Jabra Reach arrives to make BYOD meeting rooms easier to use

Jabra has introduced Jabra Reach, a BYOD extension solution designed to simplify the use and installation of video systems in meeting rooms. Its main proposition is to replace configurations based on multiple cables and adapters with a single USB-C connection to access the room’s display, camera, microphones and speakers from a laptop.

The announcement comes at a time when organisations are expanding their use of video collaboration across different workspaces. The company notes that maintaining a consistent experience between rooms of different sizes can be challenging when each installation uses a different combination of cables, connectors and adapters.

In addition to Jabra Reach, the company has announced new firmware features for its portfolio of Jabra PanaCast video solutions. These updates will include tools related to room occupancy, display customisation and large-scale device management.

A single connection for the BYOD experience

Jabra Reach is aimed at Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) environments, where users connect their own laptop to the room system to take part in a meeting. With this solution, the computer connects via USB-C and gains access to the various video and audio peripherals installed in the space.

The solution aims to reduce the complexity associated with configurations involving multiple cables. According to information provided by Jabra, these installations can cause connection problems and increase the workload for IT and audiovisual teams, particularly when they need to be replicated across a large number of rooms.

Jabra Reach uses HDBaseT technology to extend the connection up to 100 metres. The company says this capability makes it possible to deploy the solution in rooms of different sizes and facilitate tidier installations, with fewer potential points of failure and greater consistency between locations.

The system is designed to work with all of Jabra’s room video solutions. This allows organisations to integrate it into their existing configurations without changing how the current installation operates, according to the company.

Flexible installation and laptop charging

The solution offers different mounting options for placing it on a table or behind the display. Jabra also highlights the presence of concealed ports and secured cables, features intended to create a configuration that is better protected against tampering and has less visible clutter.

The USB-C connection can provide optional power of up to 100 W. This makes it possible to keep the laptop charged while using the room system, without having to use an additional connection to power the device.

Jabra Reach is designed as a plug-and-play solution. Users can start using the video bar by connecting their laptop, without needing to install additional drivers. The company is therefore aiming for a more straightforward meeting experience, with fewer steps required before starting a call.

In the words of Holger Reisinger, senior vice-president of Jabra’s video business unit, connecting a laptop to a meeting room should be simple, but it is often complicated by the use of different cables and adapters. As he explains, Jabra Reach addresses this challenge at the infrastructure level and provides a single cable for the connection.

Centralised control through Jabra Plus

Jabra Reach can be managed through Jabra Plus Management, the company’s device administration platform. This integration gives IT teams centralised visibility and control over compatible meeting rooms.

From a single platform, those responsible can configure, monitor and support the devices included in Jabra’s video deployments. Centralised management is aimed particularly at organisations that need to administer installations distributed across different rooms or locations.

The solution is also designed to make it easier to replicate installations at scale. By consolidating connections and maintaining a more uniform configuration, Jabra aims to help installation teams carry out faster and tidier deployments.

New features for Jabra PanaCast

Alongside the launch of Jabra Reach, the company has announced new firmware updates for the entire Jabra PanaCast portfolio. These improvements will expand the customisation, control and management options available for existing video bars.

One of the new features is People Count, which provides information about room occupancy and usage. Jabra presents it as a tool that enables organisations to gain greater visibility into how their meeting spaces are used.

Custom Wallpaper will also be introduced, allowing room displays to be customised with the company’s branding and other information. This option is intended to adapt the devices’ visual presentation to each organisation’s identity.

The update will also include Web UI over USB, a feature that will allow devices to be configured and managed from a browser via USB. This alternative is intended to make it easier to access equipment settings without relying on additional procedures.

Finally, the new CLI functionality will be aimed at IT teams and audiovisual integrators. According to Jabra, it will allow devices to be deployed and managed more efficiently in large-scale installations.

The four improvements — People Count, Custom Wallpaper, Web UI over USB and CLI — will be available across the entire Jabra PanaCast portfolio before the end of 2026. The company has not specified in the material provided whether they will arrive simultaneously on all models.

Availability and price

Jabra Reach will be available from 5 October 2026. Its recommended retail price will be €899.

With this launch, Jabra combines a connection solution for BYOD environments with new management features for its PanaCast range. The aim is to reduce installation complexity, make the experience between rooms more consistent and give the teams responsible for IT greater control over video devices.