Owl Labs unveils Meeting Owl 5 Pro for hybrid rooms

Owl Labs has introduced the Meeting Owl 5 Pro, a new 360-degree camera, speaker and microphone unit aimed at hybrid meeting rooms and IT-managed deployments.

The product sits at the centre of a meeting table and connects to room audio-visual setups using a single USB cable in a bring-your-own-device configuration. Owl Labs positioned the design as a way to reduce meeting disruptions linked to technical issues.

The company said the Meeting Owl 5 Pro is available for pre-order and that initial availability covers the US, Canada, the UK and Europe, with wider rollout planned later.

Room Connectivity

The Meeting Owl 5 Pro includes HDMI, USB-C and Ethernet ports, which Owl Labs said are intended to improve connection stability and simplify cable routing in meeting rooms. It also supports direct Ethernet connectivity for hardwired networking and centralised device management.

For larger spaces, the device supports wired multi-device pairing over Ethernet. Owl Labs said organisations can also choose between wireless or wired pairing, depending on network and room requirements.

The unit includes five configurable video meeting modes that can be selected using an on-device multipurpose button. The company described the options as a way to tailor layouts for different meeting formats and room configurations.

Microsoft Alignment

Owl Labs said the Meeting Owl 5 Pro has an architecture aligned with the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform. The company described the design as 'MDEP-ready' and framed it as part of a broader push around security, manageability and IT standards.

The company's existing portfolio includes the Meeting Owl 4+ and Owl Bar. Owl Labs said these products are certified for Microsoft Teams and are used by IT teams managing hybrid meeting deployments.

Hybrid work has continued to shape investment in meeting room equipment, as organisations try to standardise the experience for participants in the room and those joining remotely. Vendors in the segment have put emphasis on simplified setup, fewer cables, and more predictable performance across different room types.

Channel Programme

Alongside the new hardware, Owl Labs is rolling out an enhanced Channel Partner Programme. The Meeting Owl 5 Pro is among the first offerings that Owl Labs is taking to market on a 'channel-first' basis, according to the company.

The programme includes margin flexibility, education and training, deal registration, incentives and dedicated support. Owl Labs is also including a subscription option for Owl 360 Services, which it describes as a services platform for enterprise IT administrators.

Owl 360 Services includes remote device management, analytics, onboarding and technical support, and device protection, according to Owl Labs. The company positioned the service as part of a broader enterprise strategy that combines hardware, software and managed services for meeting room fleets.

Frank Weishaupt, Chief Executive Officer of Owl Labs, said the product reflects a shift towards larger organisations and managed deployments.

"The Meeting Owl 5 Pro represents a significant leap forward in our mission to create truly equitable hybrid meetings for all companies, with a focus on Enterprise," said Frank Weishaupt, CEO of Owl Labs. "From streamlined setup to enterprise-grade innovations, a company commitment to MDEP readiness and a reinforced channel strategy, we're delivering a solution that modern organisations can trust today, which will continue to improve with new advancements over time."

Owl Labs has announced that it has secured $47 million (£37 million) in funding to support its ongoing growth. Based in Boston, the company reported that its hardware has been adopted by over 250,000 organisations, ranging from major global enterprises to educational institutions.

The firm confirmed that its latest flagship device, the Meeting Owl 5 Pro, is scheduled to begin shipping in Q1. Following the initial rollout, Owl Labs intends to pursue further international expansion to broaden its footprint in global markets.