Zoom has become an incredibly popular in recent months, letting you video chat from your computer, phone, and tablet. And soon it'll work on smart displays, too.
Zoom confirmed today that its Zoom for Home service is coming to the Amazon Echo Show, Google Assistant smart displays like Nest Hub Max, and Facebook Portal. It'll be coming to Facebook's device in September followed by launches on Echo and Google Assistant smart displays by the end of the year.
On each platform, Zoom will be able to take advantage of the special features that are available. For example, on Facebook Portal, the device's Smart Camera will automatically keep you in frame. Facebook's Portal, Portal Mini, and Portal+ will work with Zoom, with Portal TV support coming later.
Amazon's Echo Show devices will support the phrase "Alexa, join my Zoom meeting", and you'll be able to automatically join a scheduled meeting without needing the meeting ID or passcode if you link your calendar in the Alexa app. Zoom will come first to the Echo Show 8 followed by other models.
Owners of Google Assistant-enabled smart displays will be able to fully integrate Zoom with Google Calendar and Google Assistant. Also supported will be voice commands like "Hey Google, join my next meeting." Zoom will launch on Assistant-enabled smart displays including Nest Hub Max.
Zoom has been around since 2012, but it's exploded in popularity in 2020 as people self-isolate at home to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Offering free video calling and a simple user interface, the app has become widely adopted for both folks wanting to keep in touch with loved ones and those working from home.
It's a good move for Zoom to make the jump to smart displays. Many of them have cameras built in and they offer a stationary screen, some up to 10 inches in size, letting you video chat and freeing up your hands to do other things.
