- New Microsoft Teams Rooms features transform meeting rooms into communications hubs
- Flexibility for hybrid meetings with third-party platform integration
- IntelliFrame technology optimizes remote participant engagement and visibility
As demand for hybrid work solutions grows, Microsoft Teams Rooms is adding digital signage and advanced AI tools aimed at fostering better collaboration in the workplace.
The new features allow displays to function in signage mode when not actively used for meetings. It also allows organizations to broadcast corporate information, announcements or multimedia content, transforming meeting rooms into hubs for communication.
Additionally, it integrates two content management systems (CMS), Appspace and XOGO, enabling streamlined onboarding and management of Teams Rooms devices within these CMS platforms.
Digital signage from Microsoft Teams Rooms
In one blog postMicrosoft outlined how it released signage mode to boost communication. When a display is not in use, it can be put into signage mode, allowing it to intermittently display specific information such as upcoming events, company news, internal campaigns, etc.
Through the Teams Rooms Pro Management portal, users can also configure digital signage settings, select preferred CMS providers, and manage content from a central location. For organizations using different CMS systems, custom web URLs can be added as signage sources, providing flexibility beyond pre-integrated solutions.
In addition, signage mode can be activated based on a timer, which specifies the inactive display time and automatically turns off before scheduled meetings, in preparation for use.
Microsoft is also introducing new AI-powered features designed to improve online collaboration in Teams Rooms, using Copilot to provide intelligent meeting summaries and action items, with the aim of improving information retention and driving productivity for both in-person, remote and hybrid meetings. .
Teams Rooms will use Microsoft’s speaker recognition technology to isolate individual voices, even in noisy environments, allowing participants in busy or shared workspaces to communicate more effectively. These Copilot capabilities will eventually even extend to impromptu meetings held in person, allowing users to activate the assistant even without a formal meeting in place.
To ensure an inclusive experience for remote participants, Microsoft implemented IntelliFrame, a feature that individually frames participants to improve engagement and visibility, including automatic camera switching, selecting the best view based on multiple camera angles in the room, promising a more immersive experience for remote participants. remote participants.
Recognizing the evolving nature of the workplace, Microsoft has introduced improvements to BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) meeting rooms and bookable desks. New updates such as shared view mode allow users to easily share content while maintaining privacy for desktop items, and also add intelligent audio features including speaker recognition.
Additionally, IT administrators can access valuable data for inventory management and space planning through the Teams Rooms Pro Management portal. The portal’s new remote management features provide a centralized solution for monitoring Teams Rooms and Surface Hub devices, allowing IT staff to configure software, troubleshoot issues, and maintain system performance remotely.
For cross-platform collaboration, Microsoft is expanding Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) compatibility, allowing Teams Rooms to seamlessly connect to third-party conferencing services like Google Meet, Zoom, Cisco Webex and others.