Well, that’s February done, but 2021 is still in its early stages.
This month, we’ve seen plenty of exciting updates in the Unified Communications and Collaboration space. From updates on Microsoft Teams and Cisco Webex, to new industry innovations, consolidation, and strategic acquisitions.
During the last 7 days, we’ve been delivering a constant stream of UC news as always, covering things like the top CPaaS vendors to watch in 2021 and what’s happening in the rivalry between Slack and Teams.
If you haven’t had a chance to check out all our stories yet, here are some of the top reports you don’t want to miss from the last week.
Cisco Imagines a Future of 3D Meetings
Cisco is innovating at an incredible speed lately, investing more time and effort into creating unique collaborative and communication experiences through the Webex platform. Recently, the CEO of Webex, Chuck Robbins, said that the company is working on creating a new dimension of collaboration for tomorrow’s teams. Cisco envisions a future where 3D virtual participants can share the same rooms as their co-workers.
According to Robbins, the technology for these 3D interactions is already underway, and it aims to make remote meetings feel more natural, and engaging. Chuck said that the aim of Cisco right now is to recreate the experience of being physically present within a meeting through technology. It’ll be exciting to see how Cisco brings this idea to life.
Microsoft and Slack are at it, Again
Regular rivals Slack and Microsoft have been butting horns again this week. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, said to Bloomberg that Slack wouldn’t exist without the Windows operating system. The comments made by Nadella didn’t sit well with the VP of Slack, Jonathan Prince, who immediately fired back with a response through an email to Business Insider.
Prince said that Nadella’s comments were “silly” and “irrelevant.” The message to Business Insider also implied that Microsoft Teams is trying to “copy” and destroy Slack’s innovative collaboration technology. The latest clash follows Slack’s legal action against Microsoft in 2020, and comes at a time when Slack is waiting for an acquisition from Salesforce to take its strategy to the next level.
The CPaaS Vendors to Watch in 2021
CPaaS is one of the most exciting aspects of the communication landscape right now. Offering an incredible level of flexibility to businesses who want to design the perfect communication stack from scratch, CPaaS has the potential to transform the industry. Of course, like with most technology transformations, businesses wanting to leverage the full benefits of CPaaS will need to work alongside the right vendor.
Our very own Rob Scott recently hosted a panel with three industry experts from J Arnold & Associates, COMMFusion, and 451 Research to discuss what CPaaS is going to look like in 2021, and which capabilities are the most exciting for brands. The video also covers which vendors are going to be the ones to watch as we move through the year.
Vonage Scraps the Sale of the Consumer Business
In February of 2020, Vonage, the leading communications company, announced that it was planning on selling its consumer business division. In November of 2020, new reports announced that Vonage was working with advisors on the development of the sale. However, it seems that the transaction is now off the table, after CEO of Vonage, Rory Read, announced a change of heart.
According to Read, Vonage had discussed the concept of the sale with 70 financial and strategic investors through two separate rounds of discussions. During these conversations, the company decided that it wasn’t going to sell its consumer business after all, particularly after Vonage sales climbed by 4% in the fourth quarter.
Check Out the Bose All-in-One Bar
Bose, one of the biggest names in audio technology, has delivered a new solution for business users in search of immersive video conferencing experiences. The Bose All-in-One bar is certified for Microsoft Teams, and designed to support the new age of work. This all-in-one offering comes with 6 beamforming microphones to help focus on human voices while blocking out external noise. There’s also proprietary tech in the system to deliver room-filling audio for meetings.
The Bose Video bar supports Bluetooth streaming, and comes with a fantastic ultra-HD camera for crystal-clear video in any conversation. As an extra benefit, the device is completely plug-and-play, for an easy setup experience.
Which were your top stories from this week? Don’t forget to get in touch on social media!
