Microsoft Teams Monthly Update - July 2025

• Microsoft FY26
• Skype for Business Server Subscription Edition GA
• Summarise transferred calls in Teams with Copilot
• Teams client health dashboard
• Teams client Silent Test Calls
• Teams Rooms Pro Portal Al
• Researcher and Analyst Agents GA
• Real-time voice is coming in M365 Copilot Events

Thanks to Pure IP, this month's benefactor, for your support of Empowering.Cloud and the community.

Note that this is an audio-only version of the update, so if you would like to see the accompanying slides, please watch the video version on Empowering.Cloud

Mary Jo Foley, celebrated tech journalist and current Editor in Chief at Directions on Microsoft, joins the podcast to delve into the rise of AI and Copilot at Microsoft and the ever-increasing pace of change.

• Mary Jo's journey from tech journalism to leading content strategy at Directions on Microsoft
• Insights into how enterprise organizations are navigating Microsoft's swift AI advancements
• The impact and challenges of Microsoft's Copilot and agent offerings on enterprise licensing and strategy
• Challenges understanding the complexities of Microsoft's pricing and licensing models, particularly regarding new AI services

Thanks to AudioCodes, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support.

Microsoft Teams Monthly Update - May 2025

• Microsoft Earnings FY25 Q3 – M365 Highlights
• Microsoft 365 news from Microsoft Build
• Office 365 / Microsoft Teams EU antitrust update
• 9 Microsoft Teams Roadmap Highlights
• Operator Connect and Teams Phone Mobile updates
• Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android updates
• Teams Devices updates
• Events

Thanks to AudioCodes, this month's benefactor, for your support of Empowering.Cloud and the community.

Note that this is an audio-only version of the update, so if you would like to see the accompanying slides, please watch the video version on Empowering.Cloud

Zach Bennett, Principal Architect at LoopUp and Tom Arbuthnot discuss Teams Phone options for complex and global organisations.

• Different options and challenges with Teams Phone deployment
• Migration from legacy PBX systems to cloud telephony
• The complexity of certain countries like Dubai, China, and LATAM
• Usage of analog devices and methods to integrate them with cloud-based solutions,
• Importance of selecting the right Operator Connect provider based on specific requirements

Tom Arbuthnot and Mark Licinio, Service Owner of Video Conferencing & Teams devices at  BP dive deep into Marks' experience with Microsoft Teams Rooms and Digital Workplace.

• Discussion of transitioning to Microsoft Teams from Skype for business
• The journey to enabling Microsoft Teams in the meeting room
• Mark speaks about managing and operating multiple OEMs, BYOD, Android, and Windows. 
• BP's approach to testing, operations and deployment
• How their teams evaluate and select equipment and OEMs
• The significance of community engagement and networking which eases their decision-making process in the UC realm.

Thanks to Neat, this episode's sponsor, for your continued support of the Empowering.Cloud community. 

The Microsoft Teams Monthly Update for January 2024 is here! Covering the following and much more in only 13 minutes!

• Copilot for Microsoft 365 is now available to all user accounts, including business plans, with no seat minimum. This is a big unlock for small businesses and E plans.
• Copilot Pro is launched for Microsoft 365 personal and family plans, offering AI assistance integration into Office apps.
• Teams Android Auto integration is coming in February, offering a full Teams client experience for Android users.
• Microsoft has made improvements to the Teams invite interface, making it clearer and easier to use.
• Thanks to this month's sponsor Pure-IP for your continued support of the community

Note that this is an audio-only version of the update, so if you would like to see the accompanying slides then you can watch the video version on the Empowering.Cloud platform here: https://app.empowering.cloud/briefings/328/Microsoft-Teams-Monthly-Update-January-2024

• Rohan Milne, CEO at Switch Connect and Tom Arbuthnot discuss the impact and role of AI in the workspace, with a focus on its potential and limitations in different applications
• The importance of understanding experience or voice and PSTN within the Managed Service Provider (MSP) community
• Strategies for optimizing Microsoft Teams as a collaboration platform rather than just a PBX
• Impact of AI in the contact center space and its potential to disrupt current models
• Examples of challenges of implementing Teams Calling in government and enterprise settings due to existing contracts and siloed operations are highlighted
• Limitations of AI in areas like the order of actual execution of tasks
• Potential for AI to evolve to a state where it can provide real-time insights and analytics for businesses
• How Teams can be leveraged for an ROI rather than being seen as an expense for businesses

Thanks to Ribbon, this episode's sponsor, for your continued support of the Empowering.Cloud community. 

• Greg emphasizes the importance of thinking critically about each component of a room and using standards as a guide
• The importance of standards and proper room design for Microsoft Teams rooms and technology-enabled spaces
• The real-world challenges of room design, the need for audio quality and the opportunity for improvement in remote experiences
• The ROI of investing in technology-enabled spaces

Thanks to Crestron, this episode's sponsor, for your continued support of the community and for helping to make content like this possible. 

• Damian Lewis is a digital workplace specialist at a global enterprise responsible for Teams telephony, Microsoft Teams Rooms, and other Teams-related projects.
• Tom and Damian discuss the challenges of migrating legacy telephony into Teams, especially the porting of numbers, which can be unpredictable and time-consuming.
• An ideal operational model for telephony in Teams is still being defined, including allocating responsibilities between the network team and the collaboration/digital workplace team.
• Damian's organization has established a weekly Microsoft Message Center review board to stay on top of updates, assess their impact, and communicate them to users through a "did you know?" communication.
• Keeping track of Message Center updates is crucial to avoid surprises and ensure smooth operations, especially for significant changes like the retirement of Stream Classic or introducing new features.
• Damian recommends following the YouTube channel "365 Message Center Show" hosted by Daryl Webster and Daniel Glenn for additional insights into Microsoft updates.

Thank you to Numonix, this episode's sponsor, for your continued support of the community. 

In this podcast episode, Tom Arbuthnot speaks to Vandana Thomas, Microsoft Teams Phone Mobile Product Leader about what we've seen in Teams Phone Mobile throughout 2023 and what we can expect to come in 2024.

Thanks to Luware for sponsoring this episode, check out their Microsoft Teams Contact Center solution here: Luware | Contact Center and Routing Solutions

• Teams Phone Mobile has launched in nine countries with six operators.
• There are plans to expand the market coverage, aiming for 10 more markets next year.
• The integration of AI features, such as CoPilot, in Teams Phone Mobile is a big focus.
• We discuss features planned in the future. 

In this Microsoft Teams Insider Podcast episode, Micah Singer, CEO of Kurmi Software, and Tom Arbuthnot discuss a range of topics around the future of Enterprise IT:

• potential impact of generative AI on software development
• shift towards remote work and how it's driving demand for more IT infrastructure
• role of AI in IT security
• the rise of low-code and no-code applications
• monetisation of cloud infrastructure
• the need for greater automation in IT management

• Michael Tressler is a Senior Solutions Consultant at Jabra, focusing on pre-sales technical support for Jabra products, including audio and video devices.
• In this podcast Michael explains his journey from early coding, to IT roles to Microsoft and then to Jabra
• Jabra has also recently launched an Android-based video bar, providing an all-in-one solution for video conferencing.

Thanks to Jabra, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support of the community and helping making content like this possible. 

In this podcast episode, Tom Arbuthnot and Sam Kennedy, discuss Crestron's product Automate VX for outside-in camera views in meeting rooms. The multi-camera solution aims to provide a more equitable meeting experience by intelligently selecting the best camera angle for each moment during a meeting. The Automate VX has also recently been Microsoft Teams certified, making it the first multi-camera solution to have been certified by Teams.

Thanks to Crestron, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support of the community and helping to make this podcast possible. 

Kevin Kieller, EnableUC and Craig Durr, The Collab Collective, discuss their perspectives with Tom Arbuthnot live from Comms vNext, exploring how AI is reshaping workplace collaboration.

• Comparing AI developments across UCaaS platforms, Microsoft's Copilot, Zoom's AI companion, and Google's Gemini.
• How AI is evolving from a tool to a teammate, with discussion on platforms integrating AI to enhance meeting and workflow effectiveness.
• The role of trust in AI adoption and how reliable AI interactions can increase productivity and streamline work processes.
• Future AI developments including agent orchestration and the integration of multiple AI systems

Thanks to Kevin Kieller and Craig Durr for their insightful contributions and to SCB Global for sponsoring podcasts at Comms vNext

In this podcast episode, Tom Arbuthnot and Chris Goodwill discuss the impact of AI on contact centers and the opportunities it opens up for innovation and improvement in content centers.

• AI will have a significant impact on contact centers in terms of driving efficiencies and improving customer experience.
• Quick wins in the B2C space include using chatbots for simple tasks like waste collection or ordering recycling bins.
• Digital transformation is essential for contact centers to drive better customer experiences and satisfaction.
• The use of AI in contact centers can lead to cost savings, skill changes, and job opportunities in different areas.
• Microsoft has introduced Dynamics Contact Center platform and Digital Contact Center platform (DCCP) to provide contact center solutions.
• Dynamics Contact Center platform is tightly integrated with Dynamics CRM and offers voice and omni-channel capabilities.
• Partners and customers need to understand the options available, leverage the best solutions, and stay open to the evolving contact center market.

Thanks to Ribbon, the sponsor of this episode, for your continued support and making it possible for us to produce content like this. 

In this podcast, Tom Arbuthnot interviews Alistair Pidd from Pure IP, discussing the maturity and scale of Microsoft Teams in the enterprise market. 

Thank you to Pure IP, the sponsor of this episode, for helping to make this podcast possible. 

• Microsoft Teams has undergone significant changes and improvements in the last year, such as the introduction of SIP gateway, shared calling with auto-attendant administration, and the migration away from 3PIP devices.
• Managing the scale and complexity of Teams deployments in large enterprises requires careful planning and change control to ensure stability and minimize disruptions to service.
• Responsibilities for managing Teams deployments in enterprises often involve multiple teams, including network, voice, applications, and meeting room teams.
• Automation and outsourcing services, such as managed SBCs, are becoming more common as enterprises seek to simplify their Teams deployments and reduce the complexity of managing phone systems.
• Reporting and analytics capabilities in Teams, especially for call queues and support desks, remain an area where improvements are needed to provide better visibility and insights.

In this podcast episode, Tom Arbuthnot interviews Michael LaMontagne, a Microsoft Teams expert and the creator of TeamsBoss. TeamsBoss a cloud voice admin and voice operations solution for Microsoft Teams that helps organizations simplify and manage their Teams phone and meeting room operations. It eliminates the need for complex PowerShell commands and allows users to easily manage phone numbers, policies, profiles, and resource accounts for Teams.

Thanks to Numoix, the sponsor of this episode. Check out their Teams recording solution Microsoft Teams Recording | Cloud Compliance Recording | IXCloud (numonix.cloud)

• Michael LaMontagne is an independent consultant and principal product manager for TeamsBoss.
• TeamsBoss a cloud voice admin and voice operations solution for Microsoft Teams.
• It offers features like phone number management, profile creation for users based on policies, bulk management of user configurations, and resource account management.
• The service aims to simplify and automate tasks that are challenging with PowerShell or the Teams Admin Center.
• TeamsBoss is Azure-based and can be procured from the Azure Marketplace.
• It uses delegated permissions and does not store tokens or credentials,

In this pod, Vandana Thomas, Product Leader for Microsoft Teams Phone Mobile gives us insight into what Teams Phone mobile is and how it has been going in market

I really enjoyed this conversation. Chul-Young, Product Manager, Collaboration Platforms & Services at Parexel, takes us through his and their Microsoft Teams journey.

- Rolling Microsoft Teams out to 20,000 users  in 50 countries in 4 weeks
- Keeping things as standard as possible
- How is Team creation and lifecycle managed?
- With great power comes great responsibility
- Experience rolling out Teams Phone and reducing the number of Phone users
- Looking at this year and Microsoft Viva

Aaron Steele, Microsoft Technical Program Manager takes us through what is Network Device Interface (NDI) and how can it be used to broadcast Teams meeting content, and how organizations like the NBA and Christie's have used the technology for their events.

More about Teams and NDI:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/broadcasting-audio-and-video-from-teams-with-ndi-and-sdi-technology-e91a0adb-96b9-4dca-a2cd-07181276afa3

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/use-ndi-in-meetings

Graham Walsh is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) and works for Neat where he is the Product Specialist / Strategic Alliances in EMEA

We get into the neat portfolio. Talk about the neat frame and where we think it fits in the market. Also, the neat bar pro and how it compares to the neat bar and the extensibility there, and a little bit about the upcoming Neat center and where that will play.

Patrick Burke from Gong shares insights on how they are using AI to maximise RevOps and how they use Numonix TRaaS to pull insights from Microsoft Teams meetings.

• Gong's evolution into a revenue AI platform,  how it helps sales teams improve performance by integrating insights directly into CRM systems.
• Integrations with platforms like Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, and HubSpot allow seamless data gathering and analysis to refine and support data-driven sales strategies.
• Media capture and compliance capabilities enabled by Gong's partnership with Numonix, ensuring secure and efficient use of call data for business insights.
• Patrick offers a glimpse into the future of AI in sales, including potential chat centric integrations 

Thanks to Patrick Burke for sharing his expertise and to Numonix for sponsoring this insightful discussion.

Tom Arbuthnot talks with Reto Schadegg, Global IT Infrastructure Manager at SCOR, about how they rolled out 200 Microsoft Teams Rooms across 35 countries in just 90 days.

• SCOR's delivered a rapid global deployment by leveraging prior standardization and planning.
• Neat Bar Pro was selected after hands-on testing, becoming the core device for most rooms.
• The rollout achieved a 40% reduction in operational costs and six-figure savings overall.
• A streamlined support model now manages 200 rooms with just 1.5 FTEs on second-line support.
• SCOR's shift to Teams Phone continues, aiming to phase out desk phones and reduce telecom costs.

Thanks to Neat, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support and for helping to make content like this possible

Tom Arbuthnot chats with Michael Levy, CEO of Numonix, about what it really takes to deliver compliance-grade recording in Microsoft Teams.

• Compliance recording is centrally managed, encrypted, and built to meet regulations like GDPR and MiFID II.
• Microsoft certification requires rigorous audits, financial commitment, and ongoing platform alignment.
• Vendors must continuously adapt to Teams updates to maintain compatibility and compliance.
• Numonix powers advanced features like filtered recording, native Teams app support, and AI integration.

Thanks for listening to this deep dive into compliance recording and how it’s evolving with Microsoft Teams.

Microsoft Teams Monthly Update - April 2025

• Teams clients older than 90 days will be blocked​
• General Channel is back​
• Detect sensitive content screen shared in meetings​
• Share PowerPoint control with all presenters​
• New Unify Contact Center to Microsoft Teams Integration model​
• Enforcement of Teams Phone license checks for Extend Contact Centres and Attendant Consoles​
• M365 Copilot Chat will be pinned by default in Teams and Outlook​
• Teams Devices Updates​
• Roadmap Watch​

Thanks to Neat, this month's benefactor, for your support of Empowering.Cloud and the community.

Note that this is an audio-only version of the update, so if you would like to see the accompanying slides, please watch the video version on Empowering.Cloud

Tom Arbuthnot is joined by Microsoft’s Evie Grimshaw to dive into bookable desks in Microsoft Teams and how they fit into the broader solution with Microsoft Places.

• Bookable desks work with existing Teams devices and software—no new hardware or installs are needed.
• Bookable desks supports end-to-end booking, from remote reservations to automatic in-office check-ins.
• Employees maintain control over location visibility with flexible opt-in privacy settings.
• Admins get actionable insights into desk usage via integrated analytics in Teams and Places.
• Upcoming updates will expand desk booking options and enhance intelligent peripheral mapping for admins.

Thanks to Pure IP, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support and for helping to make content like this possible

Tom Arbuthnot speaks with Adam Holtby, a Principal Analyst at Omdia, about the evolving landscape of Teams Phone Mobile, mobile UCaaS integration and its strategic impact on organizations.

Discussion Points:

• Challenges: Tom and Adam discuss the slow adoption of mobile UCaaS, highlighting the need for better integration between cellular networks and collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams and Cisco WebEx
• Opportunity: The opportunity for telcos to become key integrators of advanced communication solutions, enhancing their business value.
• Strategic Benefits for Enterprises: A centralized approach to managing mobile and fixed collaboration tools can significantly reduce costs and improve operational efficiency for multinational companies
• Security and Compliance: Benefits for regulated industries like financial services, where secure and compliant communication is essential.

Thanks to Ribbon, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support and for helping to make content like this possible

Matt Peers, the Global COO of Pinsent Masons, shares his insights on the adoption of modern work technologies, particularly AI and Microsoft's Copilot, within the legal sector.

• Matt discusses his professional journey, including his experiences as both a CIO and COO in prominent legal and professional services firms. He focuses on how he's led efforts to modernize workplaces through technology.
• How the legal sector is embracing AI—not as a replacement for lawyers, but as a tool to augment their capabilities. AI enables legal professionals to deliver higher-quality work and respond to clients more quickly.
• How AI has become an important tool in legal operations, helping streamline tasks like meeting notes, summarizing conversations, and managing workloads more effectively.
• Matt highlights the importance of continuous training, storytelling, and leveraging early adopters to drive the adoption of Copilot and AI technologies within organizations.

Thanks to Pure IP, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support and for helping to make content like this possible.

In this episode, we’re joined by Greg Baribault, who leads the HP business and brings a 26-year legacy from Microsoft, offering unique insights into the evolution and future of collaborative technology.

• Greg reflects on his transition from Microsoft, where he worked across Exchange Server, Skype for Business, and Microsoft Teams, to leading hardware innovation at HP.
• He discusses the evolution of Skype Room Systems to Microsoft Teams Rooms and the importance of seamless, instant meeting starts.
• Greg shares how HP is integrating technologies from Polycom, Plantronics, HP, and now Vyoppta to create a cohesive, user-friendly experience in both physical and virtual meeting spaces.

Thanks to Landis, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support and for helping to make content like this possible

David Renfree, Manager of UC Sales Specialists at Colt Technology Services, and Jason Wyatt, EMEA Marketing Director at AudioCodes, discuss evolving operator services and how Colt is innovating in enterprise connectivity through their partnership with AudioCodes.

• Strategic Partnership: Colt utilizes AudioCodes Live Platform to enhance enterprise voice services and efficiency

• Award-Winning Cooperation: Colt recognised by AudioCodes for excellence as Live Platform and Service Provider of the Year

• Tailored Solutions: Offers flexible, multi-vendor integration to meet diverse enterprise requirements

• Advanced UC Management: Provides comprehensive service management for both cloud and on-premise environments

• AI and Business Impact: Focuses on AI-driven solutions for superior business outcomes beyond traditional telecom

Thanks to AudioCodes, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support

Scott Plette, Partner Group Program Manager for Teams Calling and Premium shares his insights into how the Queues app is offering new capabilities and value to customers. 

• How Queues App is enhancing team collaboration, managing customer calls, and providing reporting and insights
• Upcoming features include shared call history, integration with Microsoft Shifts, and enhanced mobile capabilities
• How the integration of AI, including Copilot features, will provide intelligent insights, automate call recaps, and enhance customer interaction analytics.
• Advanced call monitoring features coming soon include barge, whisper, and monitor functionalities

Thanks to Ribbon, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support and for helping to make content like this possible

Microsoft Teams Monthly Update - Enterprise Connect Special - March 2025

• 10 Teams Client Updates
• Live Web Chat
• Interpreter Agent Demo
• 8 Meetings and Events Updates
• Facilitator Agent on MTR
• 9 Teams Rooms and Places Updates
• Teams Phone Extensibility Explained
• 9 Teams Phone Updates
• Events

Thanks to Pure IP, this month's benefactor, for your support of Empowering.Cloud and the community.

Note that this is an audio-only version of the update, so if you would like to see the accompanying slides, please watch the video version on Empowering.Cloud

Tom Garland, Global Service Delivery Manager at Willis Towers Watson shares an insight to the journey from traditional PBX systems to Skype for Business, and then to Microsoft Teams.

• Key considerations and challenges in implementing such large-scale telephony changes across a diverse global workforce 
• The importance of aligning projects with business requirements and managing user expectations to prevent operational complications
• Specific regional challenges, and experience in implementing Operator Connect in countries like India
• The importance of adhering to compliance requirements through sophisticated call recording systems and practical approaches for managing call data efficiently

Thanks to Pure IP, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support.

Ally Ward, M365 Global Service Owner at a major legal firm, unravels the complexities of managing Microsoft 365 change, sharing effective strategies for handling frequent updates and ensuring seamless IT operations.

• Ally's role in managing Microsoft 365 changes, focusing on assessing the impact of updates and determining necessary actions for adoption or compliance
• How change information can be distributed through Teams channels and how to alert relevant subject matter experts to the appropriate information
• Balancing the need for awareness with the risk of information overload in terms of end-user communication
• The value of investing in resources to manage Microsoft 365 change effectively

Thanks to Ribbon, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support.

Sarah Miller, Senior Product Marketing Manager - Microsoft 365 Copilot at Microsoft, dives into practical applications of Microsoft Copilot Agents

• The concept of Copilots and the journey organisations take to adopt and integrate this AI technology effectively
• Real-world use cases, including how Pets at Home are using AI agents to improve operations and efficiency
• Importance of enterprise security in AI adoption
• The concept of AI agents, their functions and business value across different industries
• How Copilot Dashboard and Success Kit can assist organisations in measuring AI impact and managing AI deployment

Many thanks to Crestron, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support.

Matt Sheldrick, M365 Product Designer at Kingfisher, a multi-national retail group with renowned brands including B&Q and Screwfix, shares how the organisation has embraced Microsoft Teams to revolutionise collaboration.

• How Kingfisher deployed video capabilities in all meeting rooms and even stores
• The importance of quick, efficient and robust room setups
• The transition to Teams Phone and streamlining communication, focusing on flexibility and local presence
• AI adoption and automation enhancing productivity

Thanks to Logitech, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support.

Mansoor Malik, Principal Group Product Manager - Microsoft Teams at Microsoft, explores the world of Microsoft Teams Premium, a significant focus for Microsoft in 2025. 

• Teams Premium enables organisations to better manage communications and advanced workloads efficiently in a hybrid workplace.
• Headline features include Intelligent Recap, Queues app and Microsoft Places
• Find out about lesser-known but still valuable features
• Realising the ROI for Teams Premium

Thanks to Logitech, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support.

Microsoft Teams Monthly Update - February 2025

• Microsoft Teams Rooms Express Install
• ISE News and New Devices
• MDEP – New OEMs and ODMs
• MTRoW Boards + Edge WebApps
• MTRoW Multiple Camera View
• Microsoft Teams Super Resolution
• New Teams Phone Mobile Provider
• Roadmap
• Events

Thanks to Ribbon, this month's benefactor, for your support of Empowering.Cloud and the community.

Note that this is an audio-only version of the update, so if you would like to see the accompanying slides, please watch the video version over on Empowering.Cloud

In a podcast crossover, Tom Arbuthnot joins friends Randy Chapman, Mark Vale, and Shawn Harry in episode 65 of the UC Status Podcast, where they discuss all things Microsoft Teams, AI, and future innovations.

• What were the big Microsoft Teams features of 2024, and a look at the Roadmap for 2025
• The impact of Teams Premium on user experiences and how businesses are leveraging its features, including branding, intelligent recaps and integration with external platforms
• The increasing support of BYOD rooms
• Copilot's future trajectory and how AI will impact contact center

Chandra Chivukula, Vice President of Engineering for Microsoft Teams, talks to Tom about the engineering strategies behind Microsoft Teams and how moving all users to the new client in 2024 has enabled more efficient and agile collaboration and a foundation for future innovation.

• Evolution of Microsoft Teams and Architecture
• How Microsoft successfully transitioned over 320 million users to the new Teams client
• The goal of consistency of Teams features across different platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS and Android
• Release management, internal rings and the TAP program

Thanks to Landis, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support.

Mehryn Corrigan, Microsoft Global Channel Sales lead, Microsoft Teams Rooms, discusses the evolution of Teams Rooms and AI and the future of meeting spaces.

• AV and IT Convergence: Exploring the integration of AV and IT in meeting room setups and how partners are evolving their roles

• AI in Meeting Rooms: Enhancements such as speaker recognition, AI assistants, and Copilot are transforming meeting experiences

• Simplifying Room Deployments: Efforts to streamline setup and management are making modern meeting rooms more accessible

• Future Opportunities for Partners: With the addition of Microsoft Places and AI, partners are poised to expand their service offerings beyond hardware

Thanks to Jabra, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support.

Olly Henderson, Head of Video Product Management and Portfolio at Jabra, discusses the evolution of meeting room technology and how Jabra is redefining enterprise audio and video conferencing solutions.

• Launch of Panacast 40 VBS - a new Android bar designed for small huddle rooms
• The Role of Edge AI in Jabra's video solutions for optimal performance and reduced cloud dependency
• The Future of BYOD in Meeting Rooms
• Jabra's partnerships and collaborative efforts to enhance their product offerings, including the integration of the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform (MDEP)
• Simplifying the deployment process and reducing costs with features including zero-touch deployment and Jabra Plus management platform advancements

Thanks to Jabra, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support.

Chris A. Johnson, Municipal Cyber Center Manager at the City of Independence, Missouri, shares their journey from an old analog phone system to a modern cloud-based communication infrastructure using Microsoft Teams and Five9 with the help of AVI-SPL.

• The transition from an outdated Avaya phone system to modern cloud platforms
• Collaborating with AVI-SPL accelerated the transformation timeline from a multi-year to a 2-year project
• Automating processes, improving contact center capabilities and better resident satisfaction
• Enabling hybrid work flexibility, improving job satisfaction and retention

Thanks to AVI-SPL, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support.

Kathie Anderson, IT Change Manager at Derby City Council, shares the experience of transitioning to Microsoft Teams and meeting the unique challenges faced by local authorities.

• How Derby City Council transitioned from PBX to Skype for Business and then to Microsoft Teams during the pandemic, condensing the six-month rollout into just six weeks to facilitate remote working
• Integration of Luware's contact center solution into Microsoft Teams, improving flexibility and efficiency
• The significant positive impact on essential services, ensuring critical calls are not missed and enabling rapid response
• The power of Luware's Power BI reporting allows Derby City Council to gain valuable insights into call patterns and performance

Thanks to Luware, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support.

Brad Hintze, EVP Global Marketing at Crestron, shares customer stories about how Crestron enhances customer meeting room experiences.

• Examples from Puma, Fortuna Entertainment Group and Blue Water Financial Services
• Crestron's wide array of solutions cater to diverse meeting room setups from small huddle rooms to large boardrooms
• The growing significance of AI features such as transcription in meeting spaces
• The importance of superior audio quality when it comes to AI
• Developments coming in 2025, including advancements in visual AI, multi-camera systems

Thanks to Crestron, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support.

Tim Albright, President of AVNation Media, shares his insights into the convergence of AV and IT and the evolving landscape of meetings and video conferencing.

• Origins of AVNation, an online media platform dedicated to the audio-visual sector
• The critical role of video conferencing in today's hybrid work models and the importance of standardized solutions
• How Microsoft certified devices drive quality and consistency in user experiences
• Emerging trends such as multi-camera setups and the role of AI in enhancing video conferencing

Thanks to AudioCodes, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support

Microsoft Teams Monthly Update - January 2025

• SMS in Teams
• Teams Web chat widget
• Transcripts on by default
• Meeting Recap share link
• Mandatory Android Updates and AOSP
• MTR Captions additional languages
• MTR Windows 10 EOL
• Queues App Roadmap
• Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat
• Events

Thanks to Logitech, this month's benefactor, for your support of Empowering.Cloud and the community.

Note that this is an audio-only version of the update, so if you would like to see the accompanying slides, please watch the video version over on Empowering.Cloud

Eshan Mathur, Senior Product Manager at Microsoft, helps us understand the evolving Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) landscape within Microsoft Teams, focusing on Microsoft's aim to provide seamless user experiences and enhanced manageability for IT admins for BYOD.

• Eshan's unique career journey from game development, including 'Where's my water', to enterprise solutions
• Enhancements in Microsoft Teams BYOD experiences, including automatic audio device selection 
• Auto-association for managing shared devices
• Future BYOD developments and recommendations for organisations in BYOD scenarios

Thanks to Logitech, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support.

Irwin Lazar, President and Principal Analyst at Metrigy discusses key trends and insights in the unified communications and collaboration space and shares thoughts for 2025

• How companies are navigating the complexities of hybrid work
• Moving beyond the hype of AI to practical deployments and adoption
• Microsoft Teams' increasing presence in meetings, messaging and as a voice platform
• How companies are choosing between Teams Phone Mobile, Direct Routing and Microsoft Teams Operator Connect

Thanks to AVI-SPL, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support.

Emily Kirby George, Microsoft Teams Product Manager at Microsoft, shares her unique perspective on product management in the world of Microsoft Teams Phone, sharing challenges of balancing innovation with fundamental reliability.

• Emily's path from support Skype for Business to a Senior Product Manager on the Microsoft Teams Calling team
• How Microsoft prioritizes features, balancing traditional phone system requirements with new AI opportunities
• The importance of maintaining robust, reliable fundamentals in Teams Phone and ensuring service stability
• How AI is being integrated into Teams Phone

Thanks to Logitech, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support.