It’s time for another festive roundup of the best stories from December.
This year has been packed with surprises for many of us, and we’re all waiting with bated breath to see what 2021 will bring. However, before we settle down for a day or two with the family, there’s still a lot of news to share.
Over the last seven days, we’ve seen Cisco launch a range of new Webex features to support the modern teams of the digital age. Microsoft Teams introduced its new Device as a Service solution, and 8×8 gained some serious popularity for its new Teams voice system.
Here are the top stories from the last week you can’t afford to miss.
Cisco Launches New Webex Features
Cisco delivered a fantastic selection of updates to customers and resellers at the annual WebexOne conference this December. The two-day virtual event focused heavily on the new workplace and how the definition of collaboration is changing around the world.
The conference unveiled about 50 separate innovations for Cisco Webex fans to discover, including new features on the Webex app for greater productivity. Just some of the updates released include new speech enhancement and noise cancellation options for your Webex meetings, transcriptions and closed captioning, and enhanced video layouts too. Webex also announced the impending arrival of upcoming in-meeting gestures to make video conferencing more immersive. Learn more about the latest updates here.
Microsoft Introduces “Device as a Service”
Cisco Webex isn’t the only collaboration name rolling out new updates this week. Microsoft Teams also recently revealed a new Device as a Service option for its customers. The “DaaS” system offers companies convenient access to all the hardware they might need to run an effective meeting. You can choose which Microsoft partners you want to access your hardware from, and select from a range of peripherals, accessories, phones, and full room systems.
You can update your technology whenever you choose and create the bundles that are best-suited to the way that your teams meet. Some of the partners already working with Microsoft on Device as a Service solutions include Poly, Jabra, Logitech, Yealink, Crestron, HP, and Lenovo. Read all about the DaaS service here.
The 12 Predictions of Christmas
With the new year just around the corner, we’ve been keen to collect insights from market leaders on what the future of communications and collaboration might bring. To add some extra festive sparkle to the end of your 2020, we’ll be regularly updating our “12 predictions of Christmas” post with new insights from innovating leaders every day.
Prediction number 1 started with Sunny Dhami from RingCentral, and we’re constantly updating with new responses from everyone from Slack and Mio, to Thetalake and Voxbone. Make sure that you check back once a day to see what the latest prediction is!
8×8 Voice for Microsoft Teams Gains Steam
With more companies than ever now turning to Microsoft Teams as the heart of their UCaaS solution, there are plenty of opportunities out there for vendors that can enhance the Microsoft ecosystem. 8×8, a leading cloud communications provider, is one of the innovators leading the way to better utilisation of the Microsoft Teams stack. The company has successfully added hundreds of customers to its 8×8 Voice for Microsoft Teams roster this year.
With access to extensive call analytics, reporting, recording, and full native 8×8 contact centre support, 8×8 is taking the Microsoft Teams environment to the next level. You can learn more about what you get from 8×8 Voice for Microsoft Teams here.
Remembering the DDK
Panasonic, one of the better-known companies in the technology landscape, recently announced that it would be closing the doors of its business communications arm. The shutdown of this segment of the business will happen over the course of the next couple of years, and according to Panasonic, the decision was made based on the arm’s inability to keep up with competitors.
Our publisher, Rob Scott, shared his thoughts on Panasonic’s decision recently in a blog post, sharing his insights into installing Panasonic desk phones in the early years of his career. He notes that Panasonic’s Business Communications shutdown reflects the changing nature of the communications landscape. Check out Rob’s thoughts here.
Which stories caught your attention this week?
Remember to join the conversation on social media today!
