Lenovo ThinkSmart expands its offer with new solutions

April 3, 2024: Lenovo(TM) announced two solutions ahead of Enterprise Connect that will help businesses more easily modernize and transform meeting spaces into managed video conferencing spaces and Microsoft Teams Rooms. The Lenovo ThinkSmart(TM) Tiny Kit and ThinkPad(TM) Universal USB-C Smart Dock — ThinkSmart Edition enable users to collaborate effectively while providing IT managers with the benefits of managed meeting spaces.

Lenovo ThinkSmart Tiny Kit

The Lenovo ThinkSmart offering is expanding with new solutions that enable the creation of smart and accessible meeting rooms

As the hybrid work model continues to evolve and begins to be accepted as the new norm around the world, companies are facing the next challenge presented by this transformation — smart meeting spaces. It is estimated that over 43% of remote workers feel they are not fully included in meetings, and video capabilities are supported in less than 8% of meeting rooms worldwide (Source: Microsoft E-Book: Harness the Power of Microsoft Teams Rooms — a path from BYOD to native Team Rooms. For this reason, companies are trying to improve collaboration to meet the needs of employees and the IT departments that support them.) “Customers have many options when it comes to implementing the right technologies to build and modernize meeting spaces in today’s world of hybrid work and distributed teams,” said Shannon MacKay, general manager of the Worldwide Smart Collaboration Business at Lenovo. — “The ThinkSmart Tiny Kit and ThinkSmart Docking Station are essential solutions for transforming meeting spaces to provide better audiovisual experiences while managing the backend for IT support.”

Lenovo ThinkSmart Tiny Kit

The Lenovo ThinkSmart Tiny Kit includes a 4th Gen ThinkCentre M70q computer and a ThinkSmart controller that together enable Microsoft Teams meetings with a single front-of-room display and external audio/video. Additionally, Lenovo will offer the ThinkSmart USB HDMI Capture device at a later date. This solution is ideal for customers looking for a low-threshold transition from bring-your-own-device (BYOD) meetings, i.e. unmanaged conferencing solutions that require a computer of one of the participants to conduct the meeting, to the Microsoft Teams room environment. With desktop computing power to support the meeting, ThinkSmart Tiny Kit users can take advantage of Microsoft Teams Rooms features such as one-touch calling and a Front-Row meeting layout. This modular kit also gives customers the ability to add their preferred certified peripherals, such as the ThinkSmart Bar 180 Video Bar and ThinkSmart Cam, to optimize their conferencing experience. For customers who would like to upgrade and access more features in their Microsoft Teams Rooms environment, ThinkSmart offers a range of certified Microsoft Teams Rooms devices, including ThinkSmart Hub, ThinkSmart One and ThinkSmart Core. The ThinkSmart Tiny Kit is powered by ThinkSmart Manager, a Lenovo proprietary control panel that gives IT teams the ability to deploy, monitor, and troubleshoot Lenovo ThinkSmart devices from a single interface, regardless of device status or location. The solution allows IT managers to check the status of a given room, add new devices and new users, as well as view all active users, check for updates and restart the device. ThinkSmart Manager automatically detects problems, so IT staff receive immediate, real-time notifications of critical issues, even before users can report them.

Lenovo ThinkSmart Tiny Kit

ThinkPad Universal USB-C Smart Dock — ThinkSmart Edition

The ThinkSmart Docking Station is an essential solution for companies that want to capture room usage and other data analytics for future strategic technology investments, while maintaining BYOD room interoperability and flexibility. Equipped with pre-installed ThinkSmart Manager Basic software, this smart docking station enables IT administrators to achieve full functionality of the managed room. The ThinkSmart Docking Station is equipped with a wide range of ports, next-generation plug-and-play functionality and fast charging capabilities (supplementary: up to 100W for most USB-C notebooks), and is powerful enough to automatically install critical firmware updates. The ThinkSmart Docking Station features an innovative cable management system that keeps all connections separate and locks them in place to prevent accidental unplugging. Thanks to this, meeting participants can quickly connect their laptops using one, tidy cable. Combining unified communications (UC) interoperability (Teams, Zoom, Webex, Google Meet, etc.) with plug-and-play flexibility, the ThinkSmart Docking Station enables users to connect users with a single cable to professional, conference room-quality audiovisual devices and displays large-format for group meetings in a conference room or conference space.

ThinkPad Universal USB-C Smart Dock — ThinkSmart Edition

EMEA availability and pricing

The Lenovo ThinkSmart Tiny Kit will be available worldwide in the second half of 2024, starting at €999. (additional explanation: Prices may exclude tax; prices do not include shipping or custom options and are subject to change without notice; additional terms and conditions apply. Reseller prices may vary. On-sale dates and colour options may vary by region, and some products may only be available in select markets. All offers are subject to availability. Lenovo reserves the right to change product offerings, features, functions, and specifications at any time without notice.) The Lenovo ThinkPad Universal USB-C Smart Dock — ThinkSmart Edition will be available worldwide in the second half of 2024, starting at €349. Prices in Poland will be announced soon.

Service and technical support

The Lenovo ThinkSmart Tiny Kit comes with one year of Lenovo Premier Support (addendum: Lenovo Premier Support is available for three years. Subscription fees and additional costs may apply after this period) to provide access to support by advanced technicians 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Lenovo ThinkSmart Tiny Kit comes with one year of Lenovo Premier Support, which is extendable to three, four and five years, providing access to support from advanced technicians 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. ) ThinkSmart computing products, including the Lenovo ThinkSmart Tiny Kit, offer protection with proactive security features at every layer. Providing comprehensive peace of mind, Lenovo ThinkShield includes supply chain security, below-the-OS protection and OS-to-cloud solutions.

Lenovo ThinkSmart Tiny Kit (ThinkCentre M70q 4th Generation)

Product Specifications — Lenovo ThinkSmart Tiny Kit (ThinkCentre M70q 4th Generation)

Processor: Intel® i3 Raptor Lake Operating memory: 16 GB (8 GB x 2 SO-DIMM) Storage: 256 GB (Available user memory and internal memory is less due to the operating system, software and other features using some of this capacity; it is subject to change with software updates.) Operating system: Windows 11 IoT Enterprise for Collaboration HDMI: 1 x USB®8 based HDMI input, 1 x 8k@30 HDMI output USB: 5 x USB-A® (5 x USB 3.2) 1 x USB-C® (1 x USB 3.x Gen 2) Wireless Internet: WIFI 6E Ethernet: 1 x vPRO Gbe LAN External Mounting: VESA mount Dimensions (L x W x H) 179 x 36.5 x 182.9 millimeters 7.0 x 1.4 x 7.2 inches Weight 1.32 kg (2.6 lb)

Product Specifications — ThinkPad Universal USB-C Smart Dock — ThinkSmart Edition

Solution: USB-C® DP Alt Mode Microsoft Azure Sphere Connectivity: 1 meter USB-C cable Video port: 2 x DisplayPort 1.4 1 x HDMI 2.0 USB port: 3 x USB-A® 3.2 Gen 21 (10 Gbps, 1 always active) 2 x USB-A® 2.01 1 xUSB® Type-C (10 Gb/s, 5 V / 3 A) Video Resolution: Maximum: 4K2 Number of displays: Maximum: 3 Audio: Stereo microphone input Maximum notebook charging: 60W Compatible OS: Windows 10 and above Dimensions (length x width x height): 171 x 80 x 30 millimeters 6.73 x 3.15 x 1.18 inches Weight: Starting from 0.51 kg (2.5 lb) Kensington lock slots: 1 x K-lock slot 1 x Kensington NanoSaver lock slot.