Surface Hub Pricing and Availability Announced

Surface Hub devices will be available to order in July and will ship in Sept. 2015. The Surface Hub devices will be the first Microsoft-branded conference room display. The stand-alone devices could prove a sleek alternative to traditional conference room technology stacks of cameras, microphones, and displays or projectors. Microsoft has embedded its software into the device, emphasizing local and remote collaboration for teams using OneNote and Skype for Business.

Surface Hub will be available in 55- and 84-inch (measured diagonally) models. The 55-inch model (US$6,999) offers a resolution of 1080p, while the 84-inch model (US$19,999) offers full 4K resolution. Both models offer significant upgrades from the technology that Microsoft acquired with Perceptive Pixel in 2012. Most notably, Surface Hubs contain full PCs running Windows 10. They include two switchable 1080P cameras, two speakers, and a built-in four-microphone array designed to work in most conference rooms without additional hardware. The Gorilla Glass display is optically bonded (the display and glass are glued together), which results in a durable, clear display. The display provides up to 100 touchpoints and works with two included pens to enable precise drawing on-screen by up to two individuals at a time. Several Microsoft applications will be optimized for use with Surface Hub devices, including Skype for Business (formerly Lync) and the versions of OneNote and Office expected later this year.