News

News

• November 23, 2016 23 Nov'16

  Skype for Business expands from desktop to room video conferencing

  Microsoft is expanding beyond desktop video with partnerships that integrate room video conferencing hardware with Skype for Business. Logitech's SmartDock is the first available integration.

• November 21, 2016 21 Nov'16

  Hosted IP telephony propelled by integrated communications

  In UC news, the UCaaS and hosted IP telephony market is surging, as organizations integrate communication tools. Meanwhile, Fuze introduces a webcasting service.

• November 11, 2016 11 Nov'16

  Hybrid services a key focus to Cisco Spark updates

  In UC news, Cisco has announced new hybrid services to its collaboration platform, while BroadSoft has introduced a UCaaS platform for small and large businesses.

• November 04, 2016 04 Nov'16

  Microsoft takes on Slack with new team chat app

  Microsoft has unveiled its new team chat app, Microsoft Teams. The app is built into Office 365 and looks to compete with Slack, Cisco Spark and Unify Circuit.

• November 01, 2016 01 Nov'16

  HipChat gets Alexa integration tool for voice-activated tasks

  HipChat is offering through its marketplace an add-on for Amazon Alexa integration. The SoftServe voice bot is aimed at software development teams.

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• October 28, 2016 28 Oct'16

  Genband and IBM partner for UCC software integration

  In UC news, Genband and IBM partner to offer UCC software with cognitive intelligence capabilities, while CafeX offers an omnichannel contact center in Microsoft Dynamics.

• October 25, 2016 25 Oct'16

  Avaya Aura Platform gets user interface overhaul

  The new Equinox software client for the Avaya Aura Platform delivers UC services to mobile devices, desktops and the Chrome web browser.

• October 20, 2016 20 Oct'16

  Cisco to add Worklife team-meeting software to Spark

  Cisco buys startup Worklife to fold its team-meeting software into Spark. Worklife provides tools for creating and sharing tasks, agendas and meeting notes.

• October 13, 2016 13 Oct'16

  Skype for Business enterprise voice trials ramp up

  In UC news, Skype for Business enterprise voice trials surge among small and large organizations, while Fuze updates the user interface for its cloud communications platform.

• October 13, 2016 13 Oct'16

  New Lifesize video system focuses on huddle room market

  The burgeoning market for huddle rooms, or small meeting spaces, is seeing a diverse set of products that aim to enrich the video collaboration experience.

• October 12, 2016 12 Oct'16

  Features fall short in Facebook enterprise social network Workplace

  Facebook's enterprise social network, Workplace, lacks integration with popular business applications and protections for corporate data.

• October 04, 2016 04 Oct'16

  Yammer, Office 365 Groups integrate for online team collaboration

  Yammer's integration with Office 365 Groups reveals Microsoft's collaboration roadmap, but raises questions for on-premises Office 365 users.

• October 03, 2016 03 Oct'16

  Microsoft partners help drive Skype for Business meetings in enterprise

  Crestron, Logitech and Polycom have introduced product support for Skype for Business meetings that make the UC service a better enterprise option.

• September 28, 2016 28 Sep'16

  Cisco and Salesforce plan joint UCC development

  Cisco and Salesforce have agreed to develop and market Cisco Spark and WebEx for Salesforce's online software for sales and customer service.

• September 28, 2016 28 Sep'16

  Prysm adds guest mode to visual workplace meeting service

  In UC news, Prysm adds guest mode to allow outside users into its visual workplace software, while video analytics is seeing growing interest in several verticals.

• September 26, 2016 26 Sep'16

  Twilio adds WebRTC media server with Kurento acquisition

  UC analysts examine Twilio's plans for Kurento's WebRTC media server, the relationship between service providers and cloud channel partners, and the Panopto-Ramp partnership.

• September 21, 2016 21 Sep'16

  Apple iOS update falls short for UC apps

  The new Apple iOS update removes many, but not all, of the limitations that have hindered the use of mobile UC apps on the iPhone.

• September 15, 2016 15 Sep'16

  Google expands UC reach with API platform buy, Box partnership

  In UC news, Google is expanding its UC capabilities with a Box partnership and API acquisition, while a survey found mobile app design for wearables is a challenge.

• September 09, 2016 09 Sep'16

  In summer of discontent, UC vendor consolidation ruffles customers

  Following an uncertain summer, unified communications vendor consolidation has made some customers postpone purchases, while others expect price drops and market innovation.

• September 07, 2016 07 Sep'16

  Contact center market consolidates with Genesys buy

  Genesys is set to acquire Interactive Intelligence to expand its reach in the cloud contact center market. The deal raises questions around Genesys' reported bid for Avaya's call center business.

• September 01, 2016 01 Sep'16

  Can you hear me now? How the IP telephone makes the enterprise work

  In the age of Snapchat and Slack, IP phones don't get much buzz … but that doesn't mean they've retired. In fact, many businesses rely on them now more than ever.

• August 31, 2016 31 Aug'16

  Microsoft shakes up UCaaS Magic Quadrant with cloud-based Skype

  In UC news, the UCaaS market has evolved past the early adopter phase as services mature, while video PaaS is expected to see growth as users look to embed real-time video in apps.

• August 31, 2016 31 Aug'16

  Vidyo to provide video PaaS development at no charge

  Vidyo plans to offer tools and APIs at no cost to developers building applications with the company's upcoming video PaaS.

• August 30, 2016 30 Aug'16

  Organizations take wait-and-see approach to UCC industry consolidation

  As some UC vendors look to sell off assets and others look for acquisitions, enterprise buyers shelve purchasing decisions, as they await the outcome of industry consolidation.

• August 25, 2016 25 Aug'16

  Microsoft to tap Genee online intelligence for Office 365

  Microsoft plans to use startup Genee's online intelligence to automate calendaring tasks in Office 365. Microsoft acquired Genee this week.

• August 18, 2016 18 Aug'16

  Avaya revenue down, as demand for UC hardware continues to drop

  In UC news, Avaya's revenue drops, as the demand for UC hardware wanes, while Broadview unveils a UC software integration with Microsoft and Google.

• August 18, 2016 18 Aug'16

  Atlassian launches HipChat group video calling

  Atlassian has responded to customer demand by launching HipChat group video calling. One-to-one video calling in HipChat has doubled annually since the feature's introduction in 2014.

• August 16, 2016 16 Aug'16

  Cisco Meeting Server connects Skype for Business and Cisco video

  The new Cisco Meeting Server delivers integration between the company's on-premises video conferencing hardware and Skype for Business.

• July 29, 2016 29 Jul'16

  Microsoft Stream marks major push in business video

  Microsoft Stream, backed by the vendor's marketing power, is expected to draw more enterprises into the business video market.

• July 29, 2016 29 Jul'16

  UC Magic Quadrant sees vendor ranking shake-up as market matures

  In UC news, Gartner's UC Magic Quadrant shows a maturing on-premises market; a survey of SMBs -- and their experiences with hosted UC -- provides five key findings.

• July 15, 2016 15 Jul'16

  Cisco testing Spark bots as virtual assistants

  Cisco collaboration chief Rowan Trollope says Cisco is testing the use of Spark bots to improve the team messaging service. Bots could handle many basic tasks for Spark users.

• July 15, 2016 15 Jul'16

  Qumu updates video platform with Skype for Business support

  In UC news this week, Qumu's video management platform now offers Skype for Business support, while Bandwidth's SIP service portfolio receives a Skype for Business certification.

• July 11, 2016 11 Jul'16

  Gupshup partners with Cisco on chatbot app for Spark

  Gupshup has partnered with Cisco in building a chatbot app to help Cisco Live attendees get event information in Spark.

• July 11, 2016 11 Jul'16

  Polycom acquisition reverses course with new offer

  The Polycom-Mitel merger is dead, as Polycom accepts a cash offer from Siris Capital Group. The new deal would make Polycom a private provider of video conferencing services.

• July 08, 2016 08 Jul'16

  Multicast video finds relief with content delivery networks

  As Microsoft and Apple end support for multicast video, CDN services are stepping in to help organizations with their streaming video needs.

• July 01, 2016 01 Jul'16

  Cisco stronger against Office 365 with IBM collaboration partnership

  Cisco and IBM have formed a collaboration partnership that will integrate four products. The partnership could make Cisco a stronger rival to Microsoft Office 365.

• June 29, 2016 29 Jun'16

  Video conferencing market growth slowed by infrastructure sales

  In UC news, an industry report predicts slow growth in the video conferencing market, while a study finds SMBs are embracing cloud-based tools faster than larger enterprises.

• June 27, 2016 27 Jun'16

  RingCentral integrates UCaaS with Google Apps Unlimited

  RingCentral has integrated its UCaaS products with Google Apps Unlimited, adding features that could appeal to larger companies.

• June 21, 2016 21 Jun'16

  LinkedIn acquisition could boost Microsoft analytics, streaming video

  The LinkedIn acquisition should help Microsoft's analytics and streaming video initiatives, according to industry experts. But questions remain over the privacy of LinkedIn users.

• June 20, 2016 20 Jun'16

  Avaya software help contact centers reach customers

  Avaya plans to release in the fourth quarter software that can help contact centers provide better customer service on the web and on mobile devices.

• June 17, 2016 17 Jun'16

  LinkedIn could get UC features following Microsoft acquisition

  Analysts believe Microsoft will integrate UC features from Skype for Business into LinkedIn, opening up communications between users of the professional social network.

• June 14, 2016 14 Jun'16

  Remote collaboration becomes hands-on with visual workspaces

  Immersive, visual collaboration platforms connect remote workers with in-office staff and help team members visualize data. But these products come at a cost.

• June 09, 2016 09 Jun'16

  Unify launches UC phones that integrate with Circuit

  This week in UC news, Unify unveils UC phones that integrate with its main collaboration platform, while BroadSoft acquires Intellinote to bring enterprise messaging to its UC services.

• June 03, 2016 03 Jun'16

  Tech buyers watch fate of Mitel-Polycom deal after second offer made

  Tech buyers face benefits and drawbacks if a New York-based private equity group outbids Mitel for the video conferencing company Polycom.

• May 27, 2016 27 May'16

  Mitel's Polycom acquisition could spawn cloud video, mobile UC services

  The UC buyer could see new products and services emerge after Mitel's Polycom acquisition. Analysts envision cloud video services and mobile UC offerings.

• May 26, 2016 26 May'16

  Samsung launches mobile UC platform for small businesses

  This week in UC news, Samsung has released a mobile UC platform for SMBs to support mobile workers, while Agora.io has launched a cloud-based telemedicine service.

• May 25, 2016 25 May'16

  CPaaS vendor Twilio makes notification service more flexible

  CPaaS vendor Twilio releases Notify, an add-on feature that allows businesses to customize the way they send notifications to customers.

• May 24, 2016 24 May'16

  Panasonic adds UC features to traditional telephones

  Panasonic released a beefed-up desk phone that includes messaging and video conferencing, indicating the vendor is preparing for SMBs to adopt more UC features over the next few years.

• May 18, 2016 18 May'16

  CPaaS, or communications-embedded apps, is next UC frontier

  The CPaaS market is expected to boom over the next four years, with more businesses looking for communications capabilities inside the apps their customers use.

• May 13, 2016 13 May'16

  Top 10 UCaaS providers ranked in industry report

  IHS has released its 2016 scorecard for the top UCaaS providers in the North American market, while Cisco and Redbooth unveil an integration with Spark rooms for task management.

• May 12, 2016 12 May'16

  Microsoft Skype for Business voice demands IT due diligence

  With Microsoft's Skype for Business voice posed as a serious option for the enterprise, businesses have to weigh the pros and cons of unplugging their traditional voice systems.

• May 10, 2016 10 May'16

  Pros, cons of Cisco, Microsoft cloud communications

  Microsoft wins on price, but enterprises that have complex telephone systems will find benefits in Cisco's options for cloud communications.

• May 09, 2016 09 May'16

  Microsoft unveils big SharePoint updates with mobile app

  Microsoft announced several SharePoint updates, including a mobile app for iOS and Android, making the product more modern and compatible with the cloud-based Office 365.

• May 05, 2016 05 May'16

  Skype for Business Mac preview is ready to test drive

  Microsoft released its long-awaited Skype for Business Mac preview. The application, to be rolled out in three phases, will be available publicly later this year.

• May 02, 2016 02 May'16

  Broader video conferencing options help meet user needs

  With an ever-growing range of video conferencing options to meet a diverse range of needs, there's no reason to treat end users like a hive mind anymore.

• April 28, 2016 28 Apr'16

  RingCentral announces new SaaS apps integration partnership

  In UC news, RingCentral announces a partnership for SaaS apps integration, while the wearables market is expected to see a surge in shipments for enterprise and industrial use cases.

• April 28, 2016 28 Apr'16

  Vonage recognized for high-quality voice, video service

  Vonage has won this month's Network Innovation Award. The VoIP provider's SmartWAN delivers high bandwidth at a low price point, coupled with quality of service and scalability.

• April 27, 2016 27 Apr'16

  Apple's shift on WebRTC technology lacks details

  Apple has said it is developing WebRTC technology, but enterprises won't see any benefits in online communication applications until the vendor installs the code in Safari.

• April 25, 2016 25 Apr'16

  Polycom acquisition raises questions over vendor partnerships

  Following Mitel's announcement that it was acquiring Polycom, analysts speculated on what will become of the vendors' endpoint and channel partnerships.

• April 18, 2016 18 Apr'16

  Microsoft unveils tools to increase productivity at work

  Microsoft has introduced Office 365 tools that monitor employee time and email activity to improve productivity at work.

• April 18, 2016 18 Apr'16

  Mitel and Polycom announce $1.96 billion merger

  Mitel and Polycom agree to a merger that strengthens each company's product portfolio and global market reach. The combined company will have $2.5 billion in annual revenue.

• April 15, 2016 15 Apr'16

  Video banking accruing interest among financial firms

  In UC news, Crestron has announced two services that aim to improve meeting productivity, and a report finds the banking industry has a growing interest in video services.

• April 11, 2016 11 Apr'16

  Microsoft Connectors adds business content to Office Groups

  The Microsoft Connectors feature in Office 365's Groups has been expanded, with more than 50 third-party partnerships, months after the feature's release last November.

• April 08, 2016 08 Apr'16

  Zendesk launches Office 365 collaboration integration

  In UC news, Zendesk integrates with Office 365 Groups for customer service collaboration. Also, a report on mobility trends reveals that security concerns are effecting adoption.

• April 06, 2016 06 Apr'16

  Dimension Data buys Ceryx for Microsoft expertise

  Dimension Data has acquired Ceryx to provide customers with the option of subscribing to hosted Microsoft products, such as Exchange, SharePoint and Office 365.

• April 04, 2016 04 Apr'16

  ShoreTel offers customers plug-in for Skype for Business

  ShoreTel has announced a plug-in for Skype for Business that is targeted at customers who use the video conferencing software without the premium telephony services.

• April 01, 2016 01 Apr'16

  Video conferencing systems help NATO keep the peace

  An extensive video conferencing deployment helps employees and partners at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) collaborate responding to world conflicts.

• March 28, 2016 28 Mar'16

  Examining the Avaya and Zang CPaaS relationship

  Analysts dissect Avaya's relationship with its new CPaaS spin-off, the two trends pushing public cloud adoption and how to prepare for an SD-WAN implementation.

• March 25, 2016 25 Mar'16

  Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise offers managed UC service

  French telecommunications equipment provider Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise jumps into the UCaaS race by offering its own version of a managed UC service, including file share and team chat.

• March 15, 2016 15 Mar'16

  Enterprise UC managers rein in the cloud craze

  Debunking the cloud craze, a panel of IT architects at Enterprise Connect said many of their UC applications are still on premises, or at least hosted in a hybrid structure.

• March 09, 2016 09 Mar'16

  Avaya launches Zang for communication applications

  Avaya announced it had created Zang, a cloud-based company for developers building customized communication applications, at the Enterprise Connect conference.

• March 09, 2016 09 Mar'16

  SD-WAN technology promises enterprises control, cost savings

  The latest UC innovations are testing the limits of enterprise networks. At Enterprise Connect, industry leaders discuss how SD-WAN technology can give networks the boost they need.

• March 09, 2016 09 Mar'16

  Microsoft broadens Skype telephony services

  Microsoft introduced at Enterprise Connect a version of the Skype telephony service that connects to a company’s existing phone lines and numbers.

• March 08, 2016 08 Mar'16

  What's really driving the UC and collaboration market

  The cloud, APIs and mobility are the major trends coming out of Enterprise Connect. Analysts break down how these trends are impacting the UC and collaboration market.

• March 08, 2016 08 Mar'16

  Cisco Spark creates developer fund for custom apps

  At Enterprise Connect, Cisco announced a $150 million fund to invest in developers who build custom apps using the Cisco Spark collaboration service.

• March 08, 2016 08 Mar'16

  Cisco, Microsoft want video conferencing systems interoperability

  Microsoft and Cisco pledged video conferencing systems interoperability at the Enterprise Connect conference, but cross-vendor technology remains elusive.

• March 07, 2016 07 Mar'16

  Cloud-based technology is hot at Enterprise Connect

  Vendors meet in Orlando, Fla., for the annual unified communications-focused Enterprise Connect conference, where cloud-based technology is one of the most discussed topics.

• March 07, 2016 07 Mar'16

  Best of Enterprise Connect 2016 award finalists

  The Best of Enterprise Connect award finalists reflect the changing nature of unified communications, as cloud-based services become more prominent in the industry.

• March 04, 2016 04 Mar'16

  New UC products and services on display at industry expo

  Vendors will exhibit their latest UC tools at Enterprise Connect 2016, from team chat apps to virtual collaboration. Check out some of the announcements coming out of the conference.

• March 01, 2016 01 Mar'16

  Numonix integrates cloud recording service in Office 365

  Numonix has announced a Microsoft Office 365 integration that records voice, video, chat and desktop screen communications via a hybrid cloud environment.

• March 01, 2016 01 Mar'16

  ShoreTel offers customers new hybrid cloud application

  Business telecom provider ShoreTel has introduced a hybrid cloud application that lets companies mix and match on-premises and cloud services to run across multiple sites.

• February 25, 2016 25 Feb'16

  WebRTC conference to gauge the technology's progress

  A WebRTC conference at Enterprise Connect will check the health of the browser-based communications technology, as many enterprises are using WebRTC without knowing it.

• February 25, 2016 25 Feb'16

  Vidyo rolls out upgrades to its video conferencing system

  Vidyo, a software-based video conferencing system, rolled out infrastructure upgrades, including hardened security, and network performance and management optimization.

• February 24, 2016 24 Feb'16

  Cloud, team chat apps top trends at UC conference

  UC analyst Irwin Lazar previews Enterprise Connect 2016. He highlights the latest cloud advancements, team chat collaboration applications and vendor strategies.

• February 22, 2016 22 Feb'16

  Avaya offers bridge for on-prem contact center technologies

  Avaya announced its bridge service for middle-market customers who want to transition from on-premises hardware contact center technologies to cloud-based software.

• February 18, 2016 18 Feb'16

  Enterprise Connect 2016: Special conference coverage

  TechTarget's editorial team reports from Enterprise Connect 2016 on the latest unified communication news, trends and technology.

• February 17, 2016 17 Feb'16

  Largest paint producer in U.S. eliminates work voicemail

  The largest paint producer in the U.S. eliminated work voicemail for roughly 800 employees at its corporate office because of declining popularity among workers.

• February 11, 2016 11 Feb'16

  InFocus unveils new video collaboration platform

  This week in UC news, InFocus has announced a new platform that focuses on scalable video collaboration, while Kollective has launched its Konnector video broadcasting service.

• February 10, 2016 10 Feb'16

  Small businesses get Microsoft FastTrack for Office 365

  Businesses with at least 50 seats will now get access to Microsoft FastTrack for Office 365. The service was previously available to businesses with at least 150 seats.

• February 08, 2016 08 Feb'16

  Logitech video conferencing hardware looks to fill a niche

  Logitech has announced its newest line of conferencing hardware that aims to replace the laptop at the conference table and support video collaboration in meeting rooms.

• February 04, 2016 04 Feb'16

  Cloud-based telephony provider RingCentral expands services

  RingCentral, a cloud-based telephony provider, targets multinational businesses by expanding services to include Global Office cloud PBX packages in foreign markets.

• January 29, 2016 29 Jan'16

  IBM buys Ustream, launches cloud video service

  This week in UC news, IBM has acquired Ustream and added cloud-based video to its cloud service portfolio, while a survey found the hosted PBX market is steadily growing.

• January 26, 2016 26 Jan'16

  Polycom introduces bundle for audio and video conferencing

  Polycom introduces a new pricing structure for audio and video conferencing services, in hopes of grabbing market share from increasingly popular cloud-based vendors.

• January 20, 2016 20 Jan'16

  Microsoft buys Event Zero's analytics and reporting tools

  Experts believe Microsoft's acquisition of UC Commander, a collection of Event Zero's analytics and reporting tools, will improve Skype for Business for administrators and end users.

• January 15, 2016 15 Jan'16

  Sonus WebRTC technology updated

  Sonus WebRTC technology gets updated to WebRTC Services Solution 1.1 to include better security and mobile features for enterprise users, as well as support public cloud deployment.

• January 14, 2016 14 Jan'16

  UCaaS market soaring as cloud-based technology evolves

  This week in UC news, the UCaaS market continues its strong growth, while a Web conferencing services report sheds light on some of the market's trends.

• January 07, 2016 07 Jan'16

  ShoreTel beefs up cloud-based contact center with Corvisa

  ShoreTel announced plans to acquire Corvisa, solidifying its cloud-based contact center offering in a market expected to top $10 billion in 2018.

• January 07, 2016 07 Jan'16

  The workplace trends shaping UC and collaboration in 2016

  Evolving workplace trends are affecting how employees collaborate. Learn how UC and collaboration technology must adapt to support new ways of working.

• December 29, 2015 29 Dec'15

  Taking a hybrid approach to the Microsoft E5 suite

  Microsoft's new Office 365 E5 suite includes cloud telephony services, but the software faces some challenges with deployment and business adoption.

• December 28, 2015 28 Dec'15

  Slack courts developers in team collaboration tools race

  In an effort to be more competitive in the team collaboration tools space, Slack is offering $80 million to developers who build integrated applications.