Over the last few years videoconferencing and telepresence systems have become pretty common place for most enterprises.
A Palo, Alto, Calif-based startup, however, has literally began rolling out a product that puts videoconferencing on a mobile platform and allows users to wheel away through the office or factory floor even if they’re actually thousands of miles away in a different location.
The RPD is equipped with two wireless radios to handle online transmissions and transitions between access points. Two high-definition cameras provide the user with a horizontal and vertical 170 degree field of view. LED lamps enable operation and navigation in low light conditions, microphones and speaker systems have noise reduction and echo cancellation features.
The Beam Client connects to the RPD and provides the user with controls for driving, video and audio. The proprietary client is available for download for both Windows 7 and Mac OS X operating systems.
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“Technology has progressed to a point where physical location no longer has to dictate the presence of a person,” said Scott Hassan, CEO of Suitable Technologies. “But our goal is to develop a system where an individual can travel instantly.”
He sees the Beam RPD being deployed in companies that employed dispersed workforces where collaboration and communication between individuals from separate locations is done frequently.
The RPD is being sold for $16,000 per unit exclusive of installation and other startup costs.
Suitable Technologies has closed less than 100 contracts so far and among the early customers are Google Inc., Microsoft Corp., Intel Corp. and Mars Food Ltd.
