Microsoft Teams and Cisco Devices – Better Together
Cisco has the best collaboration devices to provide a rich, high-quality meeting experience. Cisco has worked on delivering the highest caliber audio and video when using Cisco Room and Desk devices. The power of the Cisco cloud using AI allows has resulted in outstanding noise cancellation and intelligent cameras. These features combined create an excellent meeting experience. Until recently, the only way to experience the great features of Cisco devices was to use Cisco Webex. That has now changed due to the partnership between Cisco and Microsoft.
Microsoft Teams is a primary meeting and collaboration platform for many organizations. Cisco is becoming a certified Microsoft Teams Room Devices partner to meet this need. Certified Cisco devices will now have the choice to run Cisco RoomOS 11, or to run as an Android-powered Microsoft Teams room.
The devices that Cisco will initially certify for use natively with Microsoft Teams are:
· Cisco Board Pro
· Cisco Room Bar
· Cisco Room Kit Pro
· Cisco Room EQ
· Cisco Room Navigator
· Cisco Desk Pro
· Cisco Desk Camera 4k
· Cisco Headset 320
· Cisco Headset 720
If you have already invested in Cisco devices, the Microsoft Teams Meeting Room features will be available with a future software update. If you own Cisco devices not on this list, Cisco has made interoperability available through the Video Integration with Microsoft Teams (VIMT). The certified devices will be manageable from the Microsoft Teams Admin center, as well as from the Cisco Control Hub. Registering the device to the Microsoft Teams Admin Center and Cisco Control Hub, will allow the devices to be fully managed throughout the device lifecycle. Joining Webex Meetings will also be enabled when the device is registered to the Microsoft Teams Admin center. Devices are starting to be certified now and will continue into 2023. Once a device is certified, you will choose which mode you want to run the device in during installation, and how you want to manage it. Microsoft Teams Room Basic licensing will have feature limitations. For the best Microsoft Teams experience possible on Cisco devices, a Microsoft Teams Room Pro license will be required, as part of the Microsoft Teams licensing.
Cisco RoomOS 11 is officially being released in November. The Cisco RoomOS 11 platform will allow even more functionality of the devices. Options include intelligent signage, device branding, Airplay, Miracast, running web applications, multiple whiteboard options, customizable macros, and enhanced Zoom Meetings interoperability. Being able to choose whether to run Cisco RoomOS 11 or a native Microsoft Teams Room, organizations will be able to use the best collaboration equipment, while leveraging their investment in Microsoft Teams. As Cisco continues to add innovations, the meeting experience is enhanced for all users.
To receive information on these new offerings from Cisco or to see Cisco devices in action, contact Telcion.
Reference Articles:
This post was contributed by Jeff Senger, our Director of Sales Engineering. Jeff has worked in the technology industry for over 25 years. He has multiple Cisco certifications, including CCNP Security, CCNP Collaboration, and WebEx Contact Center Expert.
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