Google Beam Ships to Six Countries, Five Years After Starline

Google Beam, the 3D video system built on Google's Project Starline research, began shipping to customers in six countries on Sept. 24, five years after Google first showed the underlying technology in public.

The hardware, sold as HP Dimension with Google Beam, is now available in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Japan, according to Google's own announcement. A network of 18 channel partners handles deployment and support in those markets. Early customers named by Google include Bain and Company, Netflix and Capital Group.

What the hardware costs

HP Dimension units cost approximately $25,000 each, Computerworld reported, citing pricing Google has not published on its own blog. Google has not disclosed a separate software licensing cost for the Beam service that runs on top of the hardware.

The 65-inch display combines AI-rendered 3D video of the person on the call with spatial audio, using integrated cameras and a 12-microphone array to track the viewer's eyes and adjust the image without requiring glasses or a headset. The system supports one-to-one calls only; Google says group calling remains in an experimental stage. It integrates with both Google Meet and Zoom.

The internal numbers Google is citing

Google said an eight-week internal study of employees using Beam found measurable changes in how teams reported working together.

Metric (Google's internal study)	Change
Feeling connected to teammates	Up 50%
Feedback described as clearly understood	Up 33%
Follow-up meetings needed	Down 21%

Google has not published the study's methodology, sample size or how "connection" and "clarity" were measured, and the figures come from Google's own employees rather than an outside customer or independent researcher.

Where the units will be bookable

Starting in October, Industrious, an operator of flexible workspaces, will let members book time on HP Dimension units at locations in Atlanta, Chicago, New York City and Palo Alto, under what Google calls its first "Beam extended network." That arrangement lets a company try the hardware without buying a $25,000 unit outright.

Technology analysts quoted by Computerworld were split on how far the price will limit adoption. Irwin Lazar, a principal analyst at Metrigy, said Beam "offers immersive, 3D engagement without wearables," but separately said "the price tag will present somewhat of a barrier to adoption." Avi Greengart, president of Techsponential, said the effect on a call felt like "talking to someone across the world with micro-expressions and nonverbal cues intact."

Google first announced the underlying technology as Project Starline in 2021 and gave select customers early access starting in 2025 before this week's wider commercial rollout. The company did not say how many Dimension units have shipped to date or when Beam might reach additional countries beyond the six announced Sept. 24.

Google has made other AI-infrastructure moves in September, including sending Trillium TPU chips into orbit to test them in space and tightening the license on its TimesFM forecasting model to restrict commercial use.