Google has introduced a videoconferencing product known as Chromebox For Meetings. This product is designed especially for businesses to make it easier and less expensive to hold face-to-face business meetings even if the participants are scattered in different locations. This is an attempt by Google to generate revenue from corporate customers.
Google has announced that it was partnering with Asus, Hewlett-Packard and Dell to offer a specialised version of its Chromebox PC that comes with videoconferencing gear, including a video camera and speakers. The device called Chromebox for Meeting will start selling in US from 6th Feb for $999,which includes the ASUS Chromebox and everything needed to set up a videoconferencing system that can connect people in up to 15 different locations. The customers will be required to pay a $250 annual service and management fee, but the first year fee is included in the product’s sales price. Google said someone simply needs to connect the device to a display screen and follow the instructions step by step.
Chromebox for Meeting will be available later this year, in Australia, Canada, France, Japan, New Zealand, Spain and the U.K.
The videoconferencing product uses several existing Google technologies : the Chrome operating system; Google’s free Hangouts video chat system; and a suite of applications that Google has been selling to businesses for several years.
The Chro will put Google in competition against Cisco Systems and Polycom, which make the video conferencing systems used by many corporations. Google makes the vast majority of its revenue from advertising. Google also sells services to corporate customers, including special versions of its online apps such as email and word processing, as well as Chromebook laptops aimed at business users.
