Trends in UCaaS and AI with Craig Durr and Kevin Kieller

David Renfree, Manager of UC Sales Specialists at Colt Technology Services, and Jason Wyatt, EMEA Marketing Director at AudioCodes, discuss evolving operator services and how Colt is innovating in enterprise connectivity through their partnership with AudioCodes.Strategic Partnership: Colt utilizes AudioCodes Live Platform to enhance enterprise voice services and efficiencyAward-Winning Cooperation: Colt recognised by AudioCodes for excellence as Live Platform and Service Provider of the YearTailored Solutions: Offers flexible, multi-vendor integration to meet diverse enterprise requirementsAdvanced UC Management: Provides comprehensive service management for both cloud and on-premise environmentsAI and Business Impact: Focuses on AI-driven solutions for superior business outcomes beyond traditional telecomThanks to AudioCodes, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support

Mehryn Corrigan, Microsoft Global Channel Sales lead, Microsoft Teams Rooms, discusses the evolution of Teams Rooms and AI and the future of meeting spaces.AV and IT Convergence: Exploring the integration of AV and IT in meeting room setups and how partners are evolving their rolesAI in Meeting Rooms: Enhancements such as speaker recognition, AI assistants, and Copilot are transforming meeting experiencesSimplifying Room Deployments: Efforts to streamline setup and management are making modern meeting rooms more accessibleFuture Opportunities for Partners: With the addition of Microsoft Places and AI, partners are poised to expand their service offerings beyond hardwareThanks to Jabra, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support.

Dan Root of ClickShare by Barco offers insights into their new Microsoft Teams Rooms solutions and use of Microsoft Devices Ecosystem PlatformClickShare's new Android-based modular compute systems supporting Microsoft Teams Rooms and BYOD experiencesHow ClickShare integrates with existing ecosystems, providing flexibility and compatibility for diverse meeting room needsInsights into the partnership with Microsoft using the MDEP platform and how it supports enhanced security and managementAnnouncement of partnerships and certified bundlesThanks to Dan Root for sharing his expertise and to Landis, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support

Olly Henderson, VP of Product at Jabra, discusses the evolution of meeting room technology and what Jabra is focused on based on customer feedback and insights.Launch of Panacast 40 VBS: A new Android bar for enhancing small huddle rooms with affordable, high-quality AV solutions.Role of Edge AI: Utilising edge AI for optimal performance and less cloud reliance in Jabra's video solutions.Future of BYOD: Jabra enables adaptable BYOD experiences, allowing easy upgrades to native conferencing systems.Strategic Collaborations: Leveraging MDEP integration and partnerships to enrich Jabra's enterprise solutions.Streamlined Deployment: Reducing costs with zero-touch setup and Jabra Plus management platform improvements.Thanks to Jabra, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support.

Microsoft Teams Monthly Update - June 2025Microsoft 365 Leadership ChangesNew Microsoft Teams 'Thread" Layout for ChannelsTeams Phone extensibility - Public PreviewRemote collection of diagnostic logs from users' Teams clientsOperator Connect UpdatesImmediate SBA Upgrade RequiredMicrosoft Retiring Semi-Annual Enterprise ChannelTeams Devices News from InfoCommEventsThanks to Landis, this month's benefactor, for your support of Empowering.Cloud and the community.Note that this is an audio-only version of the update, so if you would like to see the accompanying slides, please watch the video version on Empowering.Cloud

Ritika Gupta, Microsoft Group Product Manager, delves into the power of AI in Microsoft Teams, focusing on recording, transcription, and intelligent  recap.Ritika highlights the shift of recording and transcription from convenience to essential for AI capabilities like intelligent recap and Copilot.Overcome language barriers with Interpreter AgentReal-time transcription challenges and AI improvements for more accurate language processing and cultural understanding.Compliance controls and policies for IT to ensure secure and effective use of recording and transcription.Thanks to Luware, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support of Empowering.Cloud

Chris Johnson, Senior Director, Android Product & Engineering for MDEP at Microsoft, sheds light on the intricacies of Android and the Microsoft Devices Ecosystem Platform (MDEP)MDEP's objective to deliver a secure, manageable Android OS tailored for enterprise environmentsHow Microsoft collaborates with chipset vendors and OEMs to support device innovation and reduce fragmentationThe importance of regular updates and patches in maintaining security, and how long-term support worksLooking ahead to new developments, including upcoming features in Android 15 and MDEP’s continued evolutionThanks to Chris Johnson for offering great insight into MDEP and the devices landscape.Big thanks to Jabra for sponsoring the podcast

Exploring Teams Phone Mobile with Virgin Media O2's Duncan FinlayDuncan discusses his extensive telecom experience and current role at VMO2, sharing insights into the integration of fixed and mobile technologies.We explore the significant benefits of Teams Phone Mobile, focusing on its seamless integration with Microsoft ecosystems to enhance corporate communication strategies.The conversation highlights potential cost and operational efficiencies, offering a new vision for businesses tackling legacy technology transitions.We delve into VMO2's innovative deployment solutions with Microsoft and PingCo, which simplify the setup and management process for enterprises.Thanks to Luware, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support and for helping to make content like this possible.

Microsoft Teams Monthly Update - May 2025Microsoft Earnings FY25 Q3 – M365 HighlightsMicrosoft 365 news from Microsoft BuildOffice 365 / Microsoft Teams EU antitrust update9 Microsoft Teams Roadmap HighlightsOperator Connect and Teams Phone Mobile updatesMicrosoft Teams Rooms on Android updatesTeams Devices updatesEventsThanks to AudioCodes, this month's benefactor, for your support of Empowering.Cloud and the community.Note that this is an audio-only version of the update, so if you would like to see the accompanying slides, please watch the video version on Empowering.Cloud

Kevin Kieller, EnableUC and Craig Durr, The Collab Collective, discuss their perspectives with Tom Arbuthnot live from Comms vNext, exploring how AI is reshaping workplace collaboration.Comparing AI developments across UCaaS platforms, Microsoft's Copilot, Zoom's AI companion, and Google's Gemini.How AI is evolving from a tool to a teammate, with discussion on platforms integrating AI to enhance meeting and workflow effectiveness.The role of trust in AI adoption and how reliable AI interactions can increase productivity and streamline work processes.Future AI developments including agent orchestration and the integration of multiple AI systemsThanks to Kevin Kieller and Craig Durr for their insightful contributions and to SCB Global for sponsoring podcasts at Comms vNext