Communications & Collaboration
Top Stories
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Tip
03 Sep 2026
How asynchronous tools transform team collaboration
Asynchronous collaboration tools can reduce costs, improve manageability and combat meeting fatigue. Learn how to choose and adopt the right tools for your distributed teams. Continue Reading
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News
03 Sep 2026
Genesys banks on AI customer service agents -- and their orchestration
The agentic SaaS playbook is emerging: Throw open your platform to agents of all stripes, and provide a harness or orchestration layer to manage it all. Continue Reading
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News
12 Feb 2021
News briefs: Reddit doubles valuation to $6 billion
Reddit will expand into international markets after raising $250 million. It also announced plans to double its staff size and invest in video and advertising. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Feb 2021
The pros and cons of custom home collaboration devices
Home collaboration devices can help employees remain more productive. But make sure to carefully consider the drawbacks before buying dedicated hardware. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Feb 2021
WebRTC standard designation highlights technology's evolution
The WebRTC standard is official. Learn how the technology evolved beyond facilitating embedded video communications and the future of the standard. Continue Reading
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News
05 Feb 2021
Microsoft unveils employee experience platform Viva
Viva will offer Microsoft customers an employee experience platform that uses analytics and an intranet service to boost employee engagement and productivity. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Feb 2021
4 ways to optimize Microsoft Teams performance
Microsoft Teams has become a fundamental app for many companies. It's important to optimize Microsoft Teams performance to ensure users are getting the access they need. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Jan 2021
Evaluating Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams telephony
Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams may be the best path to the PSTN for most companies. But organizations should weigh their specific needs when choosing a Direct Routing partner. Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2021
Verizon resolves major Fios outage, seeks root cause
Verizon has resolved an issue in its fiber optic network that led to a major outage Tuesday. The outage affected tens of thousands of customers on the East Coast. Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2021
SAP, Microsoft partner against Salesforce
Starting in mid-2021, Microsoft and SAP plan to integrate Teams into the latter's business application portfolio. The move is seen as a response to rival Salesforce. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Jan 2021
Monitoring productivity of employees crosses privacy boundaries
As remote work continues, organizations are looking for new ways to monitor productivity of employees. But they walk a fine line between employee monitoring and surveillance. Continue Reading
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News
22 Jan 2021
Massive Slack outage caused by AWS gateway failure
An AWS Transit Gateway failure led to Slack being down for nearly five hours earlier this month. The companies said they made changes to prevent such outages in the future. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Jan 2021
Harnessing diversity and inclusion in technology key in 2021
Prioritizing diversity and inclusion in collaboration technology can help companies maintain their cultural touchpoints -- even during a pandemic. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Jan 2021
AR and VR in video conferencing offer post-pandemic benefits
In a post-COVID-19 world, understanding the differences between AR and VR video conferencing will help companies determine which technology might be best for them. Continue Reading
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Answer
15 Jan 2021
How is remote work affecting enterprise telephony?
Enterprise telephony is on the decline as remote and home-based workers lack access to enterprise phone systems or seek alternative modes of communication. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Jan 2021
Big Tech's uneasy balance of capitalism, censorship
Big tech companies' enforcement of acceptable use policies following Capitol riots is questioned, as some say First Amendment rights to free speech should extend to social networks. Continue Reading
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Answer
11 Jan 2021
What does 'bring your own carrier' mean for UCaaS platforms?
Migrating to UCaaS doesn't always mean an organization can keep its PSTN or SIP carrier. But some providers are taking a 'bring you own carrier' approach to offer more flexibility. Continue Reading
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News
08 Jan 2021
Microsoft slow to fulfill request for more Teams channel control
Microsoft won't prioritize a feature that would let Teams users move channels between groups, despite tens of thousands of requests. Users have asked for the capability since 2016. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Jan 2021
Ensure phone system compliance with 911 regulations
In this roundup of UC blogs, analysts discuss phone system compliance with 911 regulations, Pexip's private cloud video platform and the growth of intelligent assistants. Continue Reading
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News
07 Jan 2021
Twitter, Facebook bounce President Trump from their platforms
Twitter has permanently suspended President Trump's account. Facebook has banned the president until the end of his term and possibly beyond. Continue Reading
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News
06 Jan 2021
Dell adds Microsoft Teams to video conferencing monitors
Dell introduced three video conferencing monitors with Microsoft Teams integration this week, as part of its emphasis on a hybrid work model. It also announced new laptops. Continue Reading
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News
05 Jan 2021
Slack restores service following major outage
Slack's messaging service is back up following a global outage that forced many customers to return to email for communications. Slack had not determined the cause. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Dec 2020
Slate of Microsoft Teams enhancements to spur adoption in 2021
File sharing, reporting and end-user productivity are just a few of the Microsoft Teams enhancements users can expect as they prepare for 2021. Continue Reading
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News
30 Dec 2020
Lower prices possible for AI headsets, webcams in 2021
In 2021, Jabra, Logitech and Poly could sell AI-powered headsets and webcams at prices more affordable to companies supporting employees working from home. Continue Reading
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Answer
29 Dec 2020
Will the pandemic drive further UCC industry consolidation?
COVID-19 may drive further UCC industry consolidation as vendors look to develop new capabilities to support the communications needs created by remote and hybrid work. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Dec 2020
Virtual visits to mature in 2021
The pandemic forced virtual care's hand in 2020, but healthcare systems and patients have found that the benefits of telehealth outweigh the drawbacks. Continue Reading
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News
24 Dec 2020
RingCentral acquires AI speech analytics startup DeepAffects
California-based startup DeepAffects uses AI speech analytics to collect data on voice and video calls. The information helps customers measure the productivity of meetings. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Dec 2020
Remote work and AI drive the future of collaboration technology
As remote work and hybrid workforces become the new normal, collaboration technology needs to adapt. Tech leaders at WebexOne discussed the drivers for collaboration's evolution. Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Dec 2020
Evaluating endpoints for an Asterisk-based phone system
Enterprises building an Asterisk-based phone system have three endpoint options. Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of these endpoints in this book excerpt. Continue Reading
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News
22 Dec 2020
Zoom China exec accused of working for government
The Justice Department has accused a China-based Zoom executive of sending Chinese dissidents' personal information to the government. Zoom has fired exec Xinjiang Jin. Continue Reading
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News
18 Dec 2020
RingCentral offers Glip Pro+ for video, messaging
RingCentral Glip Pro+ is a rebranding of the messaging app Glip. The new standalone version combines Glip messaging and RingCentral Video. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Dec 2020
UCaaS adoption rises as firms consolidate UC setups
Cloud-based UC provides the agility, mobility and cost savings organizations need. The current trend to consolidating UC in the cloud, and as a service, will likely expand. Continue Reading
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News
16 Dec 2020
New 8x8 CEO expected to improve business operations
Video conferencing company 8x8 selects former RingCentral COO Dave Sipes to replace outgoing CEO Vik Verma. Analysts expect Sipes to significantly improve 8x8 business operations. Continue Reading
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Quiz
16 Dec 2020
Test your knowledge of 2020's UC and collaboration news
Wrap up 2020 with a look back at the top UC and collaboration news of the year. From Zoom lawsuits to Slack's acquisition, test your knowledge of the news that redefined the market. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Dec 2020
2021 trends in video conferencing focus on flexibility
Video conferencing took center stage as companies found ways to connect their dispersed workforce. For 2021, trends in video conferencing include how to make the technology more versatile, and more fun. Continue Reading
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News
11 Dec 2020
Cisco overhauls Webex with slew of new features
Webex will soon provide calling, messaging and video in one user interface, live translation for multiple languages, and the ability to send emojis through hand gestures. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Dec 2020
2021 trends driving the future of unified communications
While 2021 is full of uncertainty for many organizations, four unified communications trends will drive buying decisions as IT leaders prepare for the future of work. Continue Reading
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News
09 Dec 2020
Cisco to boost contact center offering with IMImobile buy
Cisco plans to acquire IMImobile for $730 million to improve Cisco's contact center offering through the U.K. company's messaging and voice APIs. Continue Reading
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Answer
07 Dec 2020
What are the benefits of centralized SIP trunking?
More efficient management and lower costs are just some of the advantages of centralized SIP trunking. Find out why it's better to place trunking components in one place. Continue Reading
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News
04 Dec 2020
Microsoft overhauls calling interface in Teams
Microsoft has started rolling out a redesigned calling interface in Teams that lets customers access voicemail, contacts and more from a single screen. Continue Reading
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News
03 Dec 2020
Salesforce-Slack acquisition a threat to Microsoft Teams
Salesforce's $27.7 billion acquisition of Slack could make the company a stronger competitor against the Microsoft 365 office productivity suite that includes Slack rival Teams. Continue Reading
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Answer
30 Nov 2020
How has COVID-19 driven CPaaS API adoption?
New CPaaS use cases are emerging as business requirements for digital communications services evolve in response to COVID-19. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Nov 2020
CPaaS market growth broadens amid new use cases
While the pandemic didn't have a significant effect on CPaaS market growth, organizations accelerating their digital transformation plans are driving demand for APIs. Continue Reading
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News
24 Nov 2020
Users demand virtual timer on Teams, Webex, Zoom
Meeting organizers on Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex and Zoom want a virtual timer that limits how long participants speak and take breaks during video conferences. Continue Reading
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Answer
23 Nov 2020
How has Twilio SIP trunking disrupted the market?
Making it easier for companies to deploy a SIP trunk was just part of Twilio's strategy. It was Twilio SIP trunking pricing that really changed the game. Continue Reading
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News
20 Nov 2020
Microsoft announces free version of Teams video calls
Microsoft's holiday-inspired free video conferencing lets people with a personal Teams account invite up to 300 participants, who do not need Teams accounts to join. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Nov 2020
How UC technology supports long-term remote work
Successful long-term remote work needs unified communications. Learn about the communications tools that organizations need to ensure effective employee communication. Continue Reading
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News
19 Nov 2020
Cisco releases patches for 3 Webex vulnerabilities
Cisco has patched three vulnerabilities that allowed malicious actors to enter meetings and waiting rooms as 'ghosts' and stay on -- even after being removed. Continue Reading
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News
17 Nov 2020
Google to roll out new privacy settings for Workspace
Google will soon provide controls for turning off Workspace app features like smart compose, smart reply and tabbed inbox in Gmail to allow for more user privacy. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Nov 2020
Unified communications analytics mature to verify business value
There is more than one way to showcase the value of unified communications in the boardroom. UC analytics can help companies obtain the metrics they need to prove a business case. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Nov 2020
Integrated collaboration environments offer new ways to work
By integrating with several other business operations, team collaboration platforms can provide a central workspace for virtual teams to organize their productivity. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Nov 2020
Slack's growth strategy faces the hurdle of paid users
In this roundup of UC blogs, analysts discuss challenges to Slack's growth, enhancements to Avaya Spaces video and the drivers for UCC vendor consolidation. Continue Reading
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News
10 Nov 2020
Zoom settles FTC suit alleging 'deceptive' security practices
Zoom has agreed to implement a comprehensive program for user security and abide by a government-imposed prohibition against privacy misrepresentations. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Nov 2020
Whiteboard apps support virtual ideation for remote teams
Ideation is more challenging as employees continue to work remotely. Virtual whiteboard apps are an emerging tool designed to help team members generate the innovations that businesses rely on. Continue Reading
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Answer
04 Nov 2020
How do NG911 standards make the technology superior to E911?
NG911 standards mean more accurate location tracking for emergency calls on IP-based communications systems, and more efficient response by police, EMTs and firefighters. Continue Reading
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News
30 Oct 2020
Zoom Phone to get spam blocking, 911 services
Zoom plans to roll out new features in Zoom Phone over the next several months. The enhancements include better messaging and spam-blocking technology. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Oct 2020
Microsoft and Amazon take on CPaaS market share
The CPaaS landscape is evolving as Microsoft and Amazon introduce their own communications APIs. Learn how cloud computing vendors entering the market is changing the CPaaS game. Continue Reading
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News
30 Oct 2020
Webex Legislate dashboard lets politicians vote, confer
Cisco announced the coming of Webex Legislate, a dashboard that lets legislators confer in breakout rooms, vote on legislation, tally the votes and review who voted for what. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Oct 2020
Enterprises mull software-based business phone alternatives
Cellphone usage has outpaced POTS in the home, so why are enterprises still using desk phones? Business phone alternatives can save companies time and money. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Oct 2020
Zoom Phone system users share their success stories and setbacks
Tech leaders at Zoomtopia explained how migrating to the Zoom Phone system provides their employees with an integrated communications experience and improved business continuity. Continue Reading
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News
22 Oct 2020
RingCentral offers bulk SMS for reaching customers
A high-volume SMS API will let RingCentral users send thousands of messages at a time, a move that should help customers with sales and marketing promotions. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Oct 2020
UC presence evolves amid remote work revolution
UC presence technology must evolve to be effective in today's world of remote work and multi-device communication. Learn how presence can adapt to new ways of working. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Oct 2020
Speech recognition use cases enable touchless collaboration
For companies bringing workers back to the office, touchless collaboration is key. These three speech recognition use cases can help make that transition easier. Continue Reading
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News
15 Oct 2020
Zoom opens marketplace to apps that run within its platform
Zoom plans to introduce by the end of the year nearly three dozen third-party extensions to its video conferencing platform. Zoom will offer the apps in its marketplace. Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Oct 2020
Remote teams centralize collaboration on Slack platform
Deploying collaboration technology has played a key role in supporting remote teams during the pandemic. Tech leaders at Slack Frontiers share their success stories. Continue Reading
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Answer
14 Oct 2020
What's the difference between UC-certified and MS-certified?
Both UC-certified and MS-certified products are available to enterprises. But one designation carries more weight than the other, our expert writes. Continue Reading
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News
09 Oct 2020
Slack introduces cross-company direct messaging
Slack plans to launch the new messaging feature next year. New capabilities set for this year include audio and video messaging and verification of participants in shared channels. Continue Reading
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News
08 Oct 2020
Google announces G Suite overhaul with Google Workspace
The new Google Workspace will let people use Meet or Chat to collaborate on projects while working in the office suite's other products, including Docs, Sheets or Slides. Continue Reading
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Answer
06 Oct 2020
What will touchless collaboration in meeting rooms look like?
Touchless collaboration will determine how employees use meeting room equipment in the future. Learn about three options -- one of which represents the worst alternative. Continue Reading
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News
30 Sep 2020
Rollout of Google Meet attendance report paused
G Suite Enterprise for Education will soon allow teachers to track who is in class and who is absent with an attendance report on its video conferencing app Google Meet. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Sep 2020
Microsoft Teams updates address employee engagement
In this roundup of UC blogs, analysts discuss Microsoft Teams updates, CPaaS announcements from Microsoft Ignite and Verizon's portfolio strategy for BlueJeans. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Sep 2020
Unified communications strategy shifts in wake of COVID
Unified communications strategy has to accommodate both remote workers and those employees who may come back to the office. Where are companies allocating their UC budget dollars? Continue Reading
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News
25 Sep 2020
Zoom addresses accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing
Zoom has added accessibility features that will let users with hearing loss rearrange windows to see a sign language interpreter better while viewing presentations. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Sep 2020
UC and collaboration security requires a strong framework
While UC and collaboration security can be challenging to address, a strong foundational framework can keep communications data secure and controlled. Continue Reading
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News
24 Sep 2020
Microsoft unveils Teams breakout rooms and more at Ignite
The long-awaited breakout rooms for Microsoft Teams were introduced at Ignite, along with support for more meeting participants and better ways to conduct presentations. Continue Reading
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News
18 Sep 2020
Google utilizes AI for Series One Meet hardware
Google partners with Lenovo in developing video conferencing hardware for the Google Meet service. The Series One device uses Google silicon to boost its AI capabilities. Continue Reading
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News
11 Sep 2020
Zoom launches two-factor authentication
Video conferencing company Zoom has introduced two-factor authentication, a feature already available in competing products from Cisco and Microsoft. Continue Reading
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News
10 Sep 2020
Slack leans on Connect for future growth
Slack executives tout Slack Connect as a source of additional revenue over the next four months. The collaboration company reported this week slowing revenue growth. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Sep 2020
Reimagining the future of conference rooms, post-COVID-19
Before employees are comfortable going back into conference rooms, companies will need technology to help them rethink the future of conference room design. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Sep 2020
Webex vs. Zoom vs. Teams: Consider future needs, innovation
As organizations evaluate unified communications products from Cisco, Zoom and Microsoft, they should consider how the vendors are investing in their respective products. Continue Reading
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News
03 Sep 2020
Zoom quarterly earnings show sharp rise in paying customers
Zoom reports a massive expansion in small and big businesses, as the company's revenue and income increase exponentially. Continue Reading
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News
02 Sep 2020
Users demand threaded replies to Microsoft Teams messages
Microsoft users have taken to a forum to demand threaded replies to Teams messages. The feature for organizing group conversations is already possible on Slack and Webex Teams. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Sep 2020
Making the business case to migrate to Microsoft Teams PBX
Replacing an on-premises PBX with Microsoft Teams Phone System offers organizations flexibility with pricing, hardware and collaboration capabilities but does have limitations. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Sep 2020
Building a strategy for intercompany collaboration
Collaboration with external users is a challenge, especially when multiple platforms are involved. Learn the three factors IT should consider to support intercompany collaboration. Continue Reading
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News
28 Aug 2020
Lifesize to buy Kaptivo, eyes other acquisitions
Lifesize's Kaptivo acquisition would expand its collaboration capabilities. The video conferencing company said IP telephony or messaging could be a part of future deals. Continue Reading
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News
27 Aug 2020
Cisco seeks better voice quality with BabbleLabs buy
Cisco acquires California-based BabbleLabs to enhance Webex voice quality through better noise suppression, a feature already used by competitors Google and Microsoft. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Aug 2020
On-premises and cloud UC debate amplified by pandemic
Three unified communications analysts offer insights on the current state of the on-premises vs. cloud debate as organizations grapple with industry changes. Continue Reading
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News
25 Aug 2020
Zoom outage blamed on application bug
In a statement released late Monday night, Zoom apologized to customers and said it was focused on scaling the cloud technology behind the video conferencing service. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Aug 2020
Why remote work needs mobile unified communications
As organizations prepare their return-to-work strategies, mobile unified communications is key to ensure consistent access to communications tools, regardless of the user's location. Continue Reading
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News
20 Aug 2020
Ex-TiVo head Shull may be the fresh face Poly needs
Poly chooses ex-TiVo exec Dave Shull for CEO, a move some UC analysts say will bring a fresh perspective to the company. Others are less enthusiastic. Continue Reading
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Answer
18 Aug 2020
What does it mean if a device is UC-certified?
IT leaders determining which UC devices and endpoints to support organizationwide should look for a UC-certified label, which is an indicator of platform compatibility. Continue Reading
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Answer
17 Aug 2020
How should companies manage huddle room size amid COVID?
Companies are being forced to rethink huddle room size guidelines as they begin to plan how employees will be able to work together. Find out how technology can help. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Aug 2020
UC management key to platform performance, cost savings
Organizations that want to maximize their UC deployments should invest in specialty UC management tools that provide greater insight into performance and security. Continue Reading
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News
13 Aug 2020
Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise embraces RingCentral UCaaS
The RingCentral partnership means Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise's on-premises customers can stay with the vendor and get better cloud-based communications than ALE currently provides. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Aug 2020
CPaaS industry growth driven by pandemic communications
The CPaaS industry is accelerating as the pandemic drives new use cases for communications APIs, from virtual patient visits in healthcare to contactless pickup in retail. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
07 Aug 2020
The move to UC 3.0 and what it means for businesses
Tony McQueen makes the case for why companies should consider implementing UC 3.0, such as improved integration, easier for remote employees to use and more. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Aug 2020
Cloud empowers remote work during pandemic and beyond
A cloud-based remote work strategy enabled organizations like Priceline, TD Ameritrade and Walden University to support employee communications and maintain business continuity. Continue Reading
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News
05 Aug 2020
SIP phones support coming to Microsoft Teams
Microsoft plans to add SIP phone support to Teams next year. The move will significantly increase the phone options for enterprises using the cloud-based collaboration service. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Aug 2020
Cloud-based UC adoption skyrockets amid pandemic response
Many organizations are considering cloud-based UC after their on-premises communications infrastructure failed to adequately support remote workers during the pandemic. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Jul 2020
Develop an effective unified communications security plan
A complete unified communications security plan requires an understanding of threats to UC systems, how to mitigate them and how to proactively address long-term security needs. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Jul 2020
Future-proof your UC strategy with these 3 best practices
Future-proofing UC can be difficult, as technology evolves and employee needs change. Learn three best practices to consider before investing in a UC deployment. Continue Reading
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News
30 Jul 2020
Yammer redesign includes tighter Microsoft Teams integration
The Yammer redesign underscores Microsoft's renewed commitment to the social networking app after years of speculation that it would discontinue the product and focus on Teams. Continue Reading