From an acquisition and a speed networking app to a new Microsoft Teams training resource, here are extracts from popular stories this week. 

Empowering.Cloud Launches for Microsoft Teams Professionals

Empowering.Cloud (EC) has launched to provide regular and up-to-date Microsoft Teams insights, advice and training resources for IT professionals. 

Briefings from Microsoft MVPs (Most Valuable Professionals), monthly Q&As with experts, learning paths and other resources can all be accessed on the EC platform. 

Membership is free for individuals, but premium memberships are also available, which include further benefits such as a monthly live Q&A with experts, custom learning paths, private forums, priority on questions, and briefing topics. 

Tom Arbuthnot, Microsoft Certified Master and MVP and Co-Founder of Empowering Cloud, said: 

“There are 270 million monthly active Microsoft Teams users, but how many of them are getting all the value out of it, using all the features? 

“The breadth of the Microsoft Teams and pace of change make it hard for IT Professionals to keep on top of it all, we are here to solve that problem. 

“I work with lots of enterprise customers and with the demands on their IT teams they were struggling to keep up. 

“If you’re not an enterprise customer with a larger IT team, it’s even more challenging. That was the genesis of Empowering.Cloud.” 

Current solutions don’t quite cut it. The existing training space is slow-moving, according to Arbuthnot. Most courses are refreshed every 12 months, which he believes is not regularly enough as Teams changes every month. And typically training courses do not cover the wider Microsoft Teams ecosystem. Instead of long multi-hour courses, Empowering.Cloud will provide regular 15-minute briefings from a number of different experts. 

twine Releases Speed Networking App for Zoom 

twine has launched a speed networking app for Zoom which allows meeting hosts to match employees in timed conversations.   

The US-based employee connection platform, twine, developed the app “twine for Zoom” using the Zoom developer platform.   

twine for Zoom leverages the breakout rooms feature on Zoom, making it quicker and easier for meeting hosts to move participants between the breakout rooms.   

 Lawrence Coburn, CEO and Co-Founder of twine, said: “We are thrilled to make twine for Zoom available to all Zoom customers.   

“At twine we are obsessed with building software that drives serendipity and human connection; twine for Zoom makes building connections among your Zoom attendees as easy as tapping a button.   

“Zoom is an incredibly powerful tool, but one thing that’s missing is the concept of serendipity – those magical collisions that used to happen in the hallway, the elevator, and the lobby of the office.   

“We believe that these unplanned conversations are crucial for company camaraderie and culture, so we decided to build on Zoom’s emerging developer platform.”   

The app uses a combination of technologies, such as tags, spatial modes and automation to make it easy to orchestrate connections over Zoom.   

HP Pushes On With Poly Acquisition 

HP is pressing on with its acquisition of Poly after the latter’s shareholders approved the deal last week. 

The takeover, which HP announced in March, sees Poly valued at $3.3bn. 

HP has now started exchanging any Poly notes held by investors for a combination of new HP notes and cash. 

The PC vendor also revealed that it would merge part of its business into Poly, with Poly “surviving the Acquisition as a wholly-owned subsidiary of HP”. 

When announcing the deal, HP said it would drive “growth and scale” in its peripherals business amid the rise of the hybrid working culture. It also pegged potential cost-saving synergies at $500m. 

Poly has been hit hard by the ongoing components shortage and last month revealed that Q4 sales had dipped 11.5 percent year on year after Q3 sales fell 15.5 percent. 

The vendor has, however, remained bullish, citing its strong backlog of orders as proof that its portfolio is in demand. 

Supply chain constraints have also hit HP. 

When HP announced the acquisition, CEO Enrique Lores said: “The rise of the hybrid office creates a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine the way work gets done. 

“Combining HP and Poly creates a leading portfolio of hybrid work solutions across large and growing markets. Poly’s strong technology, complementary go-to-market, and talented team will help to drive long-term profitable growth as we continue building a stronger HP.”

HP expects to close the acquisition by the end of the year. 

Avaya Reveals $600m Financing 

Avaya has revealed a funding raise of $600m which will be used in part to support an “acceleration of business model transformation”. 

The financing comes in the form of $350m in senior secured term loans and the placement of $250m of exchangeable senior secured notes. 

Kieran McGrath, Chief Financial Officer at Avaya said: “We are pleased with the successful execution of this financing. 

“This funding supports and accelerates our business model transformation and addresses our convertible notes maturing in June of next year.”

The firm had previously revealed it expected to raise $500m (via MarketWatch) but said it increased the figure due to investor demand. The funding will also be used to satisfy payments related to other funding which are due next year. 

Enrico Karsten Takes the Helm at Anywhere365   

Anywhere 365 has appointed Enrico Karsten as the company’s new CEO.   

Karsten is succeeding Gijs Geurts, the company’s founder, who in turn is becoming Chair of the Board.  

Anywhere365 describes Karsten as a “highly regarded, people-oriented business leader who brings a wealth of experience in business strategy in the UC and IoT space”.   

Gijs Geurts, CEO of Anwhere365, said: “Today, I proudly and confidently hand over the reins of the company to Enrico.”   

“Having founded Anywhere365 10 years ago, I look back in gratitude and pride to all that we have achieved.   

“Over 2,000 global enterprises have chosen Anywhere365 Dialogue Cloud as the native communication platform on top of their Microsoft investments, and our revenue has grown 250% year-on-year over the past three years.   

“I’m celebrating this change in leadership, as it marks a new phase of growth. Enrico is the perfect fit to lead this next phase, taking Anywhere365 to $ 100 Million in revenue in 2024.”

The Non-Executive Director of Anywhere365, Cyrus Shey, believes Karsten has proven himself, showing energy, dedication, leadership, and commitment to customers over the past year.

 

 



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