Surface Hub sleeker sequel set to ship in 2019

Surface Hub 2 enables the power of collaborative work, allowing businesses to unlock the full potential of their greatest resource – people.  As work changes - thanks to the ongoing digital revolution and a shift to non-traditional workspaces - fostering a team-based collaborative culture and spaces designed to enhance productivity and creativity are critical to businesses' success. 48% of executives recognise the importance of collaboration and are modernising their workplaces and systems to attract and retain the next generation of talent.

Surface Hub 2 represents the culmination of years of listening to our customers to better understand their needs. Often to better compete, these businesses must modernise their workplaces and systems to attract the best of the next generation.

People loved the original Surface Hub because it brought people together to work and create, but they also asked us for a more beautiful screen, something easier to install and transport, and more seamless integration of software and apps. We've taken that feedback to heart and used it to work across Microsoft to transform the creation process for Surface Hub 2 and our two new offerings in the Surface Hub family – Surface Hub 2S and Surface Hub 2X. Today we're pumped to share more about these incredible collaboration devices.

Lighter, sleeker, and easier to use

We've learned a lot from our Surface fans who have been vocal in their appreciation for our meticulously designed products, attention to detail, brilliant touch displays, and cohesive experiences across not only modes of input like Surface Pen, but also across hardware and software.  Surface Hub 2 is gorgeous – lighter, sleeker, and more intuitive than its predecessor, all while being as easy to install as putting a TV on a wall. Paired with elegant mobile stands from our partner Steelcase, Surface Hub 2 can be moved around the room with ease and anchored to a spot with a simple tap of your foot, providing the kind of freedom that's never been seen in collaborative workspaces before. Now you can have a meeting wherever you choose, helping shift meetings from being passive to active, helping people better engage, create better ideas and drive better business outcomes.

We all remember how we felt when we received our first laptop. For the first time, we weren't tethered to our offices or the computer in our parent's kitchen. We were free to go where we wanted, write our ideas down whenever and wherever inspiration struck, go write a paper in a coffee shop or create a presentation from the couch while watching our favourite show. Surface Hub 2 brings freedom not just to large screen devices, but also the collaborative process.

Collaborate across the world

In addition to having the convenience of being able to create an anytime, anywhere collaboration space with the transportable Surface Hub 2 stand you can effectively meet with teams from all over the world. If your colleague is hundreds or even thousands of miles away from you, they will feel like they're in the same room with Surface Hub 2. Meetings sound and look crystal clear in Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business with our improved microphones, speakers, 4K camera, and true to scale video calling.

Intuitive experiences to make your team more productive

Surface Hub 2 seamlessly integrates intuitive hardware, software, and modes of interaction to help people get in and stay in their flow.  With the new Microsoft Whiteboard app, amazing features designed for large touch screens make you feel like you're at a real whiteboard, but with the added benefit of intelligent ink, the ability to find people, Bing search built in, image stacks, and more. Surface Hub 2 provides a robust whiteboard experience, but your whiteboard can be shared across Windows 10, iOS, and Android devices, so you can jump back into the same brainstorm session anytime, anywhere, from any device.

Surface Hub 2S

Since we previewed Surface Hub 2 in May, we've been humbled by the positive feedback we've received from the ecosystem. Current and future Surface Hub customers see the promise of Surface Hub 2 and demand for the device is real, which is why we're so excited to share that we will begin to ship Surface Hub 2S in Q2 2019!

Surface Hub 2S was built for customers who have told us they still want the original Surface Hub experience that they know and have built for, but in a lighter, thinner, more vibrant design. With Surface Hub 2S customers will be able to deploy either an on-premise or hybrid environment and keep the software experiences that they have standardised on with the original Surface Hub. Businesses can also now continue to use Skype for Business on their Surface Hub 2S or deploy the latest version of Microsoft Teams.

Thoughtfully composed

Looking forward to 2020, we will release updates to the Surface Hub family to enable customers to update to Surface Hub 2X. This includes the ability to tile, rotate, and enable multi-user login. This simple update is enabled by our design of removable processor cartridges, in an easily accessible hardware chassis on the back of the Surface Hub 2. This processor cartridge can be removed, upgraded and serviced over time. The cartridge is what will enable customers to make the switch to the Microsoft 365 powered Surface Hub 2X in 2020.

As with all our devices, Surface Hub 2 was designed to give people a product that will help them create more, do more, and achieve more. With Surface Hub 2 we believe we have created an experience that not only people but teams will love. Surface Hub 2 breaks down barriers between teammates and will help organisations around the world to elevate themselves with a more modern and collaborative culture. We can't wait to see how and where our customers use Surface Hub 2 and look forward to sharing more news in the coming months.

Article based on a Microsoft blog post by hardware engineering general manager Robin Seiler