According to Facebook, each app will have a consistent design language that is familiar to existing users of those systems. That the Zoom interface will be familiar to Zoom users etc. You can view upcoming meetings or tap on links to join a conversation. Whiteboard features on BlueJeans and Zoom are also supported, as long as you use a Portal with a touchscreen.
Facebook will also incorporate more of Workplace, its own enterprise platform, into Portal devices. Back in May, Facebook integrated Workplace Rooms, allowing you to have video conferences of up to 50 people (it’s the business version of Messenger Rooms, which has the same feature), as well as Workplace Live, which you can use to run everything – provides meetings, Q & As and presentations, in standalone Portals. Now these features are also coming to Portal TV.
In addition, Facebook will shortly allow you to log in to Portal with a Workplace ID instead of a Facebook or WhatsApp account. This way, you can choose to use the Portal as a dedicated work device if you wish. Of course, you will not be able to use certain Portal features without a Facebook account, such as Facebook Messenger or Portal’s built-in voice assistant. But other services that do not require Facebook sign-ups, such as Alexa and Spotify, should work just fine. According to Facebook, you will be able to create a free registration for Workplace in the coming weeks.
The Portal was the first smart display that really put video chat in the foreground. One particularly striking feature is its AI-powered face-tracking camera that can pan and zoom as you follow around the room. A year later, Google’s Nest Hub Max introduced a very similar technology for face-tracking to its video chat feature.
As for privacy, the Portal allows you to disable the camera and microphone, and you can also choose to enable a 4-12 digit password. Workplace on Portal actually requires a local PIN code, which you can also extend to GoToMeeting and Zoom apps. According to Facebook, the Portal’s face-tracking technology is stored locally on the device, not on the company’s servers.
Despite these privacy measures, many people blocked the idea of having a Facebook camera and microphone in their home because of the dubious reputation of the company. Sales for Portal Hardware were said to be “very low” according to supply chain sources as recently as October. But as video conferencing grew in popularity during the pandemic, so did the demand for the Portal. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Portal’s sales increased by more than 10 times in April, and its Portal TV set sold out in March.
As part of today’s announcement, Zoom will also be available on Google – powered smart displays and the Amazon Echo Show. Recently, it teamed up with third-party manufacturers to come up with a line of “Zoom for Home” hardware that is more focused on business professionals.
