Major News Dropped at This Week’s Webex One Event
Cisco Webex outlined its new AI strategy to transform communication and collaboration at this week’s Webex One event. Webex’s AI strategy includes real-time media models (RMMs) and the Webex AI Codec.
Webex intends to leverage real-time audio and video communications to address common challenges, including ensuring crystal-clear audio and video calls even with low bandwidth. Cisco also revealed the launch of its new Webex AI Assistant with new features to enhance customer productivity and accuracy.
Jeetu Patel, Executive Vice President and General Manager at Cisco Security and Collaboration, said:
We’re at the tipping point of a new era of hybrid work, with AI holding the key to helping us bridge the gap and enable us all to work and communicate to our full potential. Our Webex platform has long enabled our rapid pace of innovation. Today’s announcement is a monumental step forward, as customers will benefit from AI being pervasive in every aspect of the Webex platform.”
Also revealed at the event, Webex meetings will soon be available on Apple TV 4K and Apple Watch. The Webex app will soon be available in the Apple TV App Store, including a QR code system that provides users with a seamless login experience. Large displays are supported using Continuity Camera support in tvOS 17 to wirelessly connect their iPhone or iPad to Apple TV 4K and utilise the device’s camera and microphone to engage in meetings.
Additionally, Cisco and Bang & Olufsen have partnered to develop wireless earbuds designed for secure hybrid working. The Bang & Olufsen Cisco 950 earbuds are built using advanced security and manageability capabilities with premium sound quality to provide high-quality, personalised audio experiences for professionals on the go.
Lastly, Cisco and NVIDIA have expanded their partnership by launching an artificial intelligence-powered room kit. Cisco is promising simple deployment, enhanced video and sound and improved meeting operability with Microsoft Teams. The kit’s power is powered by NVIDIA’s Jetson edge AI platform.
- Read more about Webex’s new AI strategy
- Read more about Webex coming to Apple TV and Watch
- Read more about Cisco and Bang & Olufsen’s earbuds
- Read more about Cisco and NVIDIA’s room kit
Microsoft Teams Premium Grows to 10,000 Customers
Microsoft Teams Premium has grown to 10,000 paying customers, according to Microsoft’s latest earnings.
Microsoft’s earnings call for FY24 Q1, which featured significant revenue and net income growth, also highlighted that Teams Rooms has seen nine consecutive quarters of triple-digit growth, while Teams has reached 320 million monthly active users (MAU). Satya Nadella, Microsoft Chairman and CEO, underlined the introduction of the new Teams client, “Teams 2.0”, and the improved performance and user experience of the new app.
“When it comes to Teams, usage continues to grow, with more than 320 million monthly active users making Teams the place to work across chat, collaboration, meetings, and calling,” Nadella said. “This quarter, we introduced a new version of Teams that is up to two times faster while using 50 percent less memory and includes seamless cross-tenant communications and collaboration.”
The tech giant recorded $56.5 billion in revenue and a net income of $22.3 billion during Q1. Revenue grew 13 percent, and net income by 27 percent.
Zoom Announces ISV Exchange Programme and Lumen Partnership Expansion
Zoom has launched its internet software vendor (ISV) programme, which includes notable partners such as Theta Lake and Verint.
The programme expands upon Zoom Partner Connect and will allow Zoom to resell choice ISV solutions directly to customers. By integrating partner services within the Zoom platform, the video conferencing and collaboration giant can meet more customer demands and simplify the purchasing process with a unified, all-encompassing experience.
Chris Moss, Head of Platform and Product Acceleration at Zoom, commented:
By offering select solutions directly from our ISV partners, we are able to meet more needs of our customers while simplifying their purchasing process. This is only the beginning, and I look forward to expanding this program with the help of our ISV partner ecosystem.”
Meanwhile, Zoom and Lumen have expanded their partnership to deliver enhanced VoIP experiences for businesses.
Zoom and Lumen have combined the latter’s reliable network infrastructure and phone services with Zoom’s feature-rich cloud phone system. The partnership produces a streamlined and secure approach for businesses to collaborate anywhere and anytime.
Ooma Acquires 2600Hz
Ooma has acquired 2600Hz for roughly $33 million in cash.
Ooma has brought in 2600Hz’s reseller and carrier-targeting portfolio of business comms apps. Among the products that Ooma has acquired are Kazoo, its open-source communications platform, and its proprietary applications via open APIs to offer UCaaS, CCaaS and CPaaS offerings, and AI tools and applications.
“This acquisition is complementary to our strategy to extend our leadership in serving business customers, both directly and now through other service providers, and it is expected to accelerate overall growth of Ooma and the reach of our solutions,” said Eric Stang, Chief Executive Officer of Ooma. “We are excited to bring Ooma’s unique engineering expertise to better serve 2600Hz’s customers worldwide.”
The transaction allows Ooma to manage the direction and development of 2600Hz’s technology roadmap. Ooma plans to complement the 2600Hz solutions with Ooma’s proprietary intellectual property (IP) to develop more powerful, scalable and open comms services for the industry.
