Microsoft has announced that Android devices are now able to utilise Direct Guest Join to access alternative video calling platforms from within the Teams Rooms application.
Android users will be able to call into meetings hosted by other providers using a single touch, which Microsoft believes will help to “reduce friction when users are joining calls from external partners or clients who may not use the same meeting providers.”
Initially, Teams Rooms on Android will be interoperable with Zoom which recently established a Direct Guest Join partnership with Microsoft Teams. Cisco Webex and other meeting provider partners will be accessible soon from Android devices. Microsoft Teams also has partnerships with BlueJeans and GoToMeeting.
Microsoft said: “Third-party providers like Zoom provide an embedded web experience that temporarily allows Teams Rooms users to join third-party meetings and collaborate more freely.
“This web experience provides up-to-date software as well as enterprise-grade privacy and security. As this partnership grows, Direct Guest Join will continue to improve with new and exciting functionalities.”
Direct Guest Join for Android began rolling out on May 25th and it is already being supported by Poly, Logitech, and Yealink Teams certified devices. Microsoft says that additional device manufacturers are coming soon.
Logitech has said Direct Guest Join works on its Rally Bar and Rally Bar Mini devices running CollabOS 1.6.552 or higher. It is also available for Logitech Windows-based room systems and Logitech solutions for Teams on Android and Zoom Appliance.
Poly announced: “The benchmark for performance in Android Appliance devices for Microsoft Team Rooms, Poly Studio X family delivers radical simplicity in a small and elegant package.
“The familiar Microsoft Teams Rooms interface will have users connected to meetings in seconds, with innovations such as Poly DirectorAI smart camera technology, NoiseBlockAI and Acoustic Fence ensuring everyone is seen and heard clearly.”
Features of Direct Guest Join
Time-saving: Direct Guest Join could save meeting participants five or ten minutes with this latest interoperability update. Users will no longer need to waste time setting up separate meetings or resolving connection issues, resulting in faster and more efficient collaboration.
Single-button remote access: Participants will no longer need to access partner platforms, such as Zoom, from their computer’s application if they switch from Teams Rooms. Equally, users will not need to open the Teams application from their computer if they are already logged into Zoom. The changeover between applications can be enacted via a single button within Teams and other meeting providers to access the other.
Video conferencing experience: The new functionality makes it an easier and more fluid collaboration experience for users, removing connectivity barriers between remote workers.
No extra costs: There will be no need for users to buy additional licenses or third-party services.
Enabling Direct Guest Join
To join third-party meetings from Teams Rooms, you must first configure the Teams Rooms’ Exchange Online room mailbox to process invites for third-party meetings.
Second, you should check that your company doesn’t have any policies against connecting to third-party meeting applications. Finally, you will need to configure Teams Rooms to allow third-party meetings.
