Meta has revealed that it will no longer sell its struggling Portal (opens in a new tab) video devices to consumers and will instead focus on business customers.
A report by The Information has revealed that the devices, which were first launched in 2018 as part of an effort to expand parent company Facebook's hardware portfolio, will now pivot to focus on business use cases such as video conferencing.
The portal was originally launched to help connect Facebook users around the world, but has drawn attention with some questionable privacy decisions, meaning many consumers have stayed away.
Gateway to business success?
Five Portal models are currently available online, starting with the more portable €199 Portal Go, along with the Portal Mini (€129), the original Portal (€179), the Portal TV (€149) and the top range. Portal Plus (€349). ).
The data notes that Portal accounted for less than 1% of the global smart speakers and displays market in 2021, with analyst firm IDC estimating that 800,000 devices were shipped last year.
It adds that Meta will now look to clean up its remaining inventory from the consumer portal before focusing solely on business customers, though existing users can still count on continued product support for now.
It remains to be seen exactly what approach Meta will take to transform Portal into a professional device and if it will announce new releases.
The existing range of devices may be a useful addition for offices, with the Portal and Portal Mini possibly acting as hubs for booking meeting rooms or starting ad-hoc video calls from a quiet location.
Portal TV, similar to a webcam, could also have a role to play for companies looking to up their video calling game, offering a cheap way to turn TV screens or other screens into a video chat hub.
Via Information (Opens in a new tab)