Exploring Teams Phone Mobile with Virgin Media O2's Duncan Finlay

• Duncan 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 2025

• Microsoft Earnings FY25 Q3 – M365 Highlights
• Microsoft 365 news from Microsoft Build
• Office 365 / Microsoft Teams EU antitrust update
• 9 Microsoft Teams Roadmap Highlights
• Operator Connect and Teams Phone Mobile updates
• Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android updates
• Teams Devices updates
• Events

Thanks 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 systems

Thanks to Kevin Kieller and Craig Durr for their insightful contributions and to SCB Global for sponsoring podcasts at Comms vNext

Patrick Burke from Gong shares insights on how they are using AI to maximise RevOps and how they use Numonix TRaaS to pull insights from Microsoft Teams meetings.

• Gong's evolution into a revenue AI platform,  how it helps sales teams improve performance by integrating insights directly into CRM systems.

• Integrations with platforms like Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, and HubSpot allow seamless data gathering and analysis to refine and support data-driven sales strategies.

• Media capture and compliance capabilities enabled by Gong's partnership with Numonix, ensuring secure and efficient use of call data for business insights.

• Patrick offers a glimpse into the future of AI in sales, including potential chat centric integrations 

Thanks to Patrick Burke for sharing his expertise and to Numonix for sponsoring this insightful discussion.

Tom Arbuthnot talks with Reto Schadegg, Global IT Infrastructure Manager at SCOR, about how they rolled out 200 Microsoft Teams Rooms across 35 countries in just 90 days.

• SCOR's delivered a rapid global deployment by leveraging prior standardization and planning.
• Neat Bar Pro was selected after hands-on testing, becoming the core device for most rooms.
• The rollout achieved a 40% reduction in operational costs and six-figure savings overall.
• A streamlined support model now manages 200 rooms with just 1.5 FTEs on second-line support.
• SCOR's shift to Teams Phone continues, aiming to phase out desk phones and reduce telecom costs.

Thanks to Neat, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support and for helping to make content like this possible

Tom Arbuthnot chats with Michael Levy, CEO of Numonix, about what it really takes to deliver compliance-grade recording in Microsoft Teams.

• Compliance recording is centrally managed, encrypted, and built to meet regulations like GDPR and MiFID II.
• Microsoft certification requires rigorous audits, financial commitment, and ongoing platform alignment.
• Vendors must continuously adapt to Teams updates to maintain compatibility and compliance.
• Numonix powers advanced features like filtered recording, native Teams app support, and AI integration.

Thanks for listening to this deep dive into compliance recording and how it’s evolving with Microsoft Teams.

Microsoft Teams Monthly Update - April 2025

• Teams clients older than 90 days will be blocked​
• General Channel is back​
• Detect sensitive content screen shared in meetings​
• Share PowerPoint control with all presenters​
• New Unify Contact Center to Microsoft Teams Integration model​
• Enforcement of Teams Phone license checks for Extend Contact Centres and Attendant Consoles​
• M365 Copilot Chat will be pinned by default in Teams and Outlook​
• Teams Devices Updates​
• Roadmap Watch​

Thanks to Neat, 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

Tom Arbuthnot is joined by Microsoft’s Evie Grimshaw to dive into bookable desks in Microsoft Teams and how they fit into the broader solution with Microsoft Places.

• Bookable desks work with existing Teams devices and software—no new hardware or installs are needed.
• Bookable desks supports end-to-end booking, from remote reservations to automatic in-office check-ins.
• Employees maintain control over location visibility with flexible opt-in privacy settings.
• Admins get actionable insights into desk usage via integrated analytics in Teams and Places.
• Upcoming updates will expand desk booking options and enhance intelligent peripheral mapping for admins.

Thanks to Pure IP, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support and for helping to make content like this possible

Tom Arbuthnot speaks with Adam Holtby, a Principal Analyst at Omdia, about the evolving landscape of Teams Phone Mobile, mobile UCaaS integration and its strategic impact on organizations.

Discussion Points:

• Challenges: Tom and Adam discuss the slow adoption of mobile UCaaS, highlighting the need for better integration between cellular networks and collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams and Cisco WebEx
• Opportunity: The opportunity for telcos to become key integrators of advanced communication solutions, enhancing their business value.
• Strategic Benefits for Enterprises: A centralized approach to managing mobile and fixed collaboration tools can significantly reduce costs and improve operational efficiency for multinational companies
• Security and Compliance: Benefits for regulated industries like financial services, where secure and compliant communication is essential.

Thanks to Ribbon, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support and for helping to make content like this possible

Matt Peers, the Global COO of Pinsent Masons, shares his insights on the adoption of modern work technologies, particularly AI and Microsoft's Copilot, within the legal sector.

• Matt discusses his professional journey, including his experiences as both a CIO and COO in prominent legal and professional services firms. He focuses on how he's led efforts to modernize workplaces through technology.
• How the legal sector is embracing AI—not as a replacement for lawyers, but as a tool to augment their capabilities. AI enables legal professionals to deliver higher-quality work and respond to clients more quickly.
• How AI has become an important tool in legal operations, helping streamline tasks like meeting notes, summarizing conversations, and managing workloads more effectively.
• Matt highlights the importance of continuous training, storytelling, and leveraging early adopters to drive the adoption of Copilot and AI technologies within organizations.

Thanks to Pure IP, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support and for helping to make content like this possible.