Welcome back to our weekly round-up of the hottest happenings in the UC&C industry.
This week saw Cisco launch its new Webex Suite offering, Apple announce that its employees would be making a return to the office, and we guide you through the finer points of Microsoft’s Operator Connect and Direct Routing.
Microsoft Operator Connect vs Direct Routing
Operator Connect was announced at Microsoft Ignite earlier this year and is a solution within the Teams Operator Console that allows customers to directly configure their services from several providers, including Intrado, BT, Orange Business Services, NuWave, Verizon, T-Mobile, and many others.
Direct Routing is available from a host of UCaaS companies and allows Microsoft Teams users to make calls, access UCaaS features, and unlock new functionality within the Teams client.
UC Today’s Rebekah Carter delved into Microsoft’s voice products to gauge the benefits and uses of each of its Teams phone offerings.
Cisco Launches New Webex Suite
Cisco’s recent acquisitions of Slido and Socio have already been put to use with technology from both platforms integrated into its new Webex Suite offering.
The new solution combines tools across meetings, calling, messaging, events and polling and is purported to be tailor-made for hybrid working.
Chuck Robbins, CEO at Cisco, stated: “Cisco’s collaboration business is incredibly essential to our customers.
“With all the integrations the team has added – 800 new features and devices since September – we truly have the most comprehensive meetings, calling, messaging, and event management solution on the market powering the future of hybrid work”
Apple Sounds Klaxon for Office Return
The tech titan has asked employees to return to offices in September, claiming that videoconferencing is not sufficient by itself.
Apple CEO Tim Cook sent a memo to staff, stating that most employees will be required to work in an office three days a week, with the option to work remotely for two days. All remote working will need to be signed off by management.
“For all that we’ve been able to achieve while many of us have been separated, the truth is that there has been something essential missing from this past year: each other,” he said.
“Video conference calling has narrowed the distance between us, to be sure, but there are things it simply cannot replicate”
Slack’s Sales Soar
Slack saw revenue jump 36 percent in its fiscal Q1, as the collaboration firm edges closer to its acquisition by Salesforce.
Revenue for the three-month period ending 30 April climbed to $273.4m, while operating losses narrowed from $76.2m to $55.3m.
Steward Butterfield, Slack CEO, stated: “In Q1 we saw a near-record number of paid customer additions, a record number of paid customers adopting Slack Connect, and approached one million active developers on our platform.
“Companies globally are racing toward a digital-first way of working to attract talent and to win.
“Slack is not just embracing this trend, we are enabling it”
What’s New in Teams for June?
UC Today’s Rob Scott and Microsoft MVP Tom Arbuthnot chew over the latest Microsoft Teams updates for June. The pair discuss the rollout of Operator Connect, highlights from Microsoft Build and what new features users can expect to see from the collaboration platform this month.
What are your thoughts on this week’s news? Get involved in the debate on our social media channels!
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