From the US Army and a $7.5bn sale to international growth plans and a looming deadline, here are extracts from popular news stories this week.
Microsoft Teams Round-Up: August and September 2022
There has been a lot to talk about over the last two months in Microsoft Teams.
Teams introduced collaborative annotations in meetings, intelligent chat translation, an enhanced front row experience, Power Platform and PowerPoint updates, newly certified devices, and more.
Microsoft is now gearing up for its annual conference, Microsoft Ignite 2022, which introduced some big features last year, including Microsoft Mesh, Dynamics Voice, Microsoft Loop, and more.
Tom Arbuthnot, UC Solutions Architect, MVP, spoke through the September Teams news with UC Today’s Rob Scott:
Teams Meetings
The Teams application is compatible with Apple silicon Mac computers. The new optimisation will significantly improve performance, even with high-res monitors in calls and meetings, also enabling more efficient use of devices.
Cameo in PowerPoint Live now integrates the camera feed into a presentation. The feature allows you to choose where you appear on the slides and provides layout recommendations.
Google Workspace Reports for Duty With US Army Deployment
The United States Army has deployed Google Workspace to both new and current soldiers to ensure that all users have an email solution.
- ActivTrak Integrates with Google Workspace For Work Insights
- Google Workspace Individual Now Available in Europe
- Google Workspace Releases AI-Based Updates
Soldiers will have access to the full Workspace suite, which includes Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Chat, Meet, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms.
The US Army has confirmed that the platform is live for soldiers who don’t require the full collaboration capabilities of Army365.
Raj Iyer, Chief Information Officer, United States Army, said: “I am pleased to announce that Army Google Workspace is now operational and live.
“Under the direction of Enterprise Cloud Management Agency, we have implemented the first Impact Level 4 Google Workspace in the Federal Government to process Controlled Unclassified Information.
“The process began earlier this year to identify an alternate email solution for a select group of Army users that don’t require the full enterprise collaboration capabilities of Army365 and to ensure that no Army user will be left without an email solution when Defense Enterprise Email is sunset by DISA.
“All new entrants to the Army will be provisioned automatically with a Google Workspace account with a new email address that is @usa.army.mil when they receive their CAC card.
“Users in Army 365 and Google Workspace will be able to find each other in the global directory and invite each other for Teams or Google Meets.”
The US Army states that soldiers will retain their Google account until they fully transition to their first unit after completing basic and advanced individual training (AIT).
UC Partner Awards: Applications Close Today
The entry period for the UC Partner Awards 2022 will end at midnight tonight (Friday, October 7) before our expert panel of judges analyse the great work the channel has achieved over the last 12 months.
We have already had some great entries; however, there is still time to submit one yourself as we look to recognise the best of the best channel partners within the UC and Collaboration industry.
If you haven’t finished your application yet or are sitting on the fence about applying, then now is the time to push past that and submit an entry.
We will only be considering applications entered before our official submission closing date, so head to the UC Partner Awards website and get involved.
Our Second Year
We launched the UC Partner Awards in 2021 to pay tribute to the great work the channel partners within the UC and Collaboration industry carry out.
After the great response that we received to that event, the team here at UC Today has decided to bring the ceremony back for its second year.
Lumen Sells ILEC to Brightspeed for $7.5bn
Lumen Technologies announced the sale of its ILEC business to Brightspeed for $7.5bn which it believes will provide new business and growth opportunities.
An Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC) is any U.S. telephone company that provided local service when the U.S. Telecommunications Act was passed in 1996.
Lumen’s ILEC is operational in 20 states, and the North Carolina-based broadband and telecoms service provider, Brightspeed, reported it had received regulatory approval from each of these 20 state governments in June this year.
Jeff Storey, Lumen president and CEO, said:
“This is an important step in realizing long-term shareholder value while focusing our portfolio on the strongest growth opportunities, including investments in markets where we can concentrate our resources to reach more customers with maximum efficiency.
“Brightspeed has acquired a business with a strong customer base, dedicated employees and a platform for future growth. I’m very proud of our team for their dedicated work in closing this transformational project.”
In August 2020, Lumen announced plans to sell its CenturyLink assets to Apollo Funds for the same price of $7.5bn. As part of the deal, Lumen kept hold of 687,000 fibre subscribers, as well as assets in 16 states. Apollo gained assets in 20 states and fibre subscribers.
Kurmi’s New CEO Signals International Growth Plans
Kurmi Software’s appointment of Micah Singer as the new CEO of Kurmi reveals its plans for international growth.
Singer founded VoIP Logic, and he has a background in commercialising telecom solutions and expanding them into the international marketplace.
Micah Singer has been made CEO of Kurmi effective from October 1, 2022, replacing the former CEO of Kurmi Software, Thibaut Felgeres.
Micah Singer, CEO of Kurmi Software, said: “I am excited to assume the role of CEO at such a momentous time for Kurmi.
“Unified Communications, collaboration tools, and IT systems are amazing but complex technologies that require smart and powerful management software.
“As enterprises adopt new systems and migrate applications to the cloud across complicated multi-vendor environments, solutions that can significantly reduce this complexity will save time, money and produce a better outcome.
“I believe Kurmi is best placed to solve this problem which is common to the largest operators and enterprises.
“After working with Thibaut for several years on the Kurmi board, it is an honour to succeed him as CEO. Thibaut is a transformative leader and a person of high character who has led Kurmi through a rapid period of change over the past five years. We will continue this trajectory into Kurmi’s next phase of growth.”
Singer has 25 years of experience in the telecoms technology industry. After founding VoIP Logic, he has worked as a Microsoft ISV Partner at TeamMate Technology.
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