UC Network Management Featured Article

Plantronics Debuts Portable Plug-and-Play USB Speakerphones for Smartphones and PCs

Across the U.S., nearly four million Americans work from their homes for at least half the week, according to a report by FlexJobs. In the coming years, this number is expected to climb steeply. It’s good news for the environment (fewer miles driven), the businesses (employees have more time to work without a commute) and good for workers (for starters, the ability to work in sweatpants is a big one). All this telecommuting, however, has meant that companies need to adjust the ways they communicate, and bring unified communications (UC) solutions to the forefront.

Whatever video- and audio-conferencing solutions companies may have in place, it’s safe to say that they can’t replicate bulky, installed equipment in every worker’s home. The need for easy-to-use, small and manageable conferencing devices is becoming more urgent. While many of today’s collaboration and conferencing solutions are cloud-based and can be used through hand-held devices, workers still need reliable audio equipment that’s not the tinny little speaker on a smartphone but a professional solution that can be managed on the UC network.

To help fill this need, Plantronics recently announced the launch of its Calisto 3200 and Calisto 5200 portable, personal speakerphones for mobile devices and PCs. The plug-and-play speakers were designed to provide 360-degree audio so users can have a professional audio-conferencing experience, from any room or remote location (including the dining room table).

Both Calisto models integrate 360-degree microphones that transmit conversations with high quality audio and voice clarity, according to Plantronics. The speakerphones are easy-to-use with simple touch-sensitive controls and visual indicators, coupled with voice prompts and mute alerts that can provide immediate feedback of call status.

“More than two-thirds of people around the world are working outside the office at least once a week, and even those in the office need solutions for collaborating on the go,” said Shantanu Sarkar, Executive VP of the Headset Business Unit at Plantronics, in a statement. “Our latest Calisto speakerphones enable conference calls from anywhere and provide the confidence that you’ll be able to hear, and, more importantly, will be heard clearly on the other end.”

The Calisto 3200 connects via USB to PC, Mac and tablet devices while the Calisto 5200 can also connect to smartphone devices using the 3.5 mm cable, and both speakers are compatible with Plantronics Manager Pro, Plantronics’ cloud solution designed for IT professionals. For even more assured quality, Nectar’s UC Diagnostics works with Plantronics Manager Pro to troubleshoot network issues that could contribute to a poor UC experiences and along with the actionable insights from Plantronics Manager Pro software-as-a-service (SaaS), can be used to improve the UC experience.

Edited by Maurice Nagle