The start of the new decade has launched with a bang, and shockwaves are rippling throughout the entire Unified Communication and Collaboration industry.
This extra-long February has delivered a slew of exciting updates from brands ranging from Microsoft and Cisco, to Mitel and Google, leaving everyone looking forward to what March may have to bring.
If you haven’t had a chance to read up on all the latest posts here at UC Today, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered with another one of our thrilling news roundups!
Let’s Explore the Google AI Meena Chatbot
Ready to get real with your chatbot functionality? If so, then it’s definitely worth checking out the latest updates to the Google Meena chatbot. The AI solution is designed to create an entirely natural conversational experience between customers and employees, with 2.6 billion parameters for discussion training. Google also announced that Meena is capable of creating conversations that feel more specific and organic than any other chatbot on the market today.
What makes Meena special is the arrival of the new ‘Sensibleness and Specificity’ average created by Google. According to the team, this metric makes it easier to measure and create more natural conversational experiences.
Microsoft Demolishes Revenue Expectations
If you had to list the top companies destined to crush their revenue and growth expectations over the last year, Microsoft would likely come at the top of that list. Unsurprisingly, the technology giant has reported that its stock prices are continuing to rise, following the publication of Microsoft’s second-quarter fiscal report.
According to the CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella, Microsoft is continuing to innovate across every part of its robust tech portfolio, including communication and collaboration. Microsoft Finance Chief, Amy Hood, also noted that the company’s exceptional growth comes down to the incredible performance of its sales team, and partners, who helped to drive commercial cloud revenue up by 39% year-over-year. Check out the full report here.
Cisco Jumps Back into Extended Reality
The concept of different realities mingling in the meeting room isn’t exactly new in the communication space. For a few years now, we’ve seen numerous market leaders experimenting with the concept of VR and AR for enhanced interactions between businesses. However, Cisco seemed to be taking something of a backseat on the project after the Spark Project fizzled out in 2018.
According to a blog post by Elizabeth Bieniek, however, the passion for mixed realities is still very much alive within the Cisco team. Bienek, the Director of Collaboration Innovation has told customers to “watch this space” as Cisco continues to embark on a mission to bring incredible new realities to companies of all shapes and sizes.
Introducing the Webex Desk Pro
Have you ever wondered what you could accomplish with the ultimate meeting tool in your hands? The new Cisco Webex Desk Pro delivers a collaboration-focused desktop display that’s enhanced by artificial intelligence. The Desk Pro combines a 4K display with digital whiteboarding features, productivity support, and video conferencing. What’s more, there’s also plenty of attention given to Cisco’s pioneering concept of “cognitive collaboration,” too.
Rob Scott and Jonathan George, Digital Collaboration Lead at Adoptt, got together on a video call to discuss the possibilities of the Webex Desk Pro and see what this collaboration board could really do. See what happened during their discussion for yourself here.
Mitel Boosts Security for Organisations
Mitel has announced a new way to help companies improve their reactions to emergencies this week. The arrival of an enhanced next-gen notification system that automatically connects all communication systems in a network will make it easier for dispersed teams, students, and citizens to stay aligned during a crisis.
The Mitel solution for mass notification embraces the concept of multimodal communications, with links to desk phones, mobile phones, desktop PCs, SMS, and so much more. This ensures that in the case of an emergency, Mitel’s customers can reach as many people as possible. According to Mitel, tools like this, and a strategy for complete organisational preparedness is crucial for all businesses in any environment. You can learn more about the solution here.
What were your favourite news stories from the last week? Let us know in the comments section below or connect with us on social media.
Don’t forget to let us know how you’re progressing on the UC Summit too! Are you on your way to the top?
