Crestron has partnered up with Logitech and Zoom to create a remote conferencing solution for smart homes that customers can use for both business and socializing while staying at home and sticking with social distancing rules.
Called Crestron HomeTime, the experience delivers video conferencing, home control, and unified communications (UC) so customers can socialize, participate in remote learning, and work from home while collaborating with others.
Crestron HomeTime is a unification of the Logitech MeetUp conference camera with the Crestron UC Engine that seamlessly integrates with Crestron control to deliver the optimal Zoom Rooms experience.
Offering HD video and audio quality, users can host and join Zoom meetings without a laptop, joining from a Crestron remote or mobile app. Customers can use their TVs at home as the monitor, viewing participants in a much larger window than a computer screen. The MeetUp 4K camera, meanwhile, has a wide-angle lens so it can capture everyone in the frame for a family video call. The full range speaker delivers high-quality, intelligible audio, and the full-duplex, advanced beamforming microphone enables natural conversation among everyone in the group, says Crestron.
“It’s time to end the awkward conversations,” says Crestron’s Vice President, Residential John Clancy. “No more crowding around a laptop and talking over each other because you can’t follow who is speaking. The idea for HomeTime was created from the challenges experienced by families trying to socialize, learn, and work from home. We, at Crestron, knew we had a convenient solution that every living room deserved. By integrating Logitech MeetUp and Zoom Rooms software with the Crestron platform, we can help homeowners prepare for anything, whether that is working in the home office, remote learning in the playroom, or virtual happy hours in the family room.”
“Crestron shares our commitment to seamless collaboration with high-quality technology,” adds Jeff Smith, Head of Zoom Rooms, Zoom Video Collaboration. “Crestron HomeTime raises the bar, bringing the conference room into the living room.”
“We’ve seen an exponential increase in videoconferencing from home as people and families shelter in place, not only for business use, but for personal use as well,” continues Scott Wharton, General Manager and Vice President, Logitech Video Collaboration. “Crestron is a leader in AV and residential systems for high end homes, so this partnership is ideal for providing quality videoconferencing experiences and Logitech solutions people need right now as they continue to connect from home.”
Crestron HomeTime will be available on June 1, 2020 exclusively through Crestron residential integrators.