With the growing need for convenient and easily-set-up video-conferencing, you might be considering a well-known system for your company, Lync Room System is a well-established name. Skype has been around forever, or so it seems and commands a high percentage of all conferencing traffic on the Internet, perhaps as much as 40%. Lync is sometimes confused with Skype, and for good reason. Microsoft has recently rebranded Lync as Skype for Business, and consequently, Lync Room Systems got a new name and became Skype Room Systems, albeit the original Lync but with a different name.
When creating dedicated Skype for Business rooms, the process is known to be somewhat arduous and expensive when trying to combine all the hardware and cables. So when it comes to set-up, many people have decided to investigate building their own DIY Skype meeting room systems instead, to try and uncomplicate what has sometimes become a burden for managers and IT departments alike.
You can imagine the scenario – you want to set up a Skype or Lync video conferencing, and not only is your Skype for business hardware playing up and not recognizing your webcam, but a similar scene is being played out at your remote office as well. With people scratching their heads and furiously swapping out cables, while at the same time watching the clock for the start time of the meeting, you realize that having an already configured system in both locations would be a huge asset. At the very least it would relieve a headache when it comes to meeting online.
A DIY Skype room system differs significantly from a Skype or Lync room system based mainly on the ease of setup and configuration, deployment effort, AND cost. While both will meeting room systems still contain all the essential functionality for Lync video conferencing and sharing content, a Lync room system can be somewhat complicated and involved. In contrast, A DIY system using a meeting room video conferencing device such as Room 4 (more on that later), can be incredibly easy to set up and configure.
Because of specialized hardware and minimum space requirements, a Lync room system will need special preparation for your meeting room, you will need to prepare all the right network and power connections, arrange your seating to face the bulky hardware, you may need to knock down walls and drill holes to make your meeting room LRS ready. And when you’re done, you have to call an AV specialist and schedule an installation visit. In contrast, A DIY conference room set up that is ready to go immediately is a quicker option, without having to to sacrifice any video conferencing or content collaboration functionality. Perfect if you have an impatient boss breathing down your neck every time you’re trying to troubleshoot a failing Skype or Lync video conferencing call!
So how can you create a DIY system to make the Skype or Lync video conferencing experience easier for yourself? Perhaps you could consider a Skype for Business device such as the Room 4 box to build your own DIY Skype for business room.
Room 4 is designed to alleviate complex problems by making the creation of a Skype video conference room a simple one. Room 4 is a small and unimposing device, measuring only four inches square. The features it provides, however, are more than impressive. With the ability to be set up almost instantly, it seamlessly connects your room to your Skype or Lync deployment with a true plug-and-play method that even those with the most basic IT skills can manage. Effectively you’re building yourself a Skype for business room, very quickly and easily.
Just take the device out of its box, spend a couple of minutes to setup, and plug in your devices. With the ability to add dual screens, USB storage, microphones and speakers via a plug-and-play method, the only setup required is plugging in your gear. Room 4 also allows for an impressive array of technology, with support for touch-screens, high-definition displays, wireless connectivity for mobiles and tablets, and PTZ camera support. With one of these in each of your meeting rooms, you can carry out that inter-office meeting with basic knowledge of IT systems. This fact alone means you can concentrate on the business at hand, rather than wasting valuable time on connections and setup.
If this doesn’t already convince you, then it’s also worth mentioning that Room 4 isn’t just a Skype for business device, it’s a full-blown video conferencing suite, that includes a delightful user interface that makes operating the system simplicity in itself. The cost factor is much more efficient too, with a Room 4 base system costing a fraction of that of a Lync Room System and all the related preparations required.
Schedule meetings, share valuable content and sketch out your ideas on the integrated whiteboard all from within the Room 4 interface. With a powerful component such as this, backed by the robust backbone of Skype for Business, you can get all the benefits of video conferencing without the hassles that come with complicated infrastructure!
Ready to start building your Skype Room System? Click here for more information on Room 4.