The first “Designed for Google Meet” machine is a $200 telephone dock

As cool as videoconferencing {hardware} can look, it’s typically exorbitantly costly — the $2,000 Series One Desk 27 for Google Meet being an ideal instance. Luckily, alongside that costly Meet machine, Google also announced its “Designed for Google Meet” program and a extra inexpensive first entry, the Rayz Rally Pro. It’s a $200 Nest Mini-like telephone speaker that doubles as a microphone for Google Meet calls.

The Rayz Rally Pro is available in a gray-tone fabric-covered physique that appears a bit like Google’s good audio system however with a telephone dock carveout. The speaker dock is available in two varieties: a Lightning connector iPhone mannequin and a Google Pixel model that ought to work with any USB-C telephone. Both variations can work as a Bluetooth speaker, omnidirectional microphone, and 20W passthrough fast-charging dock for no matter telephone you join.

The massive trick of the Rally Pro and all the third-party units included in Google’s Designed for Google Meet program is its shut integration with Google Meet. According to the Rally Pro’s producer, Appcessori, “joining a Google Meet video call is as simple as plugging in a smartphone and then tapping the Google Meet invite that is automatically launched at plug in.” The machine additionally options “active noise suppression and automatic gain control” and a devoted mute button.

Image: Appcessori Corporation

It’s not clear if these options will work the identical means on a non-Google platform like iOS or in the event that they’re appropriate with different video chat software program like Zoom or Webex. The Verge has contacted Appcessori for extra info and can replace if we study extra.

The use instances for a microphone and speaker for video chatting in your telephone appear to be they may be restricted. If you’re touring and taking calls, a laptop computer may do the trick. But with telephone selfie cameras steadily taking higher video than the built-in webcams in most laptops, possibly it begins to make extra sense.

You can preorder the Rayz Rally Pro for $199.99 now for an anticipated ship date of September seventeenth.