All-in-One video collaboration solution provider, DTEN, has recently (April 19th) become a certified Microsoft Teams OEM partner.
Following the exciting news, I chatted with Doug Remington, General Manager of EMEA at DTEN, to hear all about the meaning of the certification to the company, whose been prominently known so far for delivering Zoom Rooms-compatible solutions. We spoke about the certification process, the implications, and the added benefits that DTEN brings to the Microsoft ecosystem.
What Does DTEN Bring to MS Teams?
“One of the most exciting things for us in getting MS Teams Rooms certified is being able to bring what customers loved about DTEN in the Zoom ecosystem to the Microsoft Teams world,” Remington says. “This simplified, optimised, advanced meeting room and hybrid classroom experience we offer on a global level.”
One of the aspects that users are particularly fond of when it comes to DTEN devices is their signature design.
“Our devices look and feel quite different to other solutions in the market,” he notes. “We maintain a sleek, modern design, combined with high-quality audio and video, which allows an enhanced meeting experience. These devices are very intuitive to use, meaning even the most non-technical customers feel comfortable using them from the start.”
Another significant benefit, especially in the context of MS Teams, is the company’s reputation as driving innovation, which is a perfect fit with Microsoft’s fast-paced feature releases.
“Microsoft Teams is constantly releasing new features, which means there’s a lot of innovation and new functionality coming out, which is an environment DTEN are extremely familiar with,” Remington says.
“We’re looking forward to joining forces with Microsoft and pushing that innovation within the Teams ecosystem out to the millions of Teams users.”
DTEN has a history of pushing the boundaries on touch, camera and microphone technology as a whole, and specifically in the hybrid meeting space.
“Our goal is to create a hybrid meeting experience that is equal to all participants, both in and out of the room, allowing more natural, engaging, and immersive meetings,” Remington explains.
Part of DTEN’s way to achieve this is utilising advanced technology sitting behind the audio and video of their devices, enabling them to create easier, more effective working experiences.
It’s also important to note that while just having been officially certified, DTEN and its devices are no strangers to Microsoft Teams, which means offering Teams support to their customers comes naturally to them.
“While this is DTEN’s first Certified Microsoft Teams Room device, we have a well-established global network of distributors, resellers, and integrators who are already Microsoft partners,” Remington clarifies. “So, we’re more than ready to deploy and support our products with Microsoft resellers and customers without any delay.”
What are the Benefits of Teams Certified Devices?
The big benefit of MS Teams-certified devices is that they’ve been thoroughly vetted and tested by Microsoft, which means they’re definitely going to work in a Teams environment and be suitable for certain use cases and room archetypes.
“With the platform changing over time, that’s really important,” Remington notes. “If you buy products that are noncertified, the risk of things going wrong or not working effectively in a Microsoft Teams is increased.”
Which Devices will be Certified First?
As a start, DTEN’s D7X Android edition 55” will be the first device to get certified.
“It’s an all-in-one solution designed for everything from executive offices to huddle rooms to any small-to-medium meeting space,” Remington explains.
The goal is to keep on expanding the Teams certification into the company’s wider range of solutions for all types of meeting spaces, and the next one up is the 75” version of the same product, which should open medium-to-large meeting spaces; followed by the DTEN Mate controller, providing a standalone control panel in addition to the device’s touch screen.
“We’re also working with Microsoft on a personal desktop and hot desking solution, which can be used for personal or shared space.”
Not Just Teams
While the exciting news at hand is DTEN’s Microsoft Teams certification, it’s important to note that the company’s products will continue to work with other UC platforms as well.
“They’ll be certified for both Zoom Rooms and Microsoft Teams,” Remington promises.
When setting up a device, the user will be able to provision it as either a certified Zoom Room device or a certified Microsoft Teams Rooms (MTR) device. The device can easily be reprovisioned in the future if the customer wishes to do so.
“Teams is the biggest global platform and with its rapid expansion, we’re extremely excited to be part of that,” Remington concludes.
“We look forward to bringing DTEN innovation into the Microsoft Teams Rooms ecosystem, working closely with Microsoft, and making our solutions available to many more customers, for hybrid meeting room and hybrid classroom solutions alike.”
