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InterviewUC&C10 Dec 2018 · 2 min read

Out Loud: Microsoft Christmas Special

Microsoft Teams gains call park and group call pickup, with IP phones and Office icons in focus. Published on UC Today.

Microsoft Teams Christmas special interview

Tom Arbuthnot from Modality Systems joins Patrick to discuss the latest Microsoft communication and collaboration news in the final episode of 2018.

Patrick and Tom examine some of the last few news items for this year, Microsoft have announced that there will soon be new Office applications icons, which surprisingly is causing quite a stir.

[caption id="attachment_3649" align="alignleft" width="150"]Tom Arbuthnot, Modality Systems Tom Arbuthnot, Modality Systems[/caption]

Perhaps the more important news items follow, as Tom summarises the latest new voice features that will soon be available for the Microsoft Teams platform. Microsoft understand that for Teams to truly be positioned as a phone systems alternative it must be able to manage the daily requirements that organisations have. In this vein Teams will soon be able to offer features like 'call park' and 'group call pickup' as well as a few others which Tom explains. The guys also discuss the highly anticipated Teams IP phones which are still yet to be generally available.

Next up Tom takes Patrick through the complex world of browsers. Although nothing has been confirmed there are some rumours that Microsoft may be looking to change their browser rendering engine to bring it in line with other industry competitors. This could lead to a new browser from Microsoft and it nicely leads in to one of Tom's future predictions.

Finally Patrick asks Tom for his other predictions for 2019. Tom has several ideas that may well come to fruition but Patrick offers nothing of use with some blindingly obvious ideas about closer integration with the other Office apps and accelerated migration from Skype for Business.

On the 12th of December there is also the chance for all those interested in Microsoft Team users to get in touch with the global tech giant to ask questions during their 'Ask Microsoft Anything' session for Teams which will be hosted on the Microsoft website.

Listen on your daily commute, whilst walking the dog, or in the gym. UC Today – The Out Loud Microsoft Monthly provides bite size podcasts, bringing you all of the latest Microsoft collaboration news.

Rate, review, share on Apple Podcasts, and Buzzsprout, and join the conversation on LinkedIn, Twitter and email.

Presenter and Tech Journalist Patrick Watson and expert guest Tom Arbuthnot.

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