Microsoft staggers rollout of Surface Hub 2, with hardware in 2019; new software in 2020
microsoft ignite 2019
Last we heard from the Surface team, Microsoft's plan was to roll out its Surface Hub 2 conferencing system some time in 2019. At Ignite this week, Microsoft updated that timeline by staggering the rollout of the promised device over a two-year period, with the new hardware coming first and the next-generation software and services for the platform the following year.
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The new Surface Hub 2 rollout plan calls for Microsoft to deliver a first iteration of the Surface Hub 2 in the second calendar quarter of 2019. This will be the 50.5-inch, 4K-plus multitouch system which we saw in photos and videos in June this year. Microsoft is designating this Surface Hub 2S.
In 2020, Microsoft will update the same Surface Hub 2 hardware it introduces in 2019 with a system refresh. The garage in the back of the Surface Hub 2 device which holds the computing unit will allow users to slip in a 2X module. This module will update the Surface Hub 2 with a number of the features that Microsoft initially promised would be part of the Surface Hub 2 in 2019.
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The Surface Hub 2 hardware won't change beyond that computing unit. But the 2X will run Microsoft 365 -- Microsoft's bundle of Windows 10, Office 365 and Enterprise Management + Security. The 2X release also will support dynamic rotation, multi-user authentication, tiling and other features Microsoft has been touting as coming with Surface Hub 2.
The 2S module will run the same Surface Hub system software (an iteration of Windows 10 Enterprise that's known as "Windows 10 Team") as the current Surface Hub 1 does. Officials declined to say whether the 2X module will run the long-rumored Windows Core OS and "Aruba" Surface Hub shell as part of Windows 10.
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Microsoft officials deny there's been a delay in delivering the Surface Hub 2. Instead, they say that they are listening to customer feedback, and customers wanted to continue to have access to the original Surface Hub 1 experience. Microsoft is believed to have had trouble meeting demand for Surface Hub 1, so this staggered release also may give the company a way to keep shipping Surface Hubs to customers who are continuing to order them.
MORE FROM IGNITE:Microsoft tries again to win developers with new Cortana Enterprise Skills Kit | What's next for Teams | Microsoft to unify search across Windows 10, Office 365 and Bing with Microsoft Search | Microsoft readies previews of Azure Digital Twins, Azure Sphere secure-edge service
Microsoft is not yet going public with Surface Hub 2 pricing. In May, officials said the pricing would be in line with that of competitive devices.
At Ignite this week, Microsoft will be demonstrating a prototype of Surface Hub 2, but I'm hearing devices won't be available on the show floor for anyone to try. (Maybe behind closed doors?)
The Surface Hub 2, which Microsoft will begin testing later this year and ship some time in 2019, is the successor to Surface Hub 1, which launched in March 2016.
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