(Credit: HP)
Want to own Google Beam, the company’s futuristic video calling system? You might need a loan because it costs $24,999 for a single unit.
HP, Google’s partner on the project, is preparing to sell the video-conferencing system late this year. Of course, normal consumers wouldn’t be able to afford Google Beam. So the companies are first targeting select enterprise customers with hefty technology budgets.
Officially known as the HP Dimension with Google Beam, the system is so expensive because it’s built around a 65-inch 8K “light field” screen that’s designed to project 3D images. The same screen also features six built-in cameras that can capture the user from different angles.
(Credit: HP/Google)The result can upgrade the traditional video-conferencing experience by projecting the user’s image in 3D, creating a life-like presence during the digital call; no 3D glasses or headsets needed. In our hands-on tests, the technology came remarkably close to replicating an in-person meeting, an effect the companies claim boosts attention and memory retention.
“There’s zero learning curve here, it should be very familiar,” HP's Head of Future Customer Experience, Beau Wilder, said in a press briefing.
Google originally introduced the technology in 2021 as Project Starline before renaming it to Beam. The company is now ready to commercialize the system, but the $24,999 price means interested clients will pay a fortune to adopt Google Beam, especially if they want to install several systems at different offices.
On top of all this, customers will need to pay for a separate Google Beam license, which will bundle a Google Meet or Zoom license. Despite the high price tag, we’ll be interested to see how the technology matures over time and whether Google and HP can reduce the cost.
The plan is to first sell Google Beam in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, and Japan. The 3D immersive calls can only be conducted on a one-on-one basis. But the same hardware can also hold regular Zoom and Google Meet calls in 2D for group meetings. HP is also working on a "network" so that Google Beam users can learn who else owns the hardware, giving customers more opportunities to conduct 3D meetings together.