Forget corporate happy hours and company outings: BYOD is the latest way to connect with your colleagues. And the latest product to ride the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) wave is the Onyx, a wearable, hands-free, wireless device that connects with smartphones and allows instant communication with your coworkers. “You can think of it as a high-tech walkie-talkie,” reports Wired.
Onyx, from OnBeep.
Released by the San Francisco startup OnBeep, the Onyx was designed for family, friends, and, above all, business groups — for instance, construction workers, event planners, and restaurant workers. As Jesse Robbins, founder and CEO of OnBeep, explains to Wired, the Onyx is a part of the BYOD movement. “BYOD was part of a conscious design strategy,” Robbins says. “What we are doing is only possible because people already have their own smartphones which they are using for work and play.”
Haven’t heard of BYOD yet? Well, do you bring your smartphone to work? If you do, you’re likely already a part of BYOD. BYOD, defines IBM, is “an IT policy where employees are allowed to use their personal mobile devices to access enterprise data and systems.” The trend has traction: A recent IDG study found that 82 percent of organizations have implemented changes due to the popularity of smartphones.
How does Onyx work, exactly? The “palm-sized orb that clips onto a lapel, sleeve, or bag strap,” as PCWorld explains, is outfitted with a built-in speaker. Use Bluetooth to connect it to a companion iOS or Android app to chat with a group of Onyx users via a Wi-Fi or cell connection. One Onyx will cost $99 while a pair will cost $195, and the product will begin shipping by the end of this year.
The Onyx allows communication across different networks. As the company explains, “One of the key features of our platform is that your devices will communicate regardless of the OS and provider you’re currently using. An Onyx paired with an iPhone on Verizon in San Francisco will have no trouble connecting to an Onyx paired with a Nexus 5 on Orange in Montreal.” The company also makes clear that the Onyx is no traditional walkie talkie: “Onyx can be used anywhere you have cellular or wifi connectivity, connecting people around the world. Also, walkie-talkies are no replacement for smartphones, so people usually carry both.”
In a world full of communication apps — Skype, Whatsapp, and Viber all come to mind — is a separate device really necessary? The company, naturally, believes so: “While you could use an app to connect with people, you have to look down, pull out your phone, open the app, select the user, and send your message. With Onyx, you can leave your phone in your pocket and just press a button to instantly connect with people without taking your focus off what you are doing.”
One expert, Shane Walker, a research firm analyst, agreed — in part — telling Wired: “At the simplest level, basing anyone’s business model on the installed based for smartphones is viable.” However, it remains to be seen whether the Onyx can provide a service that’s needed outside of their smartphones. “Businesses may push back against such devices,” explains Wired. “Sure, many companies now allow BYOD, and OnBeep itself pledges to uphold the highest standards of security, but some wearables may require special approval—for health as well as security reasons.”