Cisco has showcased a new range of collaboration devices for Microsoft Teams and unveiled a new microphone for hybrid working during ISE 2023.
The company has stated that its innovations are to help organisations achieve a ‘seamless’ hybrid work experience.
Cisco’s partnership with Microsoft will see the Teams platform run natively on Cisco collaboration devices, with certification expected in March 2023.
The Cisco Table Microphone Pro introduces spatial audio and noise cancellation, enabling distraction-free sound in hybrid meetings.
Jeetu Patel, EVP and GM of Security and Collaboration Cisco, commented:
“The future of work is now, and it’s hybrid, which requires a truly exceptional and inclusive experience that’s not confined by location, device, or meeting platform.
“Cisco is bringing true audio intelligence to its best-in-class devices and software with interoperability, flexibility, and security.”
Devices Certified for Microsoft Teams
Microsoft first announced that Teams Meetings were being made available on Cisco Meetings Devices during its Ignite 2022 event in October.
According to Cisco, the company has partnered with Microsoft to bring customers more choice, flexibility, and capabilities.
Microsoft Teams Rooms for Cisco devices is currently in a beta phase for enterprise customers and partners.
Cisco says certification is expected in March 2023 for Cisco Broad Pro, Room Bar, and Room Kit Pro.
Customers can leverage Cisco’s video collaboration systems while having a meeting experience that Microsoft Teams is known for.
Cisco states that it is the first vendor to offer devices with Microsoft Teams Rooms as the default experience with support to join Webex meetings for all the features and functionalities that customers are familiar with.
The solution is powered by the RoomOS and Microsoft Teams Rooms platforms, so customers will benefit from the option to run fully-featured Microsoft Teams and Webex meetings natively on Cisco devices.
As part of the partnership, the following Cisco products are set to be certified for Microsoft Teams:
- Cisco Board Pro 55 and 75
- Cisco Room Bar
- Cisco Room Kit Pro
- Cisco Room Kit EQ
- Cisco Room Navigator
- Cisco Desk Pro
- Cisco Desk Camera 4K
- Cisco Headset 320 and Headset 720
Cisco Table Microphone Pro
Cisco states that, unlike standard microphones, the Cisco Table Microphone Pro is multi-directional and harnesses advanced audio intelligence capabilities.
It only picks up the in-room participants’ voices with high precision using four built-in microphone elements and offers noise cancellation for various workspaces.
The features of the Cisco Table Microphone Pro include the following:
- ‘Supreme audio quality’: Cisco states that sophisticated AI technology and multi-directional architecture help to capture voices in meeting rooms and enable a spatial, true-to-life audio experience for remote attendees. The noise-cancelling hardware and advanced audio processing enable distraction-free sound in hybrid meetings.
- Easy deployment: The Cisco Table Microphone Pro is Powered by Ethernet connectivity to make it simple to set up and scale, with a plug-and-play experience for Cisco video devices. The microphone can be configured, customised, and monitored in the Control Hub for effortless, centralised cloud management.
- Enhanced security: End-to-end encryption ensures security without risking the exposure of sensitive, confidential, or regulated interactions to the network.
Audio Interoperability
Cisco has confirmed extending its video and device interoperability to enable frictionless, IP-based integration with third-party audio systems.
The company says this innovation supports the AES67 standard for reliable, low-latency audio interoperability, offering customers a cost-optimised and flexible integration with Cisco collaboration bars, room kits, and integrated room systems.
Shure has been announced as the first partner Cisco is supporting with seamless integration into the company’s microphones, including the MXa920 Ceiling Array or the MXA710 Linear Array.
Brian Woodland, Vice President of Global Business Development at Shure, said: “The new generation of IP-based audio interoperability between Cisco and Shure provides flexibility and seamless collaboration to future-proof video conferencing environments and provide end users with world-class audio experiences.
The Cisco Table Microphone Pro is generally available today for customers using the Cisco Room Kit EQ, Cisco Room Kit Pro, and Cisco Room Panorama.
The company has confirmed that the new microphone will support Cisco Room and Board Devices, which are expected to be certified for Microsoft Teams Rooms in March.
