microsoft to sell big-screen surface hub for up to $20,000 - digital whiteboard price

Seattle, June 10Reuters)-
Microsoft will release its price tag for the first time to sell its new, larger version of wall-mounted video-
$20,000 in conference and digital whiteboard equipment makes it the most expensive product in its hardware range
The software company said Wednesday that the situation had improved.
The order for Surface Hub starts in July 1 and Microsoft hopes it will become a fixture in conference rooms around the world.
It will run a custom version of Windows 10, the new operating system Microsoft will launch by the end of July.
Delivery started in September.
Despite the high price, Microsoft is betting that Surface Hub will attract businesses accustomed to spending multiple of that amount on conference room facilities.
"The theoretical market may be much larger than the actual market," said JP Gonder, an analyst at technology research firm Forrester . ".
The device may not be immediately popular with businesses, but it should attract companies that are important for collaborative work, such as product design, marketing, and advertising, he said.
Integrated Video
Calls and notes
The Surface Hub goes to the touch screen and goes back to the products produced by Oregon pixel perception
Microsoft acquired the company in 2012.
Microsoft released the prototype of the new device in January.
This is Microsoft's latest step into the high-end market.
Starting with the launch of the Surface tablet in 2012 and the acquisition of Nokia's mobile phone business last year, it is a high-tech hardware. An 84-
The inch screen is priced at $20,000. A smaller 55-
The Inch version costs $7,000.
Mike Angiulo, who runs Microsoft Devices Group, said Surface Hub will "pay for and make money for itself ".
Angiulo will not reveal how many surface centers are being produced, but says there is a big potential market for the millions of conference rooms used by global organizations.
The Surface Hub does not have a clear market segment, and it combines elements of video conferencing systems such as video conferencing systems manufactured by Cisco Systems and digital whiteboards manufactured by Panasonic and others.
The only direct comparable product is the Mondopad made by InFocus, which costs slightly less than Microsoft's.
The larger Surface Hub model has just passed 4 inch (10 cm)
280 thick (127 kg)
Angiulo says this is the largest piece of glass in the production of electronic products.
Microsoft makes these devices in wilville, Oregon. (
Bill Rigby reports;
Editor Bernard Orr)