Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Austin, TX, Boom Collaboration develops conferencing and collaboration hardware solutions for a wide array of meeting environments. Boom was born by founders Fredrik Hörnkvist and Holli Hulett who have a natural love for collaboration and a strong desire to address both current and future video conferencing trends, through an agile organization that brings innovation to today’s dynamic and diverse meeting room spaces.
Boom believes excellent hardware that delivers smooth video and crystal clear audio brings the world one step closer and helps customers accomplish more together in less time.
Interview with Fredrik Hörnkvist, Co-Founder of Boom Collaboration.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Fredrik Hörnkvist: Boom Collaboration is a video conferencing hardware manufacturer and creates high performance, high value advanced products. The business has quickly developed an extensive conferencing portfolio and operates in 20 countries, with plans to extend to 30 more. Many new product innovations are in the pipeline too, along with the development of a Boom training academy. We believe in better meetings. Simply.
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
F.H: Boom has launched many new products over the last 12 months including a portable all-in-one device which further blurs the lines between home and office work. The Boom UNO is a complete conferencing system that combines a 120° wide angle full HD camera with a 360° omnidirectional microphone and built-in speaker.
The compact stylish device has plug-and-play functionality via one USB cable and is available in black and white color variants. It is compatible with Zoom, Teams, Webex, Google Meet and all the major meeting apps.
We have also developed a wireless and expandable audio solution for smarter and more flexible meeting experiences.
The portable Boom GEMINI is a dual unit system, where each device features four omnidirectional microphones each with an impressive reach of up to eight metres.
Dynamic noise reduction and automatic echo cancellation are combined with wideband audio for supreme plug-and-play performance. It provides the ability to double the audio and microphone capacity for medium to large meeting rooms, as well as more adaptable spaces.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
F.H: Boom provides collaboration solutions for room environments of all shapes and sizes, spanning audio, video, multi-camera control and many associated accessories. These include high performance cameras, expandable audio and all-in-one devices.
The Boom MAGNA for example is our flagship powerful camera for superior meetings. Users can take their video conferencing to the next level with Ultra HD 4K @ 60fps and 12x optical zoom. They can enjoy superior image quality with Sony CMOS sensor and excellent low light optimization. Multiple video outputs, noise reduction, remote control and multi-codec IP streaming make the Boom MAGNA their go to camera for medium to large conference rooms.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
F.H: Growth is very healthy. We started the company during the pandemic where demand literally exploded. Our customers are now developing longer term strategies for flexible working and new ways to collaborate. Work from anywhere is now within the reach of millions of people.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
F.H: As more staff combine home working with a limited return to offices, we are finding demand for huddle room solutions continues to grow. Quality performance really counts too.
The art of communication continues to evolve with personal appearance becoming ever more crucial on video calls, as participants compete to be seen and heard clearly. Body language and eye contact can help build an instant bond in an increasingly virtual world.
The Covid pandemic triggered a huge ‘Zoom boom’ with more than a 40% rise in the popularity of minimal invasive procedures such as Botox and lip fillers, in some areas of the world – as millions more people began embracing video calls for work and socializing.
People are definitely becoming more self-conscious and aware of how they appear.
Other than looking in a mirror, many hadn’t really paid too much attention to themselves and certainly not on camera before.
We’ve read widespread media reports how interest in neck and face work has leapt dramatically in recent years, which reflects what we’re seeing too. In areas of Europe there’s been a reported 30% rise in bookings year-on-year, compared to the US which has seen a 41% increase in treatments, with 5.5m procedures conducted in one year alone. The industry is estimated to be worth $4.4 billion with no sign of slowing down.
Maintaining face-to face eye contact is crucial for a rewarding and life-like call experience. Body language is part of the overall call chemistry, with great hardware vs not so great hardware a vital component of overall success. Building a bond and rapport happens in many different ways. Being relaxed, happy and friendly goes a long way.
So much human interaction happens through body language and facial expressions. A smile can light up a room and make someone happy without any words. Emotion is powerful. A meeting is an encounter between people, where we constantly read each other. First impressions count.
It’s also important to be flexible as well as natural and adaptable to different scenarios whether that’s teaching, pitching or selling. Being able to adapt is very important on a video call. Some miss that when trying to create inclusivity and equality. Boom cameras and audio are designed to create better meetings, simply.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
F.H: Boom Collaboration has just launched a powerful multi camera controller designed to put the power of mixing into the hands of anyone, in an easy and intuitive way. The Boom GOJO transforms live events and conference calls – with a four dimensional joystick to control pan, tilt and zoom functions as well as speed.
It includes four camera quick select buttons and massive capacity to seamlessly link 255 devices. The GOJO can be used in traditional conference rooms as well as for high performance broadcasts, with an array of connectivity options.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2023?
F.H: 2023 is a big year for us as we continue to expand our presence across Europe and beyond. The market is buoyant and our reputation continues to grow.