Communications & Collaboration
Top Stories
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Tip
09 Jul 2026
Top 7 UCaaS features to enhance productivity
Enterprises have historically used UCaaS to reduce operating costs. No longer. Today, due in part to AI, companies view UCaaS as the most efficient way to boost collaboration. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jun 2026
Securing AI meeting assistants: What IT leaders need to know
More companies are deploying AI agents to make their meetings more efficient. But these tools can also expose companies to some significant security risks. Continue Reading
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Definition
22 Sep 2023
real-time communications (RTC)
Real-time communications (RTC) is any mode of telecommunications in which all users can exchange information instantly or with negligible latency or transmission delays. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Sep 2023
Choose between Microsoft Teams vs. Zoom for conference needs
Weigh the pros and cons of Microsoft Teams vs. Zoom, and focus on ease of use, pricing, market share, video and telephony capabilities, and security requirements. Continue Reading
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News
19 Sep 2023
Smartsheet scales project management for larger customers
The work collaboration platform vendor's updates scale capabilities for task views, high-volume data management and visualizations to simplify organization for larger customers. Continue Reading
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News
06 Sep 2023
Zoom releases its AI Companion and unveils new tools
The video conferencing vendor released a virtual assistant to let users summarize meetings and draft messages, and new meeting tools for help before, during and after the call. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Sep 2023
How unified communications tools address accessibility
The increased use of cloud communications means the tools must be accessible for everyone. Organizations should vet how their UC providers support accessibility features. Continue Reading
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News
31 Aug 2023
8x8 releases conversational AI tools for the contact center
The cloud-based UC vendor releases voice technology to enable CX workers to connect self-service and agent-assisted workflows and receive conversation context from voicebots. Continue Reading
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News
29 Aug 2023
Microsoft Teams attack exposes collab platform security gaps
Criminal and state-sponsored hackers are ramping up cyberattacks on instant messaging platforms and other workplace collaboration tools. Meanwhile, enterprises' readiness lags. Continue Reading
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News
29 Aug 2023
Google releases Duet AI for Workspace; new Meet, Chat tools
The tech giant released its collaboration suite virtual assistant and unveiled new tools to help users summarize and translate meetings and enable teleprompts for presentations. Continue Reading
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Definition
23 Aug 2023
analog telephone adapter (ATA)
An analog telephone adapter (ATA) is a device used to connect an analog telephone, fax machine or similar equipment to a computer or network to enable communications over the internet. Continue Reading
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Quiz
17 Aug 2023
MS-700 practice exam tests Teams phone system knowledge
This practice test for the MS-700 Managing Microsoft Teams exam quizzes readers on how to manage the Teams phone system, from call queues to Direct Routing. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Aug 2023
Prepare for Teams admin certification with MS-700 study guide
Learn the administrative responsibilities for the Teams phone system in this excerpt from 'MS-700 Managing Microsoft Teams Exam Guide.' Continue Reading
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News
09 Aug 2023
Slack launches redesign to centralize notifications, tasks
The collaboration vendor is out with a new interface to centralize workspaces for Enterprise Grid customers and display notifications and unify create functions in one view. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Aug 2023
UCaaS vs. VoIP: What's the difference?
Both UCaaS and VoIP offer some compelling benefits, but which approach works better depends on how your organization is structured. Continue Reading
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Definition
31 Jul 2023
leased line
A leased line is a bidirectional telephone line that has been rented for private voice, data exchange or telecommunication use. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Jul 2023
How to calculate video conferencing bandwidth requirements
Image motion, frame rates and screen resolution often dictate video conferencing bandwidth requirements. Learn four steps to address remote and office video call bandwidth needs. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Jul 2023
3 considerations to choose the right communication channel
Workers rely on unified communications as a service to interact with colleagues and external contacts. But knowing which app to use to communicate most effectively is a challenge. Continue Reading
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Definition
19 Jul 2023
cloud telephony (cloud calling)
Cloud telephony (cloud calling) is a type of unified communications as a service (UCaaS) that offers voice communication services through a third-party host. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Jul 2023
Weigh video conferencing sustainability benefits and challenges
Video conferencing sustainability is about more than reducing travel. Learn the role video technology can play in ESG goals, as well as potential environmental drawbacks. Continue Reading
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News
13 Jul 2023
Hybrid workplaces need accessible, integrable UC platforms
Users want videoconferencing to interoperate with on-site hardware, virtual whiteboards that integrate into workflows and design platforms that are accessible to all contributors. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Jul 2023
3 video conferencing best practices to improve meetings
Hybrid work means that video meetings are here to stay. Organizations need to plan to ensure their video conferences are as effective as possible. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Jul 2023
How IT departments structure collaboration management
Today, there are countless apps used to communicate across companies. IT departments are taking two approaches to organize the teams responsible for collaboration deployments. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Jul 2023
RingCentral healthcare mends health center's phone system
Consolidating phone systems enabled Sun River Health to provide flexibility to clinical staff, expand reporting in its call center and improve the patient experience. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Jun 2023
Collaboration tool sprawl challenges and how to address them
Using multiple communication and collaboration tools can cause productivity headaches. There are steps IT can take to avoid these issues and manage collaboration tool sprawl. Continue Reading
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News
27 Jun 2023
Zoom Rooms' Intelligent Director follows in-room users
The vendor's AI-backed tool uses multiple cameras to capture in-office users' best angles and present them onscreen to boost facetime between participants. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Jun 2023
Office hoteling pros and cons for hybrid work
As hybrid work gains traction, companies must rethink how they want to allocate their offices. Office hoteling offers some advantages, but be careful of the pitfalls. Continue Reading
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Feature
21 Jun 2023
Using Fibery to build The Ultimate Workspace for solopreneurs
The no-code digital workspace vendor for SMBs brings total customization to online knowledge hubs and generative AI tools to build online workspaces and create content quickly. Continue Reading
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News
19 Jun 2023
Avaya prioritizes slow migration from on-prem to the cloud
The longtime contact center vendor aims to rebound from double bankruptcy by focusing on highly regulated customers' needs, such as continuity of some on-premises communications. Continue Reading
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Definition
19 Jun 2023
quality of service (QoS)
Quality of service (QOS) refers to any technology that manages data traffic to reduce packet loss, latency and jitter on a network. Continue Reading
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Answer
15 Jun 2023
SIP trunking vs. VoIP: What's the difference?
SIP trunking and VoIP share some similarities, but they have key differences in origin and functions. Learn how together they form the cornerstone of IP telephony. Continue Reading
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News
08 Jun 2023
Cisco generative AI heads to Security Cloud, Webex
Cisco plans to release generative AI features in the Webex platform and Security Cloud this year. Together, the products tighten security for remote workers. Continue Reading
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Definition
08 Jun 2023
bring your own carrier (BYOC)
Bring your own carrier (BYOC) is a method of letting businesses choose their own carrier to connect their unified communications provider to the public switched telephone network. Continue Reading
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Definition
02 Jun 2023
private branch exchange (PBX)
A private branch exchange is a telephone system within an enterprise that switches calls between users on local lines, while enabling all users to share a certain number of external phone lines. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 May 2023
Top 6 UCaaS benefits for businesses
More organizations are recognizing the benefits of the cloud and making the jump to UCaaS. Learn the six business benefits of UCaaS -- and the potential drawbacks. Continue Reading
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Definition
30 May 2023
eavesdropping
Eavesdropping is the act of listening to, recording or intercepting private communications. Continue Reading
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Definition
30 May 2023
incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC)
An incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) is a type of U.S. telephone company that provided local service when the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was enacted. Continue Reading
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News
24 May 2023
Whiteboard collaboration app Miro to get generative AI tools
The online workspace vendor's generative AI tool will bring instant summarization, code translation, template building, idea clustering and image creation to virtual coworking. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 May 2023
3 best practices for a successful UCaaS migration
Migrating to UCaaS requires careful planning to make the transition as seamless as possible. IT leaders can incorporate three best practices into their deployment strategies. Continue Reading
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News
19 May 2023
Collaboration app Stormboard brings AI to virtual whiteboard
Harnessing advanced machine learning and natural language processing, online collaboration vendor Stormboard launches StormAI to help teams share and organize ideas faster. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 May 2023
4 key unified communications security threats to watch for
Keeping your unified communications system safe requires tools that are specifically geared to voice and video apps. Learn how to take a multilayered approach to UC security. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 May 2023
CPaaS brings cloud contact center features to on premises
Organizations with on-premises contact centers don't need to make a full cloud migration to modernize their systems. CPaaS can enable cloud features and drive key business metrics. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 May 2023
Migrating from Slack: Inside the trend and spend
The availability of all-in-one collaboration apps, like Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace, is spurring some companies to ask if it's time to migrate from Slack. Continue Reading
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News
04 May 2023
Slack GPT quickly summarizes channels and creates canvases
The CRM giant unveiled a generative AI assistant for its Slack collaboration platform to let users quickly summarize channels, draft messages and create whiteboard-like canvases. Continue Reading
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Answer
03 May 2023
Telepresence vs. video conferencing: What's the difference?
Though seemingly similar in concept, telepresence and video conferencing have different approaches to virtual meetings. Continue Reading
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Opinion
03 May 2023
Absorb, acclimate and aspire at Enterprise Connect 2023
Innovation was the highlight of Enterprise Connect 2023, with advancements in interoperability, AI and CRM. But the conference also stressed where vendors must widen their reach. Continue Reading
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News
02 May 2023
Microsoft releases Teams Payments app for small businesses
The tech giant brings transaction capabilities to its Teams platform, expanding digital commerce options for small businesses that offer online services through Teams. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Apr 2023
5 steps to achieve UC network modernization for hybrid work
The shift to hybrid work is putting new demands on the unified communications network infrastructure. Split tunneling and an enterprise CDN are two ways to meet those needs. Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Apr 2023
team collaboration tools
Team collaboration tools -- also known as team collaboration software -- is a term used to define the different types of software and online services available to companies and individuals that enable them to feasibly work together on common projects, regardless of their physical location. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Apr 2023
Microsoft and Cisco certification deepens interoperability
These UC blogs review Microsoft's and Cisco's latest integrations and the business strategy driving them, as well as how to ensure collaboration security in the workplace. Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2023
Slack releases updated API platform for developers
The instant messaging collaboration vendor released its updated API platform for developers to create functions that interact with APIs. Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2023
Atlassian unveils generative AI-backed tools for Confluence
The collaboration software vendor incorporated a virtual assistant supported by OpenAI technology to summarize meetings and draft tweets in Confluence, its collaboration space. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Apr 2023
Tap collaboration devices for employee experience data
Collaboration devices play a key role in supporting employee experience, from extracting engagement data to improving hybrid meeting parity. Continue Reading
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News
12 Apr 2023
Cisco provides extra-secure Webex for U.S. government
Cisco will provide a higher-security cloud-based unified communications platform for U.S. national security and defense personnel to monitor classified data, starting in 2024. Continue Reading
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Podcast
11 Apr 2023
Enterprise Connect 2023 news highlights
Antone Gonsalves, news director for networking and security, and Katherine Finnell, senior site editor, discuss Enterprise Connect 2023 highlights in "Tech News This Week." Continue Reading
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Video
10 Apr 2023
Recap Enterprise Connect hybrid work trends, generative AI
Analysts discuss the top trends from Enterprise Connect 2023, including generative AI and how to make hybrid work more inclusive. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Apr 2023
Extend collaboration tools with 'Google Workspace User Guide'
Collaboration tools are key as businesses shift to hybrid work. Google Workspace supports productivity with Google Classroom, Marketplace apps and Google Assistant. Continue Reading
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Answer
31 Mar 2023
How to use Webex with OBS to enhance meetings
As the working world shifts to hybrid, companies look for ways to improve virtual meetings. OBS facilitates this by providing enhancements to video calls for Webex users. Continue Reading
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News
30 Mar 2023
IT pros face hybrid work technology challenges
Enterprises need specialized video conferencing equipment for office spaces that are usually empty to accommodate both in-office and remote participants during meetings. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Mar 2023
Successful hybrid working mixes tech, policy and culture
IT leaders at Enterprise Connect discuss their strategies for successful hybrid working, from transparent team agreements to parity between home and office setups. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Mar 2023
Collaboration tools help and hinder workplace accessibility
Cloud-based collaboration tools have improved workplace accessibility for people with disabilities. But IT leaders must examine where collaboration tools still fall short. Continue Reading
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News
28 Mar 2023
Microsoft updates Teams for faster online collaboration
The tech giant's popular collaboration platform gets new features including enabled multi-tenant accounts, QR code sign-in for hot desking and interoperability with Cisco devices. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Mar 2023
Meeting room hardware supports hybrid employee experience
Meeting room hardware must evolve to support the hybrid employee experience. Meeting Owl 3 and Owl Bar are two devices aiming to create a more equitable meeting experience. Continue Reading
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News
28 Mar 2023
Cisco updates Webex and RoomOS for better video views
The digital communications vendor injects virtual conferencing tech with higher-resolution video, enhanced user detection and AI-backed chat summary features. Continue Reading
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News
27 Mar 2023
Zoom to boost Zoom IQ with generative AI-backed capabilities
The videoconferencing platform's new Open AI-backed tool will provide email writing suggestions. More updated tools include a chat composer and meeting summarizer. Continue Reading
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News
27 Mar 2023
Amazon Chime SDK gets new tools for call analytics insights
The communications service's new call analytics tool set enables users to conduct voice tone analysis to track customer sentiment and send the data to their preferred data lake. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Mar 2023
Enterprise Connect 2023 highlights Microsoft Teams, ChatGPT
The annual unified communications conference once again spotlights current and future industry trends as IT leaders weigh their business and technology investments. Continue Reading
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Definition
24 Mar 2023
vishing (voice or VoIP phishing)
Vishing (voice or VoIP phishing) is a type of cyber attack that uses voice and telephony technologies to trick targeted individuals into revealing sensitive data to unauthorized entities. Continue Reading
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News
21 Mar 2023
Vonage's API tools embed video and add bulk messaging
Vonage drops an embedded video conferencing tool that can live on any platform and a mass communication tool to let enterprises customize messages at scale. Continue Reading
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News
17 Mar 2023
Microsoft unveils AI-backed Copilot for Teams, Word and more
Microsoft 365 Copilot integrates AI-supported tools into Microsoft's productivity apps to help users write and organize emails, garner insights, and corral disparate data. Continue Reading
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Answer
14 Mar 2023
What is a jitter buffer used for?
Jitter buffers play a key role in supporting audio quality and mitigating network anomalies. Learn how jitter buffers work and their potential drawbacks. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Mar 2023
Cisco hybrid work bundle enhances employee experience
This series of UC blogs examines Cisco's hybrid work bundle, Neat's new Neat Pulse offering and how Zoho Workplace increases work productivity. Continue Reading
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Feature
02 Mar 2023
How the UC market is addressing corporate ESG initiatives
More organizations are adopting ESG initiatives, and UC vendors have begun to offer new programs and capabilities in response. But how much of a priority is ESG in the UC market? Continue Reading
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News
02 Mar 2023
Microsoft Teams AI updates for chat, Rooms Pro Management
The tech giant's $10 billion investment in OpenAI brings AI-supported updates to its basic Teams offering, on top of features supported by GPT-3.5 to Microsoft Teams Premium. Continue Reading
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News
28 Feb 2023
ClickUp 3.0 built for scalability with AI, universal search
The new platform moves to the modern cloud infrastructure and offers a streamlined inbox, an AI-supported writing tool and universal search to access files across many apps. Continue Reading
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Answer
28 Feb 2023
How do you build a CPaaS business case?
No matter how big or small the deployment, building a business case for CPaaS is essential to creating a more flexible and controlled communications environment. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Feb 2023
The state of PSTN connectivity: Separating PSTN from UCaaS
UCaaS isn't for everybody. Some organizations are keeping their phone systems on premises to maintain control over PSTN access, cut licensing costs and ensure service reliability. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Feb 2023
Slack workflow automation enhances Shipt productivity
After Shipt deployed Slack's workflow automation tools, the company saw greater productivity and communication with its employees and shoppers. Continue Reading
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Answer
14 Feb 2023
Understanding UC interoperability challenges
The growth of remote and hybrid work has driven demand for better interoperability among collaboration tools. But supporting interoperability isn't without its challenges. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Feb 2023
UC vendors extend mobile telephony capabilities
UC providers like Cisco and Microsoft are expanding mobile voice services in their platforms, enabling employees to use native dialing and more advanced mobile features. Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2023
Microsoft boosts Teams Premium tools with OpenAI's GPT-3.5
Microsoft leverages OpenAI's large language model in Teams Premium to draw meaningful information from recorded meetings. More AI features are on the roadmap. Continue Reading
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News
07 Feb 2023
Zoom lays off 15% of its workforce, cuts executive salaries
Zoom cuts 1,300 jobs due to the current economic downturn, saying it can no longer support the number of workers it hired during the pandemic. It also cut executive salaries. Continue Reading
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Answer
07 Feb 2023
Comparing visual collaboration and ideation for productivity
Visual collaboration and ideation each play a specific and significant role in increasing worker productivity, while also working toward growing today's market. Continue Reading
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News
03 Feb 2023
New Teams Rooms features aim to streamline user control
Microsoft's latest changes to Teams Rooms include easier access to its most-used buttons, a scroll-through calendar preview and more ambient theme background display options. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 Jan 2023
Microsoft's OpenAI investment to boost work productivity
This series of UC blogs examines Microsoft's investment in OpenAI, Amazon Chime's advancements that increase productivity and RingCentral DaaS. Continue Reading
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News
31 Jan 2023
Zoom adds chatbot virtual assistant to CCaaS offering
The Zoom chatbot uses conversational language and proprietary AI to assist people calling Zoom's contact center as a service. Zoom launched its CCaaS last year. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Jan 2023
Compare Microsoft Teams Operator Connect vs. Direct Routing
As more companies migrate their telephony to Microsoft Teams, IT departments have two options to bring their current PSTN provider to the Teams platform. Continue Reading
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Definition
30 Jan 2023
jitter
Jitter is any deviation in, or displacement of, the signal pulses in a high-frequency digital signal. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Jan 2023
Evernote and Notion take aim at enterprise collaboration market
Notion and Evernote -- best known as personal note-taking apps -- are pivoting to serve as enterprise collaboration tools. Are they viable options yet? Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Jan 2023
Top UC and collaboration news of 2022 highlights 4 key trends
Review the 2022 UC and collaboration news highlights to learn about the trends that drove the market, and discover how these trends will influence the market in 2023. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Jan 2023
Weighing the pros and cons of asynchronous collaboration
UCaaS vendors are developing tools that let remote workers collaborate on their own time. That flexibility can reap benefits, but what does it do to the value of teamwork? Continue Reading
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News
03 Jan 2023
Companies focus on UCaaS consolidation
Replacing redundant collaboration tools with a UCaaS platform is the focus of many companies looking to cut unified communications costs as the possibility of a recession looms. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Dec 2022
data transfer rate (DTR)
The data transfer rate (DTR) is the amount of digital data that's moved from one place to another in a given time. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Dec 2022
Understanding hot desking pros and cons for the hybrid office
Hot desking is one way to manage workspaces in a hybrid office. Learn some hot desking pros and cons to decide if it's the right approach for your company. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Dec 2022
unified communications and collaboration (UCC)
Unified communications and collaboration (UCC) is the collection of technology and software that combines enterprise communication with real-time and asynchronous cooperation capabilities. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Dec 2022
Cisco collaboration study guide for 350-801 CLCOR exam
Learn the basics of Cisco collaboration products and how to deploy collaboration tools in this excerpt from 'CCNP and CCIE Collaboration Core CLCOR 350-801 Official Cert Guide.' Continue Reading
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Quiz
19 Dec 2022
Cisco collaboration 350-801 CLCOR practice test questions
This 350-801 CLCOR practice test for the CCNP and CCIE certifications quizzes readers on Cisco collaboration technologies, from endpoints to applications. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Nov 2022
Collaboration platforms play key role in hybrid work security
As hybrid work and virtual collaboration grow, legacy security tools are no longer enough. Learn why organizations must update their security strategies. Continue Reading
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Answer
29 Nov 2022
What are SBC configuration best practices?
Proper SBC configuration requires partnering with providers and security teams to examine circuits and potential traffic. Learn the best practices for implementing an SBC on your network. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Nov 2022
How to approach a Webex-Teams integration and make it work
Cisco and Microsoft are finally breaking down the interoperability barriers between Webex and Teams apps. Companies will be able to soon reap the benefits. Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Nov 2022
4K video resolution
4K video resolution is high-definition (HD) video that has four times the resolution of 1080p HD video. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Nov 2022
Carrier UCaaS services extend cloud communication benefits
UCaaS is becoming more popular as carriers roll out more sophisticated and integrated packages to users. Learn why it might make sense to consolidate your vendors. Continue Reading