News

News

• October 11, 2019 11 Oct'19

  New Mitel CEO Mary McDowell says sale is possible, but not soon

  In a move that took analysts by surprise, Mary McDowell replaced longtime chief Richard McBee as Mitel CEO -- a possible sign the company's owner is looking to sell.

• October 09, 2019 09 Oct'19

  Workplace by Facebook enhances video calling, hits 3M paid users

  Facebook will soon integrate Workplace by FB with its Portal video calling devices.

• October 07, 2019 07 Oct'19

  Apple contact center chat adds rich media, improved UX

  The latest iOS update streamlines access for Apple Business Chat from any clickable phone number. Learn why business messaging is gaining popularity in the contact center space.

• October 04, 2019 04 Oct'19

  Avaya-RingCentral partnership to bring UCaaS to legacy customers

  Avaya, RingCentral will partner to sell UCaaS to Avaya's legacy customers, a blockbuster deal that unites rival UC vendors.

• October 04, 2019 04 Oct'19

  Poly integrates UC headsets with Amazon Alexa, Tile

  Poly has integrated its UC headsets with Amazon Alexa after adding the AI voice assistant to its Trio conference room phones earlier this year.

• October 03, 2019 03 Oct'19

  BlueJeans Network to release add-on for meeting productivity

  BlueJeans Network will release an add-on later this month to let users capture highlights during video meetings.

• October 01, 2019 01 Oct'19

  LogMeIn slashes GoToMeeting prices amid UI overhaul

  LogMeIn cut GoToMeeting prices roughly in half for premium tiers and overhauled the video conferencing app's user interface to focus on video, rather than content sharing.

• September 27, 2019 27 Sep'19

  Avaya cloud offering ReadyNow expands internationally

  A partnership with IBM will help expand the reach of Avaya cloud offerings internationally. Avaya is bringing its ReadyNow product to Europe, Africa and Asia.

• September 26, 2019 26 Sep'19

  New bundle pairs Cisco security products with Webex Teams

  Businesses now have the option of purchasing a bundle of Cisco security products to prevent data loss and block viruses while using the messaging app Webex Teams.

• September 20, 2019 20 Sep'19

  Gartner video conferencing Magic Quadrant highlights remote work

  Video meetings are increasingly important as the workforce grows more distributed and joins meetings from personal devices, according to the 'Magic Quadrant for Meeting Solutions.'

• September 20, 2019 20 Sep'19

  Cisco brings Webex Teams messaging to UC-One SaaS

  Cisco has integrated UC-One SaaS with the cloud messaging engine of Webex Teams. The vendor has also brought Webex Calling to its cloud contact center offering.

• September 19, 2019 19 Sep'19

  8x8 Video Meetings replaces outdated offering in X Series

  8x8 used its Jitsi acquisition to build a new video meetings platform based on WebRTC. The vendor also released in beta software to manage video endpoints in conference rooms.

• September 18, 2019 18 Sep'19

  Launch of private channels in Microsoft Teams delayed

  Microsoft Teams users will have to wait a bit longer for access to private channels. The vendor now says the long-awaited feature won't launch for all customers until early November.

• September 12, 2019 12 Sep'19

  Poly targets huddle rooms with Trio 8300

  Poly has designed the Trio 8300 for huddle rooms that fit no more than five people. The vendor released a video system targeted at the same market earlier this year.

• September 11, 2019 11 Sep'19

  New integration brings Fuze meetings to Slack app

  Users will be able to join Fuze meetings by clicking on the phone icon in Slack. It is Slack's latest integration with a voice and video meetings provider.

• September 05, 2019 05 Sep'19

  Slack waters down cloud SLA after $8.2 million payout

  Slack issued $8.2 million in credits after failing to keep its team messaging app online as often as promised. The vendor changed its cloud SLA to avoid big payouts in the future.

• September 05, 2019 05 Sep'19

  Cisco brings CUCM into the Webex cloud

  Cisco has brought its flagship IP-based telephony platform, CUCM, into the Webex cloud, offering large businesses private instances of the software similar to what is already available from Cisco HCS partners.

• September 03, 2019 03 Sep'19

  Slack-Zoom partnership could include joint pricing

  Slack and Zoom may eventually bundle their products to provide discounts to customers considering or already using all-in-one suites such as Office 365, analysts predict.

• August 29, 2019 29 Aug'19

  Google delays Hangouts Chat migration until mid-2020

  Google won't force businesses to use Hangouts Chat until June 2020 at the earliest. The delay comes after many customers complained the previous timeline was too hasty.

• August 23, 2019 23 Aug'19

  Cisco adds UC headset management to IT console

  Cisco is accelerating its push into the UC headset market with the release of new analytics and management tools for IT administrators.

• August 22, 2019 22 Aug'19

  Businesses must replace cloud Skype phones by 2023

  Skype phones won't connect to Microsoft Teams after July 2023. The vendor has advised customers to begin planning an upgrade to new devices certified for Teams.

• August 16, 2019 16 Aug'19

  Programmability in UC needs more than communication APIs

  The programmable enterprise has found its way into UC through CPaaS platforms. But organizations need more than communication APIs to achieve integration success.

• August 15, 2019 15 Aug'19

  Report: Slack, Zoom growing among Office 365 customers

  A report by the security software vendor Okta found that many businesses subscribed to Office 365 also use Slack and Zoom, despite having access to Microsoft Teams.

• August 14, 2019 14 Aug'19

  Avaya earnings: Company in advanced talks with multiple bidders

  Avaya will decide within 30 days whether to pursue a sale or other 'strategic transaction' to compensate shareholders. The company is in advanced talks with multiple parties.

• August 14, 2019 14 Aug'19

  Fusion announces improvements to FusionWorks Pro UC

  Fusion delivered enhancements to its UCaaS platform, FusionWorks Pro UC, developed on the company's Single Source cloud services platform.

• August 12, 2019 12 Aug'19

  Atos, Nice inContact partner to offer cloud contact center

  Atos will integrate CXone with Circuit and sell it as Cloud Contact Center-powered by CXone. Customers will still have the option of Atos' on-premises contact center platform.

• August 09, 2019 09 Aug'19

  Latest Slack security updates widen gap between Grid, Plus plans

  Slack released a roadmap for giving IT administrators more data security controls. Almost all of the new features will be available only to Enterprise Grid customers.

• August 09, 2019 09 Aug'19

  Features of video conferencing evolve to meet demand

  Enterprise video conferencing is an important collaboration tool for organizations. Increased demand for video has changed much about the features of video conferencing and its delivery.

• August 08, 2019 08 Aug'19

  AWS, Microsoft listening to voice recordings raises privacy concerns

  Amazon and Microsoft won't say how often contractors listen to voice recordings captured in the workplace through products like Alexa for Business and Cortana.

• August 08, 2019 08 Aug'19

  Updates available for Lifesize video conferencing platform

  New Lifesize updates include screen sharing in the mobile app, integration with G Suite and Office 365 calendars in the web and desktop apps, and new administrative controls.

• August 07, 2019 07 Aug'19

  Cisco to acquire Voicea for AI voice transcription in Webex

  Cisco plans to acquire Voicea in order to integrate its AI voice transcription engine with Webex. Many competing video conferencing vendors support integrations with the startup.

• August 02, 2019 02 Aug'19

  Bluescape releases newest version of its mobile app

  The newest Bluescape app enables users to give presentations by launching a session from the app onto a larger touchscreen. The app is available for both Android and iOS.

• August 02, 2019 02 Aug'19

  Cisco security flaw leads to $8.6M payout in whistleblower case

  The settlement resolves allegations that a Cisco security flaw left governments vulnerable to hackers for years without the company taking action.

• July 31, 2019 31 Jul'19

  Microsoft sets end date for Skype for Business Online

  Microsoft says it will stop offering Skype for Business Online starting July 31, 2021, making Teams the go-to Office 365 application for online calling and collaboration.

• July 25, 2019 25 Jul'19

  8x8 launches small-business phone system 8x8 Express

  Designed for businesses without an IT team, 8x8 Express offers unlimited calling and gives access to 8x8 Meetings, a platform for collaborative video conferencing.

• July 24, 2019 24 Jul'19

  EtherLabs launches AI Slack integration for video calls, meetings

  EtherMeet by EtherLabs combines AI, video conferencing and messaging platform Slack to enhance team collaboration, particularly for remote and long-distance employees.

• July 23, 2019 23 Jul'19

  Workplace by Facebook increases monthly prices

  Facebook will boost monthly fees for Workplace by Facebook but offer a discount to so-called front-line workers, such as baristas, warehouse workers and hospital staff.

• July 19, 2019 19 Jul'19

  8x8 Inc. acquires Wavecell, expanding reach, CPaaS services

  8x8 Inc. acquired Wavecell, which enables it to expand its presence globally and offer new services such as Wavecell's omnichannel CPaaS capabilities.

• July 18, 2019 18 Jul'19

  Slack resets passwords possibly compromised in 2015 hack

  Slack has reset passwords for 1% of users after uncovering new information regarding a 2015 hack of its systems.

• July 18, 2019 18 Jul'19

  Private channels slated to launch in Microsoft Teams this fall

  Private channels are scheduled to launch in Microsoft Teams this fall. The feature is the most demanded by far on the Teams user feedback website.

• July 17, 2019 17 Jul'19

  LogMeIn launches unified communications for small businesses

  LogMeIn, Inc. has launched Grasshopper Connect to provide small businesses with a platform that enables them to create and manage businesses communications.

• July 16, 2019 16 Jul'19

  Microsoft Teams gains 13M users with help from Office 365 base

  Around 10% of Microsoft's base of Office 365 commercial subscribers have begun regularly using Microsoft Teams, leaving the app with more users than Slack.

• July 12, 2019 12 Jul'19

  Zoom security issues leave vendor scrambling

  A researcher's report on a Zoom security vulnerability caused an uproar this week, ultimately forcing the video conferencing provider to apologize for its poor response to the issue.

• July 10, 2019 10 Jul'19

  Interop planned between Microsoft Teams, consumer Skype

  The move to integrate Microsoft Teams and consumer Skype follows three years of sustained user demand for the feature.

• July 03, 2019 03 Jul'19

  Microsoft to push Teams desktop app to existing Office 365 accounts

  Microsoft plans to auto-install the Teams desktop app on Windows devices linked to existing Office ProPlus accounts, an escalation of its push for Teams adoption among Office 365 users.

• July 02, 2019 02 Jul'19

  Details on Slack outage scarce

  The Slack outage on Friday was the app's fifth significant connectivity incident of 2019. The company is so far declining to go into detail on its cause.

• July 01, 2019 01 Jul'19

  New Serendipity Labs streaming platform LINC launches

  Serendipity Labs launched LINC to provide its users a virtual way to reach a global audience on any device through video streaming and content distribution.

• June 28, 2019 28 Jun'19

  Verizon to resell Zoom video conferencing to businesses

  Verizon has struck a deal to resell Zoom video conferencing to small and midsize businesses. The telecommunications firm will target the enterprise market with Cisco Webex.

• June 26, 2019 26 Jun'19

  Talkdesk Boost turns legacy ACDs into cloud contact centers

  Large businesses that aren't yet ready to abandon legacy call routing can now link that equipment to the Talkdesk cloud contact center through a SIP trunk.

• June 21, 2019 21 Jun'19

  Challenges lie ahead following Slack public offering

  Following Slack's public debut, analysts say the company needs to boost enterprise sales and retool third-party integrations to attract users who aren't as tech-savvy.

• June 17, 2019 17 Jun'19

  UC benefits flexible working models in mortgage industry

  Choosing a UC platform with the tools to support remote workers helped American Pacific Mortgage move to a more flexible working model and cut down on brick and mortar costs.

• June 14, 2019 14 Jun'19

  Cisco's People Insights raises questions about accuracy, privacy

  Cisco's People Insights is coming to Webex Teams and Jabber this summer. The vendor's embrace of the product comes as the tech industry is under fire over data privacy.

• June 13, 2019 13 Jun'19

  Intel Unite Cloud brings flexibility to meeting collaboration

  Boasting the same capabilities and features as its preceding on-premises software, Intel Unite Cloud Service enables users to deploy Intel Unite software from the cloud.

• June 12, 2019 12 Jun'19

  BlueJeans Events, meetings mobile app receive upgrades

  BlueJeans Network has launched user experience updates, among others, to its BlueJeans Events software, as well as the BlueJeans meetings mobile application.

• June 12, 2019 12 Jun'19

  Cisco unifies Webex calling, messaging and meetings

  Cisco is embedding BroadSoft-powered Webex calling into Webex Teams and will let businesses connect on-premises PBXs to the app.

• June 12, 2019 12 Jun'19

  GoToRoom video conferencing software adds Dolby Voice

  LogMeIn Inc. and Dolby Laboratories have teamed up to bring Dolby Voice hardware to LogMeIn's GoToRoom video conferencing service software for businesses.

• June 11, 2019 11 Jun'19

  Cisco Jabber client gets tighter integration with Webex Teams

  Cisco has redesigned the Cisco Jabber client to "look and feel like" Webex Teams, the latest step in the company's push to bring together its on-premises and cloud-based UC apps.

• June 07, 2019 07 Jun'19

  Google adds advanced analytics to G Suite Enterprise

  Google has released a tool for tracking adoption of G Suite Enterprise. The program also gives businesses insight into use of Microsoft apps.

• June 06, 2019 06 Jun'19

  Users can now connect to Microsoft Teams rooms based on proximity

  Users of Microsoft Teams can now connect to nearby meeting room systems through proximity-based pairing, a feature already supported in Cisco Webex.

• May 31, 2019 31 May'19

  AWS could disrupt cloud UC with aggressive voice pricing

  Amazon Web Services is offering usage-based pricing for its new business calling plan, a pricing model that could shake up the cloud UC industry if successful.

• May 30, 2019 30 May'19

  Avaya-Google integration targets SMBs with cloud UC

  Avaya is giving partners the ability to deliver cloud UC through containers running on the Google Cloud, a cheaper and simpler deployment model.

• May 24, 2019 24 May'19

  Expanded deal with Collab9 brings Avaya cloud to governments

  Avaya has expanded its partnership with Collab9 to bring Avaya cloud UC and contact center products to federal, state and local governments.

• May 23, 2019 23 May'19

  Microsoft Outlook mobile app supports native Teams scheduling

  Users can now schedule Microsoft Teams meetings through the Outlook mobile app. The feature is advancement toward parity between Teams and Skype for Business.

• May 17, 2019 17 May'19

  PDP Gaming seeks immediate ban on Poly's use of logo

  PDP Gaming is seeking an immediate injunction against Poly's use of a disputed logo. The escalation comes despite the two companies initially pursuing a settlement.

• May 16, 2019 16 May'19

  Zoom Phone adds support for third-party calling services

  Zoom Phone is now compatible with third-party calling services, and the product will launch in beta in the United Kingdom and Australia later this month.

• May 15, 2019 15 May'19

  Call queue, auto attendant enhanced in Microsoft Teams calling

  The latest enhancements to Microsoft Teams calling improve auto attendants and call queues, but both features still lack some key capabilities.

• May 09, 2019 09 May'19

  Avaya revenue dips as company entertains potential buyout

  Avaya revenue missed the mark in the second quarter amid operational missteps and rumors of a private buyout. The company said it was considering financial maneuvers as significant as selling itself.

• May 09, 2019 09 May'19

  New compliance controls added to Microsoft Teams PowerShell

  Microsoft Teams PowerShell now gives IT administrators the ability to restrict communications between employees, a significant expansion of the app's tools for regulatory compliance.

• May 08, 2019 08 May'19

  Workplace by Facebook gets user interface overhaul

  A planned overhaul of the Workplace by Facebook user interface will streamline notifications and prioritize groups and chats.

• May 03, 2019 03 May'19

  Cloud Skype phones require firmware update by July 1

  Businesses face a July 1 deadline for updating the firmware and permissions of cloud Skype phones.

• May 02, 2019 02 May'19

  Users press for more Slack security, compliance features

  Users want more Slack security and compliance controls in the Standard and Plus subscription tiers.

• May 01, 2019 01 May'19

  Unify Square adds Slack, Zoom, FB to IT management software

  Unify Square will add support for Slack, Zoom and Workplace by Facebook to its IT management software. The vendor previously worked exclusively with Microsoft apps.

• April 26, 2019 26 Apr'19

  Slack revenues show enterprise growth ahead of public listing

  Slack revenue reached $400 million in fiscal 2019, with 575 large businesses contributing 40% of the total. The startup will begin selling stock publicly later this year.

• April 25, 2019 25 Apr'19

  Slack Workflow Builder enables no-code customization

  Slack Workflow Builder gives users templates for creating automated messages and forms in Slack. The product launched in beta this week.

• April 25, 2019 25 Apr'19

  Slack-Zoom partnership takes on Cisco, Microsoft

  The new Slack-Zoom partnership will focus on advancing Zoom calling and meetings in Slack, potentially making the collaboration app a stronger rival to Cisco and Microsoft.

• April 24, 2019 24 Apr'19

  Slack integration links chats and email

  A new Slack integration will give users the ability to receive and reply to Slack chats through email, which remains a cornerstone of enterprise communications.

• April 18, 2019 18 Apr'19

  Zoom IPO demonstrates power of freemium pricing

  The Zoom IPO on Thursday demonstrated the strength of the video collaboration market and validated the strategy of freemium pricing.

• April 17, 2019 17 Apr'19

  Cisco brings Webex controls to G Suite for business

  A Webex add-on will give users the ability to manage the settings of Webex meetings within G Suite for business. It's the latest in a series of integrations between Cisco and Google.

• April 11, 2019 11 Apr'19

  G Suite for business adds enterprise voice, IT controls

  Google released an enterprise phone system and plans to add new IT controls to G Suite for business in an effort to attract larger companies.

• April 11, 2019 11 Apr'19

  Mitel partners with Talkdesk for cloud contact center

  Mitel this month will begin selling the Talkdesk cloud contact center under the brand MiCloud Connect CX. The companies are working to integrate their UC and contact center products.

• April 09, 2019 09 Apr'19

  Slack-Office 365 integrations link email, calendar, documents

  The latest Slack-Office 365 integrations include calendar syncing and an add-on for exporting email messages from Outlook to Slack.

• April 05, 2019 05 Apr'19

  Microsoft Teams media bypass comes with limitations

  Microsoft Teams media bypass for direct routing customers is now available, but the configuration may be less beneficial to enterprises than an equivalent feature in Skype for Business.

• April 04, 2019 04 Apr'19

  Symphony app brings online meetings to mobile phones

  The Symphony app for iOS now supports audio and video meetings. The team collaboration vendor's Android client will get the feature this summer.

• April 03, 2019 03 Apr'19

  Amazon Alexa for Business adds skill blueprints

  Amazon Alexa for Business now provides companies with templates for programming custom voice commands.

• March 29, 2019 29 Mar'19

  PDP Gaming alleges Poly copied its logo

  The gaming accessories company PDP Gaming has sued Poly in federal court, alleging the Plantronics-Polycom merger copied PDP's logo.

• March 27, 2019 27 Mar'19

  Cisco's collaboration unit mum on Webex Teams adoption

  Cisco's collaboration unit has declined to provide statistics on the use of Webex Teams, even as rivals Slack and Microsoft Teams have attempted to demonstrate momentum for their apps.

• March 22, 2019 22 Mar'19

  Achieve UC success with strong user adoption strategies

  Unified communications is not just about the technology; it's about the people, too. IT leaders at Enterprise Connect share their tips on how to support end-user adoption.

• March 22, 2019 22 Mar'19

  New Lifesize conferencing systems bring 4K video to huddle rooms

  Lifesize's latest Icon video conferencing systems are designed to meet the challenges presented by smaller, ad hoc meeting spaces, like the huddle room.

• March 21, 2019 21 Mar'19

  Contact center AI trends take center stage at Enterprise Connect 2019

  Several vendors at Enterprise Connect 2019 focused on contact center AI innovation and virtual agents. But are businesses actually ready for the technology?

• March 21, 2019 21 Mar'19

  Microsoft to support cloud meetings with on-prem Skype for Business

  Microsoft bows to customer demand to keep on-premises Skype for Business for calling and messaging, while using Teams only for cloud meetings.

• March 20, 2019 20 Mar'19

  Fuze and Samsung partner to bring mobile UCaaS to the frontline

  Mobile UCaaS is the focus of Fuze and Samsung's new partnership. The providers are working to expand the use of collaborative communications for remote and customer-facing industries.

• March 20, 2019 20 Mar'19

  Polycom Trio integrates with Alexa for Business

  Poly, the new name for the merger of Plantronics and Polycom, has added Alexa for Business to voice-activate meetings on the Polycom Trio conference room phone.

• March 19, 2019 19 Mar'19

  Zoom Phone cloud PBX expands features, partnerships

  Zoom Phone works with desk phones from Polycom and Yealink and integrates with contact center products from Five9 and Twilio.

• March 19, 2019 19 Mar'19

  Cloud migration planning key to successful UCaaS deployment

  Making the move from an on-premises system to UCaaS can be full of hurdles. Cloud migration planning can help navigate the pitfalls and give a clear path to successful UCaaS deployment.

• March 19, 2019 19 Mar'19

  Cisco enhances Webex Assistant with AI meeting, call controls

  Cisco added new capabilities to the Webex Assistant that should make it easier to place calls and join meetings. The vendor plans to roll out additional AI features later this year.

• March 15, 2019 15 Mar'19

  Vendors showcase latest UC offerings at Enterprise Connect 2019

  The Enterprise Connect 2019 expo floor will feature more than 140 vendors with their latest offerings in the UC space, including team collaboration tools and digital whiteboard technology.

• March 13, 2019 13 Mar'19

  New widget for RingCentral integrations targets enterprises

  RingCentral released several new tools for enterprises ahead of Enterprise Connect 2019, including a widget for adding RingCentral integrations to CRM and help desk apps.

• March 12, 2019 12 Mar'19

  News and trends from Enterprise Connect 2019

  Follow our Enterprise Connect conference guide to get the latest scoop and expert analysis on unified communications industry trends, vendor announcements and product news.

• March 08, 2019 08 Mar'19

  Cisco Webex to support wireless screen sharing outside meetings

  Cisco Webex will support wireless screen sharing outside of online meetings beginning next month, a feature sought after by customers.

• March 07, 2019 07 Mar'19

  New Avaya video devices target huddle rooms

  Avaya released new video hardware for huddle rooms this week, while also announcing plans to rent certain Avaya video devices through a monthly subscription.