Facebook released two tablet-like devices called Portal Go and Portal Plus. The function of this tablet is....to make video calls.
Yes, both Portal Go and Portal Plus main function is to make video calls from various platforms. The operating system is based on Android, and is intended for video calls for employees who work remotely.
In it there is a calendar application that syncs to Outlook or Google to save meeting schedules, which allows users to directly make video calls via the Portal home screen.
In addition to making video calls via Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, Portal also supports Zoom, Cisco Webex, BlueJeans, and GoToMeeting. Then in December Portal is also scheduled to support Microsoft Teams.
This integration with Teams shows Portal as a standalone device for conducting video conferencing. Then in 2022 Facebook will launch a program where companies can buy Portals in large quantities for their employees, and these devices can be used without a Facebook or WhatsApp account.
"We see the future of hybrid work," said Micah Collins, director of product management for Portal at Facebook.
According to him, Portal has been mostly used in the family environment, but Facebook has seen a significant increase in its use for work purposes, especially since the Corona pandemic.
Portal Go is equipped with a 10 inch screen with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. This device is equipped with a battery so that it can be removed from the dock to move. The front camera is 12MP and has 125-degree coverage. The price is USD 199 .
While Portal Plus has a 14-inch screen, the same as the first Portal released in 2019. The screen resolution is 2160 x 1440 pixels, and has a front camera that has a wider coverage, which is 131 degrees. The price is USD 349 .
Both are equipped with complementary features such as Smart Sound to reduce background noise. The device itself is equipped with four microphones, two for speakers, supports 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi, and Bluetooth 5.1
