Microsoft’s new large-screen collaboration device, the Surface Hub, will be available for order by businesses in Canada and 23 other countries on Canada Day, July 1. The Hub is a Surface tablet on steroids – it’s either a 55” or 84” touch and ink display that runs Windows 10 and applications such as Skype for Business, Office, OneNote and Universal Windows apps, all focused on increasing user productivity and collaboration.
“While there are a number of devices designed to improve our productivity as individuals, there has yet to be a device that is truly optimized for a group of people to use together — designed not just for what we need to do, but how we want to work. Until now,” said Mike Angiulo, corporate vice president, Microsoft Devices. “Just as the PC revolutionized productivity for individuals, Surface Hub will transform the way groups of people work together.”
The Surface Hub marries the attributes of a cloud-connected Windows 10 device with a custom interface built for shared spaces. Anyone can walk up to and begin using the Hub, and it’s designed to make it simple to launch a videoconference, share content or begin white boarding. All the usual Windows 10 applications are also available, and Windows Update for Business provides regular access to security and product updates.
At the heart of the Surface Hub is a highly responsive, optically-bonded display built for ink and touch that can detect 100 points of multitouch and up to three simultaneous pen inputs. The Hub features 1080p front-facing video cameras and a four-element microphone array designed for videoconferencing that detects and follows voice to eliminate background noise. There’s also Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and a variety of ports for connecting devices and sharing content.
The Surface Hub, and related accessories, will be available for Canadian businesses beginning July 1st through the authorized reseller channel. Two models will be available: a Surface Hub 55-inch with 4th generation Intel Core i5 for $8,949 and a Surface Hub 84-inch with 4th generation Intel Core i7 and Nvidia discrete graphics for $25,569. Microsoft is working with a number of hardware and software partners to optimize the Surface Hub experience.
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