What Logitech Microsoft Teams Room should I choose?
What Logitech Microsoft Teams Room should I choose?
Windows vs. Android
Congratulations on choosing Microsoft Teams as your meeting platform. You’ve made a great choice! Now it’s time to set your conference rooms up with the right devices, depending on whether you choose Windows-based Microsoft Teams Rooms (MTRoW) or Android-based Microsoft Teams Rooms (MTRoA).
So, what do you choose? MTRoW (Microsoft Teams Room over Windows) or MTRoA (Microsoft Teams Room over Android)? It’s a question that has been around since Microsoft Teams Rooms first launched and will likely always be one of the first considerations.
Many variables may influence the decisions made in this task, including feature requirements, room sizes, and OEM device management options. So how do we begin to address them?
Let’s jump back to the beginning, before MTRoA or Android-based systems.
Initially, the first room systems to be certified as Microsoft Teams Rooms were Windows-based. This was due to several factors, including the fact that Microsoft builds the Windows OS and many tools for managing and controlling devices that run on it, a natural starting point.
Windows-based Microsoft Teams Rooms have always been modular systems, with few exceptions. The system comprises separate components: a camera for in-room video, microphones, speakers for in-room audio, a touch panel for Meeting controls, and one or two front-of-room displays for viewing remote meeting participants and content.
The following are the characteristics of a common Windows-based Microsoft Teams Rooms:
- Windows-based Microsoft Teams Rooms system
- Running a version of the Windows IoT operating system.
- The Windows OS runs on a separate small form factor PC (from a variety of PC OEMs)
- Microsoft Teams Rooms requirements — Microsoft Teams
2. Certified audio and video peripherals, including Meeting control devices.
- These peripherals must meet standards Microsoft establishes and enforces in order to be “certified.”
- All components, except for displays, are tested to ensure they are optimized for use in a Microsoft Teams meeting.
3. Cabling solution to integrate the devices
So now let’s talk about Android-based systems.
More recently, Microsoft has expanded the Teams Rooms ecosystem with software for Android OS collaboration devices. Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android (formerly called collaboration bars) are often all-in-one systems for simple and quick deployments. However, Logitech recently released an Android-based system designed to be modular, like the small form factor PC from Windows-based systems, called the Logitech Roommate.
One may hear the word “Android” and imagine a device like a tablet or a smartphone in which an end user can “side load” apps and get into the system creating a security risk. When in reality, security and privacy are critical aspects of product design.
Logitech has built its own firmware called CollabOS, based on Android 10, but it is locked down and provides best-in-class security, privacy, and performance. Several Logitech products have the CollabOS operating system, including the Rally Bars and the Roommate. These Logitech products have been developed using a secure development lifecycle that follows industry best practices during product design, development, and fielding.
What considerations must I be aware of before making my decision?
Security
Before looking at room design, workflows, and features, understanding how the devices will work within your environment and what security risks may or may not be involved is critical.
Many factors are involved in this decision. For example, two companies may seem to have similar security concerns and may make different choices. One may see the Windows-based systems as rogue PCs, not allowing the IT department to install a corporate image with their preferred antivirus software and possibly other management tools. And another may look at the Android device and not allow a “rooted” device to exist on their network.
This decision is not simple and will vary from company to company. But here are some tools to help make that decision (It is not an exhaustive list):
- https://www.logitech.com/content/dam/logitech/en/video-collaboration/pdf/security-and-privacy-in-logitech-video-collaboration-devices.pdf
- https://www.logitech.com/content/dam/logitech/en/video-collaboration/pdf/ebook-microsoft-teams-rooms-on-windows-and-android.pdf
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/rooms/
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/rooms/security-windows
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/rooms/security-android
Android devices, compared to Window-based solutions, seem to be:
1. Faster to install
2. Some may consider them easier to support
a. Consider that it does not have a large operating system like Windows — fewer points of failure.
3. Some may consider them more secure
a. The Logitech CollabOS is completely locked to the needed user and admin features; no unnecessary features are available, like in Windows; among other things, these features may also be considered security vulnerabilities.
4. Technical support
a. Logitech owns hardware design and OS development, which makes the “one-stop shop” technical support scenario applicable in the majority of cases with room systems
b. In the case of Windows-based applications, the main room computer’s hardware design is courtesy of the manufacturer of that PC, and Microsoft provides the operating system.
What about the other side?
Logitech Android-based (CollabOS-based) devices still don’t have full control over the VC application (i.e., Teams). Logitech’s technical support teams sometimes must ask customers to raise tickets directly with Microsoft.
The inherent maturity of Teams Rooms on Windows means that Microsoft often develops first for Windows, followed by Android. This may include security, meeting room features, workflows, and device certifications.
IT departments are often more familiar with managing and maintaining Windows-Based devices, which may make them lean toward solutions for which they are comfortable.
Management
Teams Account and Software Management
Microsoft Teams Rooms devices in your organization have flexible management options. You can manage them in the same central location where you manage all your Microsoft Teams solutions, the Microsoft Teams admin center.
With Microsoft Teams admin center, you can:
1. Perform device management like restarting devices and downloading device logs
2. Apply Teams-specific settings
3. Check the health status of Microsoft Teams Rooms and their peripherals, including cameras, displays, microphones, and so on
4. Review current and past meeting activity (such as details about call quality, network health and connectivity, and number of participants)
5. See peripherals (such as cameras and projectors) connected to Microsoft Teams Rooms (only for Teams Rooms on Windows)
6. To manage Teams Rooms devices, open the Microsoft Teams admin center and go to Teams Devices > Teams Rooms on Windows
Hardware Management
Managing the Room Account and Software is typically done through the above-mentioned options. But the hardware will also need to be configured and managed as well. So Logitech has built a cloud-based management tool called Sync.
With Sync, you can ensure that your Logitech video collaboration devices are healthy and up to date and quickly configure meeting room features to suit your organization’s needs.
Sync is included in the cost of the Logitech devices and can manage the Logitech hardware for both Windows-based and Android-based solutions.
For more information:
https://www.logitech.com/en-us/video-collaboration/products/sync.html
Room Design and Workflow
In general, the Room Design and the hardware within the room should provide a consistent experience, easy-to-use features, and a high-quality experience.
Logitech and Microsoft help teams work wherever and however they want by delivering a better hybrid meeting experience. The Logitech flexible solutions let you choose between Teams Rooms on Windows or Android and switch as your needs evolve.
What are the best practices for designing and managing video conferencing room solutions? Visit the following to help understand what factors you may consider, from Room Size, Room Application, Room Technology, and more.
Android and Windows systems offer similar but slightly different feature sets and room options. For more information, visit the links below:
Teams Rooms on Windows and Android feature comparison
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/rooms/teams-devices-feature-comparison
Teams Room Certified Devices
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/rooms/requirements?source=recommendations
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/devices/teams-ip-phones
The Decision
Microsoft and Logitech have made setting up a meeting room with high-quality audio and video easier. Both Teams Rooms on Windows and Android solutions have a place in modern meeting rooms.
This article does not explain what is appropriate for your environment. Instead, it presents some of the information that will help you begin the process by considering some key factors related to security, management, room design, and workflow.
There is much more to consider, but hopefully, this article will springboard you into making the right decision for your environment.
