whiteboard. When they are upgraded, the technology often doesn’t work, is hard
to use, or breaks down. Meanwhile, the tables are either littered with wires,
connectors and remotes – or in many cases missing them altogether. No wonder
meetings often feel like a waste of time, when the setup and connection time is
more than the time spent on the meeting. The traditional approach to this conundrum
has often been to add more clutter by developing a new “add on” app or bolting
on a new device – ultimately adding to the chaos and disconnect.
connected than ever, there is still one area of the workplace that remains at
odds with the digital transformation taking place elsewhere – the meeting room.
Surprisingly many meeting rooms today still only contain a speakerphone and
whiteboard. When they are upgraded, the technology often doesn’t work, is hard
to use, or breaks down. Meanwhile, the tables are either littered with wires,
connectors and remotes – or in many cases missing them altogether. No wonder
meetings often feel like a waste of time, when the setup and connection time is
more than the time spent on the meeting. The traditional approach to this conundrum
has often been to add more clutter by developing a new “add on” app or bolting
on a new device – ultimately adding to the chaos and disconnect.
Cisco took an altogether
different approach. To end ‘miserable meetings’, we went back to first principles
and built new breakthrough technology designed, developed and deployed together
with new cloud-based software. Above all, it had to be simple to use, super
secure, able to cope with today’s modern workplace demands, and priced
affordably so it is available for any size of business.
different approach. To end ‘miserable meetings’, we went back to first principles
and built new breakthrough technology designed, developed and deployed together
with new cloud-based software. Above all, it had to be simple to use, super
secure, able to cope with today’s modern workplace demands, and priced
affordably so it is available for any size of business.
“We are making meetings truly digital,” said Darryl
McKinnon, Cisco’s MD, Collaboration Sales, Asia Pacific and Japan. “Our
aim is to eliminate conference room clutter and connect physical meeting rooms
with virtual spaces – where the majority of work gets done.”
McKinnon, Cisco’s MD, Collaboration Sales, Asia Pacific and Japan. “Our
aim is to eliminate conference room clutter and connect physical meeting rooms
with virtual spaces – where the majority of work gets done.”
NEW TECHNOLOGY:
A WIRELESS PRESENTATION DEVICE
THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE.
THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE.
Cisco has created a global,
worldwide network of workspaces, accessible from anywhere. Walk up to a Cisco
Spark Board anywhere in the world – yours or not – and you can start sharing
with one click. When using the Cisco Spark App, as you approach, the board will
recognize and greet you. No Bluetooth, no WiFi or network connection required.
It is controlled from your PC, Mac, tablet or mobile phone. It is screen
sharing that just works. We achieved it through a tight integration with the Cisco
Spark platform plus new and groundbreaking ultrasound wireless pairing
technology, making remote controls obsolete.
worldwide network of workspaces, accessible from anywhere. Walk up to a Cisco
Spark Board anywhere in the world – yours or not – and you can start sharing
with one click. When using the Cisco Spark App, as you approach, the board will
recognize and greet you. No Bluetooth, no WiFi or network connection required.
It is controlled from your PC, Mac, tablet or mobile phone. It is screen
sharing that just works. We achieved it through a tight integration with the Cisco
Spark platform plus new and groundbreaking ultrasound wireless pairing
technology, making remote controls obsolete.
NEW FEATURES:
AN INTERACTIVE DIGITAL
WHITEBOARD THAT EVERYONE CAN EDIT
WHITEBOARD THAT EVERYONE CAN EDIT
- Cisco Spark™ Board takes
whiteboards to a new level: It ensures your creativity and content is
shareable, editable, and secure and is packed with a host of features to make
meetings memorable and creativity and collaboration flow.
Whiteboards are where some of
the best ideas originate. But they haven’t really moved on since the 1950s when
they were invented. They are great for creativity, but what goes on the board
stays on the board, unless you opt for a whiteboard selfie.
the best ideas originate. But they haven’t really moved on since the 1950s when
they were invented. They are great for creativity, but what goes on the board
stays on the board, unless you opt for a whiteboard selfie.
Beyond snapping a photo, it’s
difficult to save or share your work, and impossible if you want to go back and
edit it. There have been attempts at digital whiteboards – but the experience
has been terrible, and adoption limited. Until now.
difficult to save or share your work, and impossible if you want to go back and
edit it. There have been attempts at digital whiteboards – but the experience
has been terrible, and adoption limited. Until now.
BYE-BYE WHITEBOARD SELFIES
- Cisco Spark™ Board automatically
saves your work. Using the cloud your work is saved to a space that the whole
team shares. Take a call, a break or another meeting then simply pick up where
you left off at your leisure.
WE MADE IT ACCESSIBLE – BY
ANYONE, FROM ANYWHERE:
ANYONE, FROM ANYWHERE:
- Now anyone can leave their
mark in real time (or later) —even from a mobile phone. Using the Cisco Spark
app, every participant can now simultaneously whiteboard.
INCREDIBLE MEETINGS
- Want to be on a video call
while whiteboarding? You can do that, too. Say goodbye to that old
speakerphone. The Cisco Spark Board gives you the video and audio quality you
would expect from Cisco. The inbuilt 4K camera gives a broad, crisp view of the
room without being obtrusive. The microphone array and Voice Track technology
ensures that your message will come through crystal-clear on the other end.
OH, AND IT’S SO, SO SIMPLE
- But all these assets are
worthless, if it’s too complicated to install and use. So, we’ve taken care of
that too. We have eliminated all the wires and cables through our ultrasound
wireless pairing technology. Cisco Spark™ Board is plug and play so, setup
is as simple as placing on a stand or mounting it to the wall and switching on.
We’ve now put technology in every room for our customers.
Someday meetings will be
eliminated altogether, but until that time, Cisco Spark will be on hand to
ensure there are less of them and they are shorter and more productive.
eliminated altogether, but until that time, Cisco Spark will be on hand to
ensure there are less of them and they are shorter and more productive.
Pricing and Availability
In Asia: The 55-inch (140 cm) version of the Cisco Spark
Board is available from Cisco partners across Asia at a recommended price of
USD $4,990 with a USD $199 monthly subscription. The subscription covers the
cloud service, help desk and software upgrades. You can also buy through the
Cisco Spark Flex Plan. The 70-inch (178 cm) version of the Cisco Spark Board
will be available in Asia later this year at a recommended price of USD $9,990.
Board is available from Cisco partners across Asia at a recommended price of
USD $4,990 with a USD $199 monthly subscription. The subscription covers the
cloud service, help desk and software upgrades. You can also buy through the
Cisco Spark Flex Plan. The 70-inch (178 cm) version of the Cisco Spark Board
will be available in Asia later this year at a recommended price of USD $9,990.
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