NewsUC&C20 Jun 2022 · 5 min read

Big UC News from Microsoft, Cisco, Bluescape, and Yamaha

Why it matters: Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex and Yamaha are adding games, hybrid work and certified audio. Published on UC Today.

James Stephen

From a new Webex app and the biggest news from Cisco Live to games on Microsoft Teams' meetings, here are extracts from popular stories this week.

Games Coming to Microsoft Teams’ Meetings

Some of Microsoft’s Casual Games could soon be a part of Teams’ meetings and it may already be in the process of testing.

The news comes from The Verge whose sources say games are being designed for meeting participants to play against one another. However, Microsoft has refused to officially respond to questions about their integration.

Microsoft already owns a Casual Games suite, from which it is planning to pull some of its games across to be used in Teams.

We should not apparently be expecting Grand Theft Auto or Need for Speed, but simple classics like Solitaire, Minesweeper, and Wordament.

The idea behind introducing games to Teams meetings would be to improve user experience, add value to the platform, and help it compete against rival video conferencing platforms. One of its major competitors, Zoom, does not offer any built-in games, for example.

There are also plans to create virtual spaces where colleagues can play games and socialise. These virtual spaces will coincide with Microsoft’s future metaverse ambitions.

Introducing the Bluescape for Webex App

Bluescape and Webex have partnered to deliver a Bluescape for Webex application which is a new workspace alternative to screen sharing.

The integration between Webex and the collaboration solutions company, Bluescape, was announced at Cisco Live 2022.

Hybrid and remote teams can add the Bluescape for Webex app to their current Webex meeting application, gaining access to whiteboarding tools, content sharing, and more.

The CEO of Bluescape, Peter Jackson, said: “The workplace is at a critical moment in time.

“The way we work isn’t going to look like it did before 2020, so remote and hybrid teams need tools that meet their needs.

“That means tools that alleviate stress without compromising quality of work.”

Bluescape says its app enables users to be more productive as teams are able to collaborate asynchronously and in real-time on their projects.

All the Big Announcements from Cisco Live

The Cisco Live 2022 EMEAR Press Conference revealed a number of new releases coming to Cisco’s technology portfolio.

A Bluescape for Webex application has been announced, which offers an alternative to screen sharing. Generally, the event has stuck closely to its theme of security and networking.

Cisco Live 2022 news highlights also include the Cisco Meraki and Cisco Catalyst integration, the Cisco ThousandEyes predictable network solution, a new full-stack Observability platform, the launch of Panoptica and Calisti, and a partnership with Pharrell Williams’ Non-Profit YELLOW.

Speaking about the latest customer demands in a post-Covid world, Koen Jacobs, Vice President, Systems Engineering, EMEAR at Cisco, said: “Based on where we are now relative to where we were in the past, there is clearly a demand for more secure products.

“Security has become an imperative together with sustainability. The energy consumption always has to be optimised.

“There’s a lot more awareness around the environment as a whole, which translates back into the supply chain and production overall.

Webex Releases New Hybrid Working Solutions

New hybrid working solutions have been released by Cisco Webex which include Webex Meetings for Apple CarPlay and Webex Calling updates.

Other hybrid working releases are Move to Mobile, the Cisco Video Phone 8875 and a new Webex Room Bar.

Webex Meetings can now be used on Apple CarPlay and also connect to iPhones from Macs. The result is users can switch a meeting from a Mac to an iPhone and transfer the same call into their cars using Apple CarPlay. When they arrive, they can then continue speaking on their iPhones.

Jeetu Patel, EVP and GM, Cisco Security and Collaboration, said: “Successful hybrid work means offering flexible, frictionless experiences no matter where employees are working.

“At Webex by Cisco, we started with an all-new Webex app for iPad, and earlier this year announced the ability to use AirPlay on Webex devices, eliminating the need to find the right cord or connection when sharing content with colleagues. Just connect wirelessly and share your iPhone, iPad, and Mac screen – whether together in a meeting room or remote in a video call.

“Now, by updating Webex on CarPlay, we’re delivering even more flexibility that today’s workers need and want.”

Webex Calling has also had updates which are designed to improve work flexibility and audio quality. Site survivability ensures that no calls are dropped even if there are bandwidth issues or network outages. Background noise can also now be automatically eradicated from external calls, leveraging capabilities from the Webex Suite.

Yamaha’s Tabletop Microphone Receives Teams Certification

Yamaha’s ADECIA RM-TT Tabletop Microphone has been certified for Microsoft Teams.

According to Yamaha, the tabletop solution has met the medium-sized room standards for high-quality audio, which it believes to be the hallmark of the Teams user experience.

The RM-TT microphone has automatic voice tracking, noise reduction, echo cancellation, auto gain control, and reverberation suppression.

Marcus-Michael Müller, Manager, Sales & Marketing, Unified Communications at Yamaha Music Europe, said: “The future of education and business communications demands conferencing solutions that are easy to install and deliver pristine audio quality.”

“The RM-TT microphone of ADECIA Tabletop Solution meets all those standards. And as a device that is Certified for Microsoft Teams, organisations can confidently select it as a part of the Microsoft Team experience.”

The newly certified tabletop microphone integrates with ADECIA’s range of customisable conferencing solutions, including the ADECIA Ceiling System, RM-CR remote conference processor, VXL1-16P Dante line array speaker, and the SWR2311P-10G PoE network switch.

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