Forum Discussion
SRS2 Logitech or Crestron Smart Dock. Microsoft opinion ?
Mercury is not linked to SRS2 and is not embedded with a Skype account, rather a telephony product equipped with a camera. Think about a HUB with a USB camera, phone compatible with Cisco, and then you plug your PC to the Mercury and use this device.
I was at Enterprise Connect and they said it would be shipping very soon. I know some resellers have demo units, so they must be nearly available. But they do have a big focus on their Mercury product too.
- Glad to hear Alec. I hope that you enjoy the native MSFT experience.
- Thanks James we are running a PoC on Polycom MSR now.
Hi Alec,
Polycom MSR (Microsoft SRS1) is shipping in Australia. Agree with Graham that availability and features of endpoints have changed / moved forward significantly in recent months.
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Some org's who have hundred's of legacy VTCs just cannot afford to rip and replace, so they keep HDX (and other Cisco/Tandberg/Lifesize etc) for a while. They are still only doing 720p, so they do what they need. They can then use a gateway to Skype enable the HDX's and bring them into Skype meetings.
I assumed it was more of a cost based decision. We are finding that Skype is just easier to use, and as we replace legacy systems with Skype systems, support requirements for those spaces (aside from the general how-to type stuff) tends to drop off dramatically.
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I think Lenovo are quite close to launching theirs and I thought Polycom had global availability. The Surface Hub is an awesome device. I had a customer in the office this week and we were using our hub and he said what an awesome tool. He had never seen it being used as it should - whiteboard, web browsing, Skype calling etc.I couldn't agree more. We have 28 deployed and our users have really embraced them.
- I think Lenovo are quite close to launching theirs and I thought Polycom had global availability. The Surface Hub is an awesome device. I had a customer in the office this week and we were using our hub and he said what an awesome tool. He had never seen it being used as it should - whiteboard, web browsing, Skype calling etc.
Some org's who have hundred's of legacy VTCs just cannot afford to rip and replace, so they keep HDX (and other Cisco/Tandberg/Lifesize etc) for a while. They are still only doing 720p, so they do what they need. They can then use a gateway to Skype enable the HDX's and bring them into Skype meetings.
This brings a question to mind - in an established Skype for Business environment, with all of the Skype endpoint options available for a wide range of conference spaces, what is the benefit of keeping a legacy Polycom infrastructure in place? I can see maybe keeping Group Series as Skype endpoints, and Real Connect for interop, but is there a benefit to keeping HDX and down, and continuing support of VMRs and Polycom bridge meetings?
- Thanks for your reply. The Polycom endpoints are end of sale and support and some pre date the HDX models. We are looking at SRS systems but unfortunately only Logitech are shipping in Australia at present. We are looking at using Surface Hubs where possible. We wish avoid LRS based systems as the investment from MS and vendors will be in SRS.
- Just wondering why you are removing the Polycom systems, how old are they?
The RL2 is the LRS system, so it will get the upgrade for SfB branding. What you really want to look at is the Crestron SR (the Skype Rooms System v2) or Polycom MSR, Logitech SmartDock or even the Lenovo Hub 500 which should be available very soon. - Folks, I have question in this area.
We have skype for business 2013. We have multiple surface hubs, old polycom systems which we are removing, crestron Ltd systems. We are opening a new building and due to time pressures it appears we don't have availability of any SRS2 solutions here in Australia (Polycom crestron). We Lso don't have time to test SRS2
We are looking using Surface hubs in rooms that are not too large.
We are being recommended Crestron RL2 with a supposed future upgrade at low cost to RL3. Is this a good strategic and technical approach? Any issues to consider?
Thanks - Yes it's indeed a big mystery for Crestron from a marketing point of view, this dock is sold as an accessory with a non Crestron product for Microsoft. It's considered as a limited product but it's a shame, they should interact with their Crestron DMPS300C matrix, i wish they could more promote this product
