Cisco has confirmed it is to work with Mercedes-Benz on providing an ‘optimal office experience’ in its E-Class vehicles.

Announced at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, the partnership UC Today first reported on last week is intended to aim at the hybrid work market and looks to transform cars into a home office by making the tech safe and secure while capitalising on Mercedes-Benz renown for high-end comfort.

A statement for the firms confirmed more in-depth details about the project, reinforcing the joint commitment to innovation in hybrid work and connected vehicles.

Jeetu Patel, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Security & Collaboration at Cisco, stated: “Hybrid work is centred on the work you do, not where you do it — whether it’s in the office, home, car, or anywhere in between.

“The mobile office cannot progress without the reliable and secure collaboration technology only Cisco can provide. This partnership with Mercedes-Benz, a leader in automotive luxury, marks a big step forward in delivering the flexibility that hybrid workforce demands.”

Smooth Meetings and Calls with Audio Intelligence

As part of the proposed offering, drivers can use Webex to seamlessly meet and call in meetings and corporate-level calls, using the features of the Webex Suite.

Webex-exclusive audio intelligence technology will deliver noise cancellation to enhance speaking and listening for the driver and all passengers working in the vehicle. At the same time, the clarity of human voices is enhanced while eliminating distractions such as road and ground noise and sometimes fellow riders talking in the background.

Security is at the heart of the announcement: Meetings and calls use audio only while the vehicle is in motion. Users can utilise Webex’s immersive collaboration while parked, including video conferencing, AI-powered automatic transcription, content sharing, and reactions like thumbs-ups and congratulatory emojis.

Cisco currently works with more than 32,000 transportation organisations in 169 countries worldwide and has 25,000 patents in the transportation space. The new partnership with Mercedes-Benz is part of Webex for Automobiles, including Webex Meetings for Apple CarPlay and its collaboration with Ford Motor Company.

Aruna Ravichandran, SVP & CMO, Webex by Cisco, stated: “It’s clear that the automobile industry recognises the value of hybrid work and our vision to further support people working on the go.

“Together, we are transforming the car into another extension of the office, truly reinforcing that work is not where you go but what you do.”

Ravichandran spoke enthusiastically about perspectives when working with Mercedes-Benz and said: “While I wear the hat of SVP & CMO of Webex by Cisco, I also wear the hat of the end user. I’m thrilled to add Mercedes-Benz to our Webex for Automobiles, and I’m even more excited to know this is just the beginning.

She added: “My SVP & CMO hat knows what’s coming next, and trust me, you should not only be excited about our Mercedes-Benz announcement but about the entire automobile experience to come.”

The interior of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz E Class was previewed last week. The new vehicle will be equipped with Wi-Fi and a cellular data connection. Using either link, drivers can download the Webex App from the Mercedes Benz Car App Store to appear directly on the touchscreen of the vehicle’s infotainment system, eliminating the dependency on the phone. The availability will be global and in all E-Class vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz has already announced a partnership with Zoom, and the video conference firm has already set up a deal with Tesla to bring its platform to its cars.

 

 



from UC Today https://ift.tt/L4yuM3S