Video conferencing and visual collaboration
Video conferencing and visual collaboration incorporate several elements of hardware and software for conference rooms, desktops and remote workers. Businesses of all sizes need to keep up on the evolving video conferencing market to evaluate the latest trends and innovations to find the systems best suited to their needs.
Top Stories
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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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Feature
19 Sep 2023
6 workplace benefits of immersive learning with AR and VR
AR and VR have the potential to enhance workplace learning programs. Learn how both employees and organizations can benefit from immersive learning with AR and VR. Continue Reading
Download: Video Conferencing Evaluation Guide Includes Research, Peer Reviews
Zoom, GoToMeeting, Skype for Business, and two more video conferencing tools are reviewed by your peers in our new 35-page evaluation guide. Get an expert overview of the types of video conferencing tools, as well as bandwidth and interoperability requirements you need to be aware of before you make your purchase.
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Feature
18 Sep 2023
What is the metaverse? An explanation and in-depth guide
The metaverse is described as the inevitable evolution of the internet. But what exactly is the metaverse, and what will it become? Learn what businesses need to know now. 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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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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Feature
20 Jul 2023
4 common problems with hybrid meetings and how to fix them
Hybrid meetings can be hamstrung by technical and nontechnical challenges. Learn how to address common hybrid meeting problems to support attendees, no matter how they participate. 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
29 Jun 2023
3 steps for an effective corporate video strategy
A video-first business goes beyond conferencing to support productive employees, streamlined workflows and new creative perspectives. 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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News
22 Jun 2023
Cisco acquires Accedian for Network Assurance portfolio
Cisco expects Accedian to bolster its Network Assurance portfolio for service providers. The product line provides network troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and remediation. 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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Feature
05 Jun 2023
Explore UCaaS architecture options and when to choose them
The first step to a UCaaS migration is choosing the deployment architecture. Learn how to choose which UCaaS architecture best suits your organization's needs. 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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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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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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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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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
5 video conferencing trends to eye in 2023
We live in a video world now, and businesses are focused on improving the experience for their employees. Check out the video trends driving the market in 2023. 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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Tip
11 Apr 2023
3 common video conferencing problems and how to solve them
Employees have grown more skilled with video over the last few years. But video problems still plague meetings today. Learn how to address the most common challenges. 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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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
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
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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Conference Coverage
20 Mar 2023
Everything Enterprise Connect 2023: News, trends and insights
This guide gathers the latest news and analysis from Enterprise Connect, one of the largest enterprise communications and collaboration conferences in 2023. Continue Reading
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News
14 Mar 2023
Google embeds generative AI features in cloud and Workspace
The tech giant's new API enables enterprises to scale and adopt models without their data becoming part of the training ground for large language models, the vendor said. 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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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
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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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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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
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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News
09 Nov 2022
Zoom video, UCaaS offerings draw closer to Teams, Webex
Zoom introduced a slew of features for its UCaaS platform at Zoomtopia, including mail and calendar services and an informal virtual meeting place called Spots. Continue Reading
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Answer
01 Nov 2022
How to record Zoom breakout rooms
Zoom doesn't make it easy to record a breakout room, but with a few extra tweaks, it can be done. Here's why it's worth the effort. Continue Reading
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News
26 Oct 2022
Cisco adds more Webex-Teams integration for hybrid work
Cisco Webex users now have more hybrid work features, including a new whiteboard and integration with Teams, iPhone and iPad cameras. Continue Reading
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Answer
26 Oct 2022
How asynchronous video communication boosts remote work
When it's time to share information with colleagues, a full-blown video conference isn't always necessary. Maybe an app like TikTok could help. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Oct 2022
Balancing remote work privacy vs. productivity monitoring
Weighing employee productivity monitoring against remote workers' privacy is a serious issue that requires protecting personal and corporate data and setting the right policies. Continue Reading
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News
12 Oct 2022
Microsoft introduces premium add-on for Teams meetings
Microsoft plans to release the Teams Premium add-on in February but won't launch advanced AI capabilities until later in the year. The company hasn't released pricing. Continue Reading
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News
12 Oct 2022
Google opens Workspace apps to developers
Google has introduced APIs and an SDK for third-party software integrations with Workspace apps. The company also unveiled enhancements to the productivity suite. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Oct 2022
Desktop video conferencing hardware now built for hybrid work
Desktop video hardware offers organizations hybrid work benefits, including high-quality video for home workers and simplified IT management. But getting buy-in can be a challenge. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Sep 2022
Microsoft Loop crosses information silos in 365
Microsoft plans to release Loop this year as the long-awaited information-sharing tool across 365 apps. The software reduces the time spent searching for vital data. Continue Reading
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News
20 Sep 2022
Slack Canvas helps tame information overload in chat
Slack chat can bury vital knowledge under a flood of new messages. The company said its Canvas tool will let workers pull out, save and collaborate on specific material. Continue Reading
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News
16 Sep 2022
Adobe buys Figma to fill remote collaboration product void
Adobe expects to bolster its collaboration tools for the hybrid workplace with its $20 billion acquisition of Figma, the maker of cloud-based software popular with developers. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Aug 2022
Guide to developing social media recruiting strategies
To navigate the complexities and avoid the pitfalls of social media recruiting, companies must set goals, choose the right platforms, promote their culture and measure results. Continue Reading
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News
26 Aug 2022
Zoom updates Contact Center, but features lag rivals
Zoom has added new Contact Center tools for supervisors and agents, giving management better insight into metrics while offering agents more ways to help customers. Continue Reading
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News
18 Aug 2022
Cisco earnings improve with easing supply shortage
Cisco expects component shortages to continue through fiscal 2023, holding revenue growth to between 4% and 6%. Component prices could ease after the current quarter. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Aug 2022
5 steps to address hybrid meeting equity
Meeting equity is more than how you appear on camera. Follow these five steps to ensure hybrid meetings are engaging, productive and equitable for all employees. Continue Reading
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Answer
08 Aug 2022
Virtual whiteboard vs. ideation system: Which is best for you?
Digital whiteboards are useful when tackling short-term needs, but a full-featured ideation system might be the best option for more sophisticated and mission-critical projects. Continue Reading
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News
04 Aug 2022
Microsoft to release Teams for Apple silicon
Microsoft's native version of Teams for Apple silicon should help performance-sensitive Mac users, like programmers, graphic designers and video editors. Continue Reading
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Answer
29 Jul 2022
How do you measure ROI for virtual events?
Businesses and industries are using virtual events to reach customers. Determining ROI of these events isn't as easy as it was for physical conferences, but it can be done. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jul 2022
How to plan a hybrid conference room setup
Conference rooms need to evolve as employees demand the same rich virtual meeting experience they have on desktop. Learn how to approach a hybrid conference room setup. Continue Reading
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News
27 Jul 2022
Zoom, RingCentral, BlueJeans improve virtual whiteboards
Zoom, RingCentral and BlueJeans have released updates to their virtual whiteboards to make them more useful for meetings between office and home workers. Continue Reading
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News
25 Jul 2022
Google to test AR glasses in public
Google will seek to iron out challenges for AR as it tests a lightweight, glasses-type device. The company already has a foothold in the enterprise with its Glass AR glasses. Continue Reading
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Answer
19 Jul 2022
The difference between a traditional and hybrid meeting room
Hybrid meeting rooms differ from traditional rooms that focused on in-person attendees. Learn the challenges facing large and small rooms in supporting hybrid meetings. Continue Reading
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News
07 Jul 2022
Zoom One bundles services to draw single-vendor customers
Zoom ties its services together in Zoom One as it evolves from a video conferencing app to a communications platform. The company targets firms that want a single UC vendor. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Jul 2022
Room video conferencing interoperability critical for hybrid work
Vendors are beginning to take solid steps to make sure their video conferencing apps are interoperable with whatever meeting apps employees want to use. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Jun 2022
Social collaboration tools create hybrid work water cooler
Traditional collaboration tools have struggled to replicate casual office conversations. New social collaboration tools could help reduce the isolation of remote and hybrid work. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Jun 2022
Understanding WebRTC security architecture
WebRTC is a secure technology for real-time communications, but security also depends on the application using it. Find out how developers can maintain that security. Continue Reading
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Answer
23 Jun 2022
How do you evaluate UC applications for frontline workers?
UC offerings differ depending on business goals and intended users. When evaluating tools for frontline workers, consider factors based on communication, endpoints and workflows. Continue Reading
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News
22 Jun 2022
Slack will add video to impromptu meeting app Huddles
Slack brings video meetings to Huddles this fall to encourage people to hold quick conversations without switching to Microsoft Teams or Zoom. Continue Reading
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News
21 Jun 2022
Zoom provides app tools to more developers
Educators, doctors and finance professionals use Zoom differently, so the company wants developers to help it meet each group's specific video conferencing needs. Continue Reading
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News
14 Jun 2022
Microsoft updates Teams to filter out echoes
Microsoft will make Teams calls more like telephone conversations, using AI to filter out background noise and echoes that disrupt conversations. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Jun 2022
Effective hybrid meetings require training, equity, best practices
Authors Karin M. Reed and Joseph A. Allen discuss the need for proper training and best practices to support inclusive and effective hybrid meetings. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Jun 2022
Hybrid meeting best practices emphasize engagement
In this book excerpt from 'Suddenly Hybrid,' learn about some hybrid meeting best practices that support engagement, regardless of where attendees are located. Continue Reading
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Answer
31 May 2022
What is a hybrid meeting?
Employees are now signing into meetings from a variety of locations. What's the best way to support hybrid meetings and to ensure that workers remain productive and engaged? Continue Reading
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Tip
25 May 2022
Hybrid meeting technology helps AV teams address equity
AV teams are challenged in providing remote and in-room meeting attendees the same experience. Hybrid meeting technology for speaker framing is the first step to meeting equity. Continue Reading
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News
13 May 2022
Google adds AI summary feature to Workspace
AI-generated meeting and document summaries can help workers find important information, according to Google. The company will add the feature to its Workspace apps. Continue Reading
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News
12 May 2022
Privacy groups urge Zoom to abandon emotion AI research
Privacy organizations want Zoom to ditch emotion-tracking AI. The tech is invasive, discriminatory and doesn't work, the groups said. Continue Reading
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Answer
10 May 2022
Where do Zoom recordings go? How to find saved recordings
Zoom meeting recordings are saved and stored on your desktop or the Zoom cloud. But your organization may have security rules that restrict meeting recordings. Continue Reading
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News
05 May 2022
Video conferencing found to harm worker creativity
Research shows video conferencing curbs the creation of new ideas, so managers should also schedule in-person brainstorming sessions. Continue Reading
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Answer
04 May 2022
How will VR collaboration transform meetings?
It may be too soon for virtual reality to play a role in how companies conduct business meetings, but it's not too early to understand its benefits. Continue Reading
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News
28 Apr 2022
Meta pumps the brakes on metaverse, long-term spending
Meta's slow earnings growth means less money to spend on its long-term metaverse project. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company is laying the groundwork for 2030. Continue Reading
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News
13 Apr 2022
Zoom launches AI tool for sales departments
Zoom's AI insights help sales teams by analyzing video call transcripts for information to determine the next step in negotiations with prospective customers. Continue Reading
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News
11 Apr 2022
PC shipments slow, but the market remains strong
IDC reported that global PC shipments fell by 5% in the first three months, but vendors still shipped more than 80 million units for the seventh consecutive quarter. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Apr 2022
Assessing intelligent speakers for Microsoft Teams
Companies are exploring Cortana to beef up their Microsoft Teams meetings as more workers are brought into the office. The virtual assistant has some unique features. Continue Reading
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News
01 Apr 2022
Google updates Meet to match, surpass competitors
Google's upcoming Meet updates will include letting multiple workers communicate over video while collaborating on a document, spreadsheet or slide presentation. Continue Reading
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News
31 Mar 2022
HP goes deeper into hybrid work with Poly acquisition
HP plans to acquire Poly to appeal to companies looking for conference gear, headsets and other devices for hybrid work. HP expects to close the $3.3 billion deal this year. Continue Reading
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News
25 Mar 2022
Businesses have plenty of time to adopt VR technology
Experts agree that VR could one day play an important role in business collaboration -- but it will take 10 years or more for the technology to mature Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Mar 2022
Video meeting equity comes into focus amid hybrid work
Meeting equity is the latest hybrid work challenge. Industry leaders at Enterprise Connect explain how organizations can ensure an equal experience for remote and in-person attendees. Continue Reading
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News
24 Mar 2022
BlueJeans provides meeting controls via smartphones
BlueJeans is rolling out features that add more meeting controls to smartphones. The capabilities make mobile devices a more viable option for remote workers. Continue Reading
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News
23 Mar 2022
Cisco bolsters Webex flexibility as hybrid work looms
Cisco said companies must have the flexibility to let employees work how and where they want. Hybrid work features for Webex will provide employees with more choices. Continue Reading
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News
22 Mar 2022
Microsoft, Cisco, Zoom pledge conference room compatibility
Workers used to the flexibility of PC-based video conferencing during the pandemic won't have the same experience in the office's conference-room gear. Continue Reading
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News
18 Mar 2022
Enterprise Connect 2022: Solving hybrid work challenges
The latest advancements in collaboration software, UC as a service, contact centers and virtual reality await attendees of this year's Enterprise Connect. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Mar 2022
Virtual event platforms for conferences race to bolster features
Even as the pandemic ebbs, virtual events will remain a primary way to reach employees and customers -- but make sure you're getting what you need before you deploy a platform. Continue Reading
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News
17 Mar 2022
Microsoft updates Teams, Outlook for hybrid work challenges
Microsoft's upcoming hybrid work features will help remote and in-office employees schedule meetings, share presentations and collaborate more effectively. Continue Reading
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News
04 Mar 2022
Tech companies rein in harassment in VR meeting places
Companies are unlikely to buy into virtual reality for meetings and events if tech companies can't protect customers' employees from groping, stalking and threats in cyberspace. Continue Reading
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News
02 Mar 2022
RingCentral unveils UCaaS offerings for education
RingCentral plans to launch two UC-as-a-service education products this month. Future UCaaS releases will target other markets, including healthcare and finance. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Mar 2022
As large-room video conferencing ebbs, firms gird for future
As companies evaluate return-to-office strategies, they are also taking a look at the role video conferencing will play when they reassess how meeting rooms should be designed. Continue Reading
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News
24 Feb 2022
Zoom takes its video service to the contact center
Zoom has entered the contact center-as-a-service market. The company's product offers video calling as companies seek a more visual interaction with customers. Continue Reading
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News
23 Feb 2022
Zoom and RingCentral settle lawsuit
Zoom has agreed to let RingCentral customers continue using the Zoom-powered product Meetings. Zoom will also give companies time to move to RingCentral's homegrown product. Continue Reading
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Answer
23 Feb 2022
What are types of virtual events and can they be improved?
Video conferencing software has helped companies connect with their employees and customers, but it hasn't quite filled the bill when it comes to supporting virtual events. Continue Reading
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News
17 Feb 2022
Microsoft, Meta tackle harassment in virtual worlds
Microsoft and Meta have introduced personal space in their virtual worlds to combat the downside of virtual reality, sexual harassment and other bad behavior. Continue Reading
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News
11 Feb 2022
Amazon takes its telehealth offering nationwide
Amazon has made its Care telehealth service available nationwide with in-person healthcare services to follow later in the year. The company is tapping a growing healthcare market. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Feb 2022
How to achieve the ideal classroom video conferencing setup
Remote learning is here to stay. Having the right classroom video conferencing setup can help students and teachers feel more engaged whether they're at home or in the classroom. Continue Reading
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Feature
07 Feb 2022
How enterprises will use the still-undefined metaverse
Some metaverse systems will affect the future of work and how enterprises operate. However, their impact will be fully seen only after the full meaning of the metaverse is known. Continue Reading