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Zoom is announcing a $599 tactile screen for remote workers
Zoom, the user base of which exploded with the onset of COVID-19, is expanding to hardware. The company has announced a new touchscreen device designed to help with remote operation. The appliance called Zoom For Home — DTEN ME will cost $599 and ship in August.
The DTEN ME is a 27-inch touchscreen device with three smart webcams and eight sound-reducing microphones built in, and comes preloaded with the Zoom software. Zoom is not actually building the hardware; the product comes from DTEN, a San Jose-based company that manufactures video conferencing appliances.
The DTEN tends to have a relatively basic gui that allows easy access to the different aspects of Zoom, including meetings, whiteboards and contacts. It will also synchronize with your calendar and view your upcoming meetings in the menu. If you need to share your computer, you can attach the DTEN to your phone or laptop through "ultrasound pairing," according to TechCrunch.
Although $599 can sound like a high price to pay for a Zoom-calling app because you can still Zoom from your phone or tablet, the hope seems to be that it's an simple way for new remote workers to leap straight into Zoom without having to struggle with downloading the software or setting up any sophisticated equipment.
The DTEN is the first Zoom for Home-certified computer, a group of hardware and software devices that Zoom claims is tailored for home offices. Zoom has told TechCrunch that it will debut with more partners in the future, including the Nice Bar and the Poly Studio X Series.
