AVI-SPL announced it has achieved the Microsoft Advanced Specialization for Microsoft Teams Meetings and Meeting Rooms. This specialization “validates AVI-SPL’s exceptional skill and proven success in managing meeting room modernization projects based on Microsoft Teams.” For current and prospective customers, the company says this designation showcases how AVI-SPL improves the workplace experience while reducing cost […]

Lenovo just announced the ThinkSmart View Plus running Microsoft Teams display, a standalone (personal) collaboration display with audio, video and whiteboarding features. The smart collaboration solution is purpose-built for hot desking, phone booths, executive desks and home office use cases. In addition, Lenovo just launched the IP Controller for collaboration spaces as well as the […]

AVI Systems announced a new managed services offering for organizations that have deployed Microsoft Teams Rooms in their environments. MTR Pro Advanced service allows enterprise IT teams to transition the management and support of their Teams room solutions to AVI. The service ensures customers’ MTR rooms are optimized for maximum performance and with more than […]

During the pandemic, Zoom made a fortune. The company could do no wrong, even when it did — like in 2021 having to pay an $85 million fine to settle claims that it lied about offering end-to-end encryption and in 2020 when it accidentally used its Chinese servers to generate encryption keys. The number of […]

Last month at Zoomtopia, Zoom integrated sign language interpretation capabilities into the platform; now MS Teams has it too. Sign Language View is a new meeting experience in Microsoft Teams on Windows, Mac and web that helps signers — people who are deaf or hard of hearing, sign language interpreters, and others who use sign language […]

Is there a “best” videoconferencing software? When would you recommend someone use Google Meet versus Microsoft Teams versus Zoom? The “best” videoconferencing software is the one that meets the needs of your organization and users, and too few AV/IT folks take the time to find out what their users truly need. In today’s environment, all […]

Konftel launched a series of video kits for in-room, PC-based systems called the Konftel Attach. They are designed for Microsoft Teams Rooms, Zoom Rooms and more open-based solutions. The portfolio has been specifically adapted for in-room systems such as from Lenovo and Dell. Konftel Attach bundles include conference cameras and speakerphones, accompanied by a long […]

Yamaha has received Microsoft Teams certification for its ADECIA Tabletop Solution. Part of the company’s ADECIA family of complete, customizable conferencing tools, the tabletop solution meets the medium-sized room standards that defines the Teams experience. The Yamaha RM-TT wired tabletop array microphone is one of the several standalone microphone options also available in ADECIA, a […]

Crestron announced the new Crestron Flex Phones for Microsoft Teams. The Crestron Flex Phones for Microsoft Teams Display provide a dedicated conferencing companion for Microsoft Teams-based collaboration that gives access to channels, chats, files, calendars and all other Microsoft Teams features. The Microsoft Teams Displays also communicate individual and device status across team personnel and […]

OK … put down the pitchforks. There’s a method here. I have had the unique experience of having a front-row seat regarding videoconferencing (VC) over the last 30 years. As I have watched it evolve, I have seen not just WHAT changed but, more importantly, WHY it changed. At the same time, I have also […]

WolfVision announced it will introduce two new Cynap systems and a new multiplatform web conferencing solution at ISE and InfoComm USA 2022 shows. The new Cynap Pure Mini is a BYOD wireless screen mirroring system, providing comprehensive wireless screen sharing for all iOS, Android, Windows, macOS and Chrome OS devices onto a central shared screen. […]

**Note: CTS RUs are not available for webinar or educational session recordings. UCC platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Google Meet have revolutionized classrooms and meetings. But what about meeting equity? To not consider designing HyFlex spaces, those who join future meetings and classes remotely will feel unequal. They may not participate and could, eventually, […]

Pexip announced it is the first and only Microsoft Teams Cloud Video Interop (CVI) solution available for Microsoft’s Government Community Cloud (GCC) High. Federal customers who have deployed Microsoft Teams in GCC High can now enable video teleconferencing systems to join Teams meetings in GCC High as well. Government agencies with video-calling devices that support […]

Yamaha Unified Communications announced ADECIA is now certified for Microsoft Teams. Available immediately, the ceiling microphone and speaker system has passed Microsoft Teams’ tests for medium-sized rooms. Yamaha’s ADECIA conferencing solution is a family of communication products designed to work together to provide a customizable audio solution for any meeting or learning space. The solution […]

NDI is now fully compatible with Microsoft Teams, allowing Teams users access to the full capabilities of NDI 5 enabled technologies for broadcasts, webinars and other video applications. NDI 5 is a high-performance connectivity and control standard that allows NDI devices to operate on a single IP network for ultra-low-latency video production. The NDI Tools […]

So you missed the Mimo Monitors LAVNCH & LEARN, did you? If only there were a way you could watch it on your own time, at your own pace … wait a second, there is! In fact, you can tune in right now to rewatch the event. In case you want a quick overview of what […]

Poly announced the addition of the Voyager 4300 UC Series to its family of Voyager wireless Bluetooth headsets. According to Poly, the Voyager 4300 UC Series is Microsoft Teams certified. It includes a dedicated Microsoft Teams button on the headset that instantly invokes the Teams app and provides visual alerts when a Teams notification occurs. […]

Remember way back when, when phone calls didn’t include video? I miss these days. Unbeknownst to my clients — sans the occasional siren or Harley Davidson motorcyclist, there were many, many times where I would jump on a call with them and walk, and walk and walk while strategizing. I loved it. Not only was […]

Shure announced its MXA710 Linear Array Microphone is now certified for Microsoft Teams. The MXA710 joins Shure’s portfolio of Conferencing Solutions already certified for Microsoft Teams, giving installers and end users even more options for their environments. The MXA710 is designed for audio capture in premium AV conferencing environments. Patented Steerable Coverage technology captures audio […]

AVI-SPL announced the launch of Microsoft Teams user experience services to be co-delivered with Unify Square. AVI-SPL and Unify Square are combining their offerings to deliver a global software and managed services package to manage and analyze meeting room usage. “As Microsoft Teams continues to gain momentum at the desktop and in the meeting room, […]

Welcome to my 21st annual Kayye’s Krystal Ball! I love writing this annual predictions article — it’s both humbling and rewarding. It requires me to stop and research anything new, evaluate the potential impact it will have and then articulate it in a way that matters to readers. If you’re a regular reader of my […]

Skype, FaceTime and now Zoom. Each of the past several iterations of videoconferencing have a few things in common. First, they became part of the consumer lexicon, becoming verbs, in fact. Second, they became popular because of their use by, and availability to the general consumer. Only Zoom, however, grew at what can be described […]

Nureva has announced that its Nureva HDL300 audio conferencing system is now certified as a Microsoft Teams Room device. After undergoing Microsoft’s testing process, the HDL300 system becomes the first microphone and speaker bar to be certified for large meeting spaces up to 15′ x 28′ (4.5 x 8.5 meters). Powered by patented Microphone Mist […]

Jabra announced a UCC-based bundle combining video and audio solutions for meeting rooms in collaboration with HP. The bundle features Jabra PanaCast, a 180 degree Panoramic-4K USB camera and HP Elite Slice room PC for UCC systems. The bundle is designed as a RBS — room-based systems — solution to UCC for video and audio […]

There’s no doubt that Microsoft Teams has been playing catch-up with Zoom for months; some would argue years. But, this week, Microsoft upped its game by adding a host of features that even Zoom power-users will love. Here’s a summary look at each one: Together Mode:  Together mode re-imagines meeting experiences to help participants feel […]

Microsoft has announced new Microsoft Teams displays, a category of all-in-one dedicated Teams devices (basically a personal Teams touch screen) integrated with voice control via Microsoft Cortana. Microsoft is marketing these as personal workspace devices that integrate with Teams collaboration and communication for your home and small office environments — think of them as personal […]

Poly (formerly Plantronics and Polycom) announced Thursday that it now has the largest portfolio of Microsoft-Teams-certified headsets available, with more than twenty headsets and personal speakerphones certified for Teams. Poly has sold nearly 17 million Microsoft-compatible devices over the last three years. The MS Teams portfolio of certified devices includes the Voyager 4200 Office Series […]

Plantronics and Poly announced Tuesday that the Poly Studio X30 and Poly Studio X50 video bars now run Microsoft Teams natively. Poly Studio X30 and Poly Studio X50 are both now available for order with native Teams running right out of the box. Organizations that have already purchased and/or deployed the Poly Studio X and […]

Last week, Huddly IQ became certified as a Microsoft Teams Room Peripheral for small meeting rooms and focus rooms for both Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business. The camera is also certified as a Microsoft Personal Peripheral for Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business. Designed to deliver quality video experiences, Huddly IQ features 150° wide-angle […]

Plantronics and Poly unveiled a new series of Poly Room Solutions for Microsoft Teams Rooms Friday. These are the Poly G10-T, G40-T and G80-T. The listed solutions include audio and video tools for users on Microsoft Teams and give IT managers the ability to scale for meeting rooms of all sizes. Teams has more than […]

Crestron’s new Flex MX is a UCC appliance that offers both native and bring-your-own-device (BYOD) capability. Crestron Flex MX allows companies to run native Microsoft Teams (UC-MX150-T) or Zoom Rooms (UC-MX150-Z) software or switch to BYOD mode for all other conferencing software. For organizations standardized on Microsoft Teams or Zoom Rooms, Flex MX delivers those […]

Starting today, Microsoft Teams is available for Linux users in public preview, enabling collaboration experiences for the open source community at work and in educational institutions. Users can download the native Linux packages in .deb and .rpm formats here. The Microsoft Teams client is the first Microsoft 365 app that is coming to Linux desktops, […]