Big UC News from Google, Microsoft, Zoom, and Sinch 

From Direct Guest Join for Zoom and Android to a 1.9M-user Workplace deal with McDonald’s, here are extracts from popular stories this week. 

Sinch Approved for Operator Connect 

Sinch has been approved for Microsoft’s Operator Connect (OC) programme, allowing customers to utilise its voice services in Microsoft Teams. 

Today’s announcement also revealed that Sinch would be able to provide access to emergency services through the Teams’ voice platform.  

Sinch believes its low costs, intuitive self-service portal, and emergency services provider approval help it stand out against its competitors. It says operating the largest independent voice network allows it to offer exceptional value for money.   

Brent Mello, Sinch Vice President of Enterprise Services, said: “We’re proud of this achievement to expand our working relationship with Microsoft by completing our Teams offering including Direct Routing, UCaaS integration, and now Operator Connect.”   

“As exciting is our designation as a provider of emergency services through Teams. Millions of VoIP subscribers are currently supported by our next-generation 911 offering.

“With our latest Operator Connect solution, we will continue providing this critical service and extending our highly reliable call delivery to enterprises who rely on Teams in today’s evolving remote and hybrid work environments.”   

The Sinch website reports savings of up to 50% with its pay-per-usage model, and the set-up time from purchase to portal is one day. 

Google Merges Duo and Meet 

Google has revealed plans to merge Duo and Meet into one application that will take the Meet branding. 

Duo is Google’s consumer-facing brand, offering free video calls and messaging, while Google has typically aimed Meet at businesses. 

But Google said that Meet will become the overarching brand for both consumers and businesses, with the Duo application set to be renamed Meet later this year. 

Javier Soltero, Vice President and General Manager of Google Workspace, said in a blog post: As part of our continued investment in helping people stay connected, and to adapt to evolving user needs, we’re upgrading the Duo experience to include all Google Meet features.” 

“This integrated experience will provide users with a single solution for both video calling and meetings with people across their lives. 

“Existing video calling features from Duo are here to stay, including the ability to make video calls to friends and family by phone number or email address, use fun filters and effects, send messages, and ask Google Assistant to call using existing devices. All conversation history, contacts, and messages will continue to be saved in the app and there will be no new app to download.” 

Google first made Meet available to everyone as a free product in 2020 as COVID swept the globe and people were confined to their homes. 

Direct Guest Join for Zoom and Android 

Zoom has announced a new partnership with Microsoft to create interoperability between their video conferencing applications using Direct Guest Join. 

Microsoft has also revealed that Android devices are now able to utilise Direct Guest Join to access alternative video calling platforms from within the Teams Rooms application. 

Direct Guest Join allows Zoom Rooms and Microsoft Teams users to call into each other’s video platforms without needing to purchase additional licenses or third-party services.   

The process of switching between the platform takes place at the click of a button, and it is accessible from Android, Windows and Mac room-based operating systems.   

Oded Gal, Zoom’s Chief Product Officer, said: 

“By working with industry leaders such as Microsoft, Zoom is able to provide a simple meeting experience from any room or device.” 

According to Zoom, Poly, Logitech, and Intel are already acting to support the Direct Guest Join functionality. 

What’s New in Microsoft Teams? May 2022 Update 

Microsoft has published the latest Microsoft Teams features for May 2022.   

A separate string of updates were released at Microsoft Build 2022, which introduced tools to embed Teams features, new capabilities for the Teams Toolkit for Visual Studio, app store updates, and compliance tools for ISVs.   

Running in parallel to these technological updates, there have been various other news developments for Teams last month, including BT launching a Teams voice offering for channel partners. 

Tom Arbuthnot, Microsoft MVP, spoke to UC Today about the latest Microsoft Teams news which includes news from Microsoft Build, Teams and device updates, and event news. 

Teams Performance Update   

The Teams app is available via the Microsoft Store. There is a new brightness filter adjustment and soft-focus video filter can be applied before and during meetings through device settings. Meeting organisers can also now start Together mode for all meeting participants by checking the ‘Select Together Mode for Everyone’ option.   

Workplace Wins 1.9M-User McDonald’s Deal 

Workplace from Meta has secured its largest customer yet through a 1.9m-user deal with McDonald’s. 

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The platform will be used as a communication and shift management tool, enabling workers to collaborate over mobile and strengthen employee relationships. 

McDonald’s believes Workplace will enhance employee experience for its workers, including frontline workers. 

Heidi Capozzi, Global Chief People Officer, McDonald’s Corporation, said: “At McDonald’s, we know the employee experience directly fuels the customer experience—and we are committed to being exceptional in both areas. 

“By offering Workplace as a resource for those at the heart of our restaurants, we and our franchisees can make it easier for crew to grow and succeed in their jobs, and to build deeper, more meaningful connections with their teams.” 

Although this news has only recently been made generally available, McDonald’s has already started using Workplace in restaurants across eleven markets, including Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, Poland, Slovakia, and company-owned restaurants in the United States.