From growth figures and NHS approval to a new digital whiteboard, here are extracts from popular stories this week.
Xyte Launches ‘Industry-First’ Teams Platform
Xyte has released in beta what it refers to as the industry’s first management and monitoring solution for Microsoft Teams Rooms (MTRs).
It will allow professionals from the unified communications (UC) and audiovisual (AV) sectors to provide remote managed services for customers using MTRs.
Describing itself as a connected device management platform provider, Xyte’s support solution will be accessible via its cloud-based platform.
Companies can register their Teams Rooms on the Xyte platform and monitor their workplace technologies from one place, including hardware like microphones, speakers and USB cameras.
Andrew Gross, VP of Sales at Xyte, said: “Adding support for Microsoft Teams Rooms has always been a top priority for us. Xyte is now the first cloud solution to support MTRs and Zoom Rooms as well as all SDVoE systems and Crestron, QSC, Avocor, and many other devices.
“Xyte offers IT departments and AV/UC professionals a single platform to manage their complete digital ecosystems, from one easy-to-use dashboard.
“On top of that, our open API delivers limitless possibilities and gives integrators the flexibility to add any device or equipment to the platform in the way that makes the most sense for their end users’ business needs.
“We are inviting early adopters to register now to be amongst the first to receive this enhanced management and support capability for their Microsoft Teams Rooms.”
The company believes the hybrid work movement is growing and, as it does, its technology is becoming more and more relevant to AV and UC IT departments whose customers will appreciate this service.
Mondago gets NHS Digital Approval for its EMIS Integration
Mondago – a leading provider of unified communications integrations with CRM solutions – has announced that it has recently received approval for an IM1 pairing (the official NHS integration process) with EMIS from NHS Digital. The integration will initially be available with the next release of its Go Integrator Cara and Go Integrator Nava desktop clients for the Cisco BroadWorks and NetSapiens platforms respectively.
The update will enable surgeries to integrate EMIS with Mondago’s next-generation desktop clients to provide a faster, more efficient, and more responsive service to their patients. Their arrival is excellent news, both for busy practices that already use EMIS and the partners that support them, Nick Hawes, Product Manager at Mondago told UC Today.
“Several of our partners and their customers had asked if we had plans to deliver a version of our solution for EMIS. We’ve responded by providing a close integration with our latest desktop solutions, and we expect uptake to be swift as the benefits for GP surgeries and other healthcare organisations that use EMIS are enormous”
Where EMIS is used with Go Integrator, information about the patient will be popped onto the screen even before the receptionist or agent has picked up an incoming call. “It means they can make better, more nuanced responses and forward the call faster and to the right individual. That’s going to translate into a better experience for the patient and faster, more efficient handling of calls,” said Hawes.
DTEN Unveils Whiteboard in Conjunction with Zoom
DTEN is releasing the DTEN ONboard, the first digital canvas to natively support Zoom’s Advanced Whiteboard features, following investment from Zoom.
The interactive whiteboard is designed for collaboration in hybrid workplaces. It can be used with all versions of Zoom Rooms or as a standalone appliance.
The DTEN Onboard can be used by both in-office and remote workers, and it can be accessed before, during and after meetings which DTEN believes will increase participation and inclusion.
DTEN expects to start shipping the devices this summer.
Rick Corteville, CMO at DTEN, said: “Collaboration isn’t a single meeting, it’s an interactive, creative, and inclusive process.
“DTEN ONboard provides the interactive hub that enables the entire team to participate equally, to continuously build on ideas and share progress.
“Many meeting rooms are equipped with legacy video conference hardware lacking touch capabilities.
“The addition of DTEN ONboard immediately adds fully interactive collaboration without minimizing video frames on the existing display.
“In pre-release, DTEN ONboard has been recognized with the Best Innovation for Meeting Rooms Award at the recent 2022 Enterprise Connect Conference.”
Microsoft Reveals First Operator Connect Growth Figures
Microsoft has revealed Operator Connect growth figures for the first time.
Speaking during an earnings call with investors, Microsoft CEO said that Operator Connect minutes grew by a multiple of eight in the vendor’s Q3, compared to the previous quarter.
Operator Connect, which launched last year, gives businesses a more straightforward way than Direct Routing to plug third-party voice services into Microsoft Teams.
The number of calls made through the service has increased as Microsoft has accredited more carriers. This number is set to grow through the launch of a new programme to onboard more operators – Operator Connect Accelerator.
Nadella was speaking as Microsoft reported another quarter of bumper growth, with sales rising 18 percent year on year to $49.4bn.
The CEO stopped short of revealing updated monthly active users for Teams but did offer some details on how the platform’s usage is unfolding.
“Teams usage has never been higher. We’re seeing growth in every segment, including very small businesses with Teams Essentials,” he said.
“We’re adding new growth engines to meet the demands of hybrid work, with Teams Rooms, Teams Phone, and Microsoft Viva.
“Teams Rooms is bridging the gap between people working remotely and those in the office, with innovations like Front Row.”
Nadella also credited Teams as giving Microsoft an entrance into emerging markets for the first time.
NEC Connects Legacy Systems to Cloud with New ‘Bridge’
NEC Enterprise Solutions has unveiled UNIVERGE BLUE CONNECT BRIDGE, enabling on-premise phone systems to access cloud-based services.
Existing on-prem NEC phone systems can be extended to include cloud-based voice via mobile and desktop apps and collaboration from anywhere using video conferencing, file sharing, chat, and more.
This latest addition to Univerge’s cloud services connects customer phone systems to NEC’s communications platform, UNIVERGE BLUE.
UNIVERGE BLUE CONNECT, launched in April 2020, works in a similar way, providing a gateway for desktops and mobiles to hook up with its comms platform.
Richard Horsley, Product Manager at NEC Enterprise Solutions, said: “UNIVERGE BLUE CONNECT BRIDGE not only uniquely bridges both on-premises and cloud-based ICT worlds.
“It also underpins our approach to dynamic delivery of advanced solutions and demonstrates NEC’s commitment to Channel Partners and customers to protect investments, maximize the potential of their installations, and boost customer and employee experience in today’s hybrid world.”
Customers can keep their current phone systems and numbers and add on UNIVERGE BLUE’s communication and collaboration tools.
