The BluePOD system from Williams AV is a Bluetooth-based conferencing system for making conference calls using a computer, laptop or mobile phone. No special software is needed — a user just tap the Bluetooth connect button on his/her device. Adjusting the volume, muting and connecting is all done on the standard volume control on the device. Using the system setup screens on the embedded web server provides complete setup control and the ability to adjust input gain on each audio source.

BluePOD also allows users to select the speakers and microphones. It features an integrated mixer with DSP functions, including Acoustic Echo Cancellation. And the mixer includes four inputs (two mic/two line), two line outputs and two 25-watt amplifiers. BluePOD is designed for easy integration into new and/or existing audio system projects.

BluePOD gets its name from the small pod-shaped enclosure housing the patent-pending B-WAP (Bluetooth wireless access point) transceiver. The B-WAP is equipped with a Bluetooth 4.2 aptX HD long-range transceiver, with a new HD codec standard that supports 24-bit, high-resolution Bluetooth audio. Williams AV says the end result is “excellent audio quality, low latency and minimal background noise.” The B-WAP provides up to a 100-foot sphere of Bluetooth broadcast coverage in a typical office or educational environment.

These BluePOD systems will be available soon:

• BluePOD Solo gives integrators the ability to add the B-WAP into any existing audio system for total Bluetooth functionality. Also available is the BluePOD Solo D, featuring a Dante network port.
• BluePOD Conference Mate. This complete audio solution pairs the B-WAP with the BluePOD Conference Mate Controller.

Here are all the details.