Zoom CEO Calls Out Vendors Charging ‘A Lot’ For AI Features, Unveils New Webinar Solution Which Hosts Up To 1 Million Attendees

Zoom celebrated AI’s impact across its portfolio in its latest earnings call at “no additional cost” while calling out “other vendors who have to charge the customer a lot”.

In its call for Q2 FY24, the company’s CEO, Eric Yuan, celebrated that AI Companion’s feature set has been integrated across its series of collaboration services, notably citing its new Workplace solution and Zoom Contact Center. As Yuan highlighted Zoom’s “large base of AI users”, he teased that the company is transitioning into the “2.0 phase of AI-enabled work”.

A cornerstone of Zoom’s product value around AI Companion and its sale to the market is that it incurs “no additional cost” for customers with paid Zoom licenses. This will not change during this 2.0 phase, with Yuan keen to stress the distinction with competitors who do charge customers for AI features.

“I want to share with you that our customers really like Zoom AI Companion,” Yuan said in response to a Q&A question about AI Companion’s most common usage.

First of all, it works so well. Second, it is at no additional cost, not like some other vendors who have to charge the customer a lot.”

In other Zoom news this week, the company announced that its Webinars can now host up to one million attendees.

Zoom has expanded its webinar offerings to include a variety of single-event packages catering to larger audiences. These new options allow customers to host webinars with capacities ranging from 10,000 up to one million attendees. Additionally, each option comes with Zoom’s Event Services team’s expertise, ensuring hosts can provide a polished and engaging experience for their audience.

Microsoft Releases Unified Teams App For Work And Personal Accounts

Microsoft has announced that its unified Teams app for personal and work accounts is now generally available.

The new app merges the two previously separate Teams apps — one for work or education, the other for personal use — into one platform that Microsoft stresses can be easily switched between. The new app, which has been in testing for almost a year, is now available for Windows and Mac users.

“Microsoft Teams has transformed the way we connect and collaborate at work and in our lives,” wrote Amit Fulay, Vice President of Product at Microsoft. “To date, there have been two Teams apps on Windows 11 – one for work or education and another for personal use. We’re thrilled to share that today, the unified Teams app is now available on Windows 11, Windows 10, and Mac. This update brings work, personal, and education accounts into a single Teams app.”

The new Teams desktop app supporting all account types is now available, complementing Microsoft’s mobile apps on Android and Apple. If a user already has Teams on their desktop, the app will automatically update.

Avaya To ‘Drive Business Growth’ In EMEA With New Region VP

Avaya has appointed Cameron Thomson as its new Global Vice President for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) to “drive business growth” in the region.

Thomson, based in the UK, brings a wealth of experience in regional CX leadership from his successful tenure at Alvaria and its predecessor, Aspect Software.

Avaya cites Thomson’s deep expertise in the market and its dynamics. It emphasises that this experience will enable him to empower local teams to support customers and partners closely, driving business growth by delivering excellent customer and employee experiences.

Thomson commented:

This theatre is full of potential, ranging from the large-scale Enterprise CX opportunities for innovation without disruption that we see in developed markets across Europe to the emerging, large-scale customer-centric CX projects we’re seeing across the Middle East and Africa.”

Thomson’s appointment comes just over a month after Avaya CEO Alan Masarek announced he is set to retire by the end of the year.



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