 | Microsoft Ignite 2024 just ended with massive feature releases and updates to M365, Azure and AI. It was a tremendous event jam packed the latest innovations geared to take modern work new levels of productivity. For those of us too busy to watch all the live and recorded sessions, here's a quick TL;DR version of 5 important highlights announced at Microsoft Ignite 2024, focused on Teams and Devices. For those who prefer to read the complete version from Microsoft, the link is: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoftteamsblog/what%E2%80%99s-new-in-microsoft-teams--microsoft-ignite-2024/428753 |
1. Microsoft Places
One of the most exciting announcements at this year's Ignite is the general availability of Microsoft Places. This AI-powered workplace solution is designed to enhance flexible work by integrating with Microsoft 365 Copilot and Teams. Microsoft Places facilitates coordination among hybrid teams, modernizes employee interactions, and optimizes space management.
One of the most exciting announcements at this year's Ignite is the general availability of Microsoft Places. This AI-powered workplace solution is designed to enhance flexible work by integrating with Microsoft 365 Copilot and Teams. Microsoft Places facilitates coordination among hybrid teams, modernizes employee interactions, and optimizes space management.
- Recommended In-Office Days with Copilot: Deciding whether to go to the office can be challenging. Copilot in Places simplifies this decision by recommending if today is a suitable day to be in the office based on your scheduled meetings, your coworkers' attendance, and any guidance from leadership.
- Managed Booking with Copilot: Managing room bookings can be a hassle, especially with constantly shifting schedules. Copilot in Places helps you manage room bookings seamlessly, ensuring you always have the right space to work and avoiding last-minute rushes.
- Places Finder: Not all meeting rooms and desks are the same. Use Places Finder, your booking helper, to save time and find the right space and technology you need.
- Workplace Presence: Workplace presence helps you coordinate meetings and teamwork in the office. It updates automatically when you connect your laptop to in-office devices. Users can also manually set their location and see who is nearby in chats to plan lunches or meetings.
- Space Analytics with Copilot: Optimizing space for a hybrid workforce can be challenging without proper visibility into employee attendance and space usage. Space analytics leverages occupancy and utilization insights along with Copilot recommendations derived from intent data, check-ins, and device signals to make better space decisions.
- Team Guidance: Creating the right in-person cadence for your team can be challenging. Use team guidance to identify the purpose of office days, meet group needs, establish expectations, and adjust the rhythm accordingly.
- Quick Book: Forgetting to book meeting rooms can cause a last-minute rush. Places helps by prompting room bookings and offering recommendations. You can view suggested rooms and quickly book them in bulk for the day, ensuring all meetings have a space.
2. Microsoft Teams Meetings, Webinars, and Town Halls
Copilot in Teams: Analyzing Content Shared On-Screen: Copilot provides a 360-degree view of meetings by analyzing spoken words, chat messages, and on-screen content. This comprehensive data enables users to ask Copilot to summarize or find specific information from screen-shared content, consolidate insights across both the conversation and presentation, and draft new content based on the entire meeting.
Copilot in Teams: Analyzing Content Shared On-Screen: Copilot provides a 360-degree view of meetings by analyzing spoken words, chat messages, and on-screen content. This comprehensive data enables users to ask Copilot to summarize or find specific information from screen-shared content, consolidate insights across both the conversation and presentation, and draft new content based on the entire meeting.
Live Transcription in Teams Meetings: Support for Multiple Spoken Languages: Microsoft Teams will soon support multilingual meeting transcription. Participants can set their spoken and translation languages. The transcript will capture discussions in 5 spoken and 3 translation languages. Live translated captions and transcripts will also be available.
Intelligent Recap for Calls from Chat and ‘Meet Now’ Meetings: AI-generated summaries will be available for impromptu meetings. You can browse recordings by speakers and topics, and access AI-generated notes, tasks, and name mentions. This feature requires a Teams Premium or M365 Copilot license.
Translated Intelligent Meeting Recap: Users will receive an intelligent meeting recap in their chosen translation language. They can also change the translation language from the Recap tab.
Translated Intelligent Meeting Recap: Users will receive an intelligent meeting recap in their chosen translation language. They can also change the translation language from the Recap tab.
Active Meeting Protection Notifications of Sensitive Screenshared Content: AI in Teams now detects sensitive information like social security and credit card numbers during screen sharing. It alerts both the presenter and organizer to prevent accidental sharing. This feature is available for Teams Premium users.
Moderated Meetings: Designed for regulated industries like financial services. They allow users with conflicting policies to join meetings with an approved moderator. Organizers can admit attendees only after the moderator joins. This feature requires a Teams Premium license.
Email Verification for External Participants: Enhancing meeting security, verified users get an 'email-verified' label and a better experience. They can bypass the lobby and their verified email is displayed for organizers. This feature is available for Teams Premium license holders.
New Admin Policy to Prevent Bots: Block unwanted bots from meetings. Admins can block known bot domains and enable CAPTCHA tests for anonymous users. This ensures only verified users can join meetings.
Moderated Meetings: Designed for regulated industries like financial services. They allow users with conflicting policies to join meetings with an approved moderator. Organizers can admit attendees only after the moderator joins. This feature requires a Teams Premium license.
Email Verification for External Participants: Enhancing meeting security, verified users get an 'email-verified' label and a better experience. They can bypass the lobby and their verified email is displayed for organizers. This feature is available for Teams Premium license holders.
New Admin Policy to Prevent Bots: Block unwanted bots from meetings. Admins can block known bot domains and enable CAPTCHA tests for anonymous users. This ensures only verified users can join meetings.
Disable Copying of Live Captions, Transcripts, and Recap for Meetings: Expanding the 'Turn off copying or forwarding of meeting chat' control to include live captions, transcription, and meeting recap. This feature is available for Teams Premium license holders and prevents copying of meeting content.
New Calendar Experience: The new Teams calendar offers a reliable and familiar experience, integrating Copilot and Places for intelligent time management. It includes features like calendar sharing, month view, multi-day view, and support for multiple time zones. Upgrade easily with the 'New calendar' toggle..
New Calendar Experience: The new Teams calendar offers a reliable and familiar experience, integrating Copilot and Places for intelligent time management. It includes features like calendar sharing, month view, multi-day view, and support for multiple time zones. Upgrade easily with the 'New calendar' toggle..
New Expanded Gallery View for Minimized Meeting Window: Enhances the meeting view that is shown to attendees and presenters while the main meeting window is minimized. It shows up to 4 meeting participants and a ‘Me’ video tile, making it easier to stay aware of meeting events.
Support for 50k Attendees in a Town Hall: Organizers can now host up to 50,000 attendees in a town hall, up from 20,000. Quality remains high, but chat and reactions are disabled for events over 20,000. For support, contact the Microsoft 365 Live Event Assistance Program.
DVR Capabilities for Town Hall on Desktop and Web: DVR functionality for town halls will be available on desktop and web in December 2024. This feature allows viewers to interact with live streams as if they were recorded content, making it easier to navigate and interact with the event.
Event Chat for Town Hall: The event chat feature designed for Town Hall meetings is now generally available. This feature enhances communication and engagement and is accessible to all users.
Watermark in Webinars: Now generally available, this helps deter data leaks by watermarking attendee screen shares and video feeds with each viewer’s email address..
Embed Support for Teams Town Hall: Users will be able to embed Teams town halls in the SharePoint sites they manage. This capability will allow town hall attendees to watch the event instance within a particular SharePoint site.
Automatically Generate Avatars from Photos: Now generally available, the allows users to transform their photos into avatars easily.
Support for 50k Attendees in a Town Hall: Organizers can now host up to 50,000 attendees in a town hall, up from 20,000. Quality remains high, but chat and reactions are disabled for events over 20,000. For support, contact the Microsoft 365 Live Event Assistance Program.
DVR Capabilities for Town Hall on Desktop and Web: DVR functionality for town halls will be available on desktop and web in December 2024. This feature allows viewers to interact with live streams as if they were recorded content, making it easier to navigate and interact with the event.
Event Chat for Town Hall: The event chat feature designed for Town Hall meetings is now generally available. This feature enhances communication and engagement and is accessible to all users.
Watermark in Webinars: Now generally available, this helps deter data leaks by watermarking attendee screen shares and video feeds with each viewer’s email address..
Embed Support for Teams Town Hall: Users will be able to embed Teams town halls in the SharePoint sites they manage. This capability will allow town hall attendees to watch the event instance within a particular SharePoint site.
Automatically Generate Avatars from Photos: Now generally available, the allows users to transform their photos into avatars easily.
3. Microsoft Teams Phone: Enhancing Communication
Survivable Branch Appliance (SBA) – 7-Day Token: The Survivable Branch Appliance (SBA) update allows users to make PSTN calls during network outages by using expired tokens for up to 7 days. This ensures connectivity for an extended period during outages
Delayed Simultaneous Ring Settings: Delayed simultaneous ring helps teams by reducing noise and distractions. It ensures calls reach the intended recipient first, which is particularly beneficial for roles like delegates and customer service teams.
Queues App Available on Teams Phone Devices: The Queues app for Microsoft Teams is now available on phone devices. Agents can manage customer interactions, opt in or out of queues, and access detailed call history, ensuring they provide personalized and effective customer service.
Speed Dial Support on Line Keys: Configuring line keys for speed dial can greatly enhance the calling experience, especially for high call volume users. This setup is ideal for busy office environments and multitasking, improving efficiency and productivity.
Collaborative Call Delegation on Teams Phone Devices: Teams phone device users can now share their phone line with a specific group. This feature allows group members to receive and initiate calls on behalf of others, enhancing communication and collaboration.
Survivable Branch Appliance (SBA) – 7-Day Token: The Survivable Branch Appliance (SBA) update allows users to make PSTN calls during network outages by using expired tokens for up to 7 days. This ensures connectivity for an extended period during outages
Delayed Simultaneous Ring Settings: Delayed simultaneous ring helps teams by reducing noise and distractions. It ensures calls reach the intended recipient first, which is particularly beneficial for roles like delegates and customer service teams.
Queues App Available on Teams Phone Devices: The Queues app for Microsoft Teams is now available on phone devices. Agents can manage customer interactions, opt in or out of queues, and access detailed call history, ensuring they provide personalized and effective customer service.
Speed Dial Support on Line Keys: Configuring line keys for speed dial can greatly enhance the calling experience, especially for high call volume users. This setup is ideal for busy office environments and multitasking, improving efficiency and productivity.
Collaborative Call Delegation on Teams Phone Devices: Teams phone device users can now share their phone line with a specific group. This feature allows group members to receive and initiate calls on behalf of others, enhancing communication and collaboration.
4. Teams Room and Devices
Digital Signage in Teams Rooms on Windows:Admins can now configure Teams Rooms on Windows to display dynamic content when not in use. Settings can be managed tenant-wide or room-specific from the Teams Rooms Pro Management portal. Integrations with third-party providers like Appspace and XOGO are supported.
Speaker Recognition: Speaker recognition will be available for Teams BYOD rooms in early 2025. It allows intelligent recaps and Copilot value in any Teams meeting space, recognizing participants' voices. A Teams Premium license is required for the meeting host in BYOD rooms.
Digital Signage in Teams Rooms on Windows:Admins can now configure Teams Rooms on Windows to display dynamic content when not in use. Settings can be managed tenant-wide or room-specific from the Teams Rooms Pro Management portal. Integrations with third-party providers like Appspace and XOGO are supported.
Speaker Recognition: Speaker recognition will be available for Teams BYOD rooms in early 2025. It allows intelligent recaps and Copilot value in any Teams meeting space, recognizing participants' voices. A Teams Premium license is required for the meeting host in BYOD rooms.
Dual Display Enhancements on Teams Rooms on Android: Now generally available, this feature improves user experience by offering enhanced functionality and better display management, specifically designed for Android-based Teams Rooms.
Cloud IntelliFrame Video Feeds on Teams Rooms on Android and Mobile Devices: Cloud IntelliFrame improves visibility of people in the room, benefiting online meeting attendees. It is available on Teams Rooms on Android and Teams Mobile (iOS and Android).
Teams Rooms Expanded Cross-Platform Meetings via SIP Join: Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows now supports joining meetings from various platforms using SIP join. It offers a seamless collaboration experience with features like 080p video and dual screen. This requires a Teams Rooms Pro license and a SIP plan from a CVI partner.
Usage Reports for Bookable Desks in the Teams Rooms Pro Management Portal: Usage reports for bookable desks in the Teams Rooms Pro Management portal will be generally available in December 2024. This feature provides insights into reservation and occupancy data, helping admins better understand desk pool usage.
Auto-Association of Peripherals in BYOD Rooms: In early 2025, there will be a public preview for the auto-association of peripherals in BYOD rooms. This feature simplifies the process for IT admins and ensures accurate peripheral association.
AI Assistant in the Teams Rooms Pro Management Portal: In early 2025, the Teams Rooms Pro Management portal will feature an AI assistant. This assistant provides on-demand answers to questions about Teams device management, saving time and effort. It helps with 'how to' questions and offers data and insights specific to your organization's inventory.
Teams Rooms Expanded Cross-Platform Meetings via SIP Join: Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows now supports joining meetings from various platforms using SIP join. It offers a seamless collaboration experience with features like 080p video and dual screen. This requires a Teams Rooms Pro license and a SIP plan from a CVI partner.
Usage Reports for Bookable Desks in the Teams Rooms Pro Management Portal: Usage reports for bookable desks in the Teams Rooms Pro Management portal will be generally available in December 2024. This feature provides insights into reservation and occupancy data, helping admins better understand desk pool usage.
Auto-Association of Peripherals in BYOD Rooms: In early 2025, there will be a public preview for the auto-association of peripherals in BYOD rooms. This feature simplifies the process for IT admins and ensures accurate peripheral association.
AI Assistant in the Teams Rooms Pro Management Portal: In early 2025, the Teams Rooms Pro Management portal will feature an AI assistant. This assistant provides on-demand answers to questions about Teams device management, saving time and effort. It helps with 'how to' questions and offers data and insights specific to your organization's inventory.
Automatically Set Workplace Presence in a BYOD Room: Connecting to peripherals in a BYOD room will now automatically set your workplace presence to 'In the office', with required permissions. This feature enhances connectivity with co-workers and supports future intelligent booking solutions.
Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform: Based on the Android Open-Source Project (AOSP), the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform allows device makers and developers to design secure and dependable solutions, supported by Microsoft’s focus on trust, accessibility, and easy management. New partnerships include AudioCodes, Lenovo, MAXHUB, SHURE, MediaTek Genio 50, AmTRAN, and Thundercomm.
5. Fundamentals & IT Admin
Copilot in Teams admin center: simplifies administrative tasks such as setting up protected meetings and assigning phone numbers to users. It also provides valuable insights into configured policies, helps troubleshoot poor meeting quality, and offers configuration recommendations. These features are designed to enhance and optimize the overall Teams experience.
Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform: Based on the Android Open-Source Project (AOSP), the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform allows device makers and developers to design secure and dependable solutions, supported by Microsoft’s focus on trust, accessibility, and easy management. New partnerships include AudioCodes, Lenovo, MAXHUB, SHURE, MediaTek Genio 50, AmTRAN, and Thundercomm.
5. Fundamentals & IT Admin
Copilot in Teams admin center: simplifies administrative tasks such as setting up protected meetings and assigning phone numbers to users. It also provides valuable insights into configured policies, helps troubleshoot poor meeting quality, and offers configuration recommendations. These features are designed to enhance and optimize the overall Teams experience.
Hands-Free with CarPlay Support [iOS]: Use Siri to respond to notifications and send messages. Easily join Teams meetings and engage in discussions with quick actions like raise hand.
New Teams Optimizations for VDI: now generally available for Windows 365 and AVD, with Citrix in public preview. These enhancements improve performance, align features with the native client, and include auto-updates to reduce asynchronous updates.
iPad Multi-Window Support: Available in private preview, this feature enhances user experience by allowing effortless organization and split view navigation across meetings and chats.
Improved Performance for Anonymous Users Joining Teams Meetings on Web: Teams has redesigned the meeting join experience for anonymous users, resulting in a 5x reduction in webapp load time and nearly 3x improvement in transition time to the meeting stage screen. This streamlined experience is available on Safari, Firefox, Chrome, and Edge browsers.
Teams Manageability at Scale Through Admin Units: Allowing delegation of roles to manage users or groups based on attributes like department or location. This enhances scalability and efficiency by enabling targeted administration.
Remote Log Collection in Teams Admin Center: Automates the task of collecting Teams client logs, eliminating the need for user action. This ensures efficient and seamless log gathering, aiding in quicker troubleshooting and faster issue resolution. Private and public previews will be available in early 2025.
Best Practice Configuration Recommendations for Teams Meetings and Calls: For instance, when high network traffic is detected, a recommendation to open UDP ports on both Network and Client firewalls to Microsoft Teams Services will be displayed.
New Teams Optimizations for VDI: now generally available for Windows 365 and AVD, with Citrix in public preview. These enhancements improve performance, align features with the native client, and include auto-updates to reduce asynchronous updates.
iPad Multi-Window Support: Available in private preview, this feature enhances user experience by allowing effortless organization and split view navigation across meetings and chats.
Improved Performance for Anonymous Users Joining Teams Meetings on Web: Teams has redesigned the meeting join experience for anonymous users, resulting in a 5x reduction in webapp load time and nearly 3x improvement in transition time to the meeting stage screen. This streamlined experience is available on Safari, Firefox, Chrome, and Edge browsers.
Teams Manageability at Scale Through Admin Units: Allowing delegation of roles to manage users or groups based on attributes like department or location. This enhances scalability and efficiency by enabling targeted administration.
Remote Log Collection in Teams Admin Center: Automates the task of collecting Teams client logs, eliminating the need for user action. This ensures efficient and seamless log gathering, aiding in quicker troubleshooting and faster issue resolution. Private and public previews will be available in early 2025.
Best Practice Configuration Recommendations for Teams Meetings and Calls: For instance, when high network traffic is detected, a recommendation to open UDP ports on both Network and Client firewalls to Microsoft Teams Services will be displayed.
6. Microsoft 365 Agents
Facilitator
The Facilitator agent starts taking real-time notes during your meetings, allowing everyone to co-author and collaborate seamlessly. This frees everyone up to focus and engage deeply in meetings, while also helping drive alignment before the meeting ends. The Facilitator also generates an up-to-date summary of important information in Teams chats, including key decisions, action items, and open questions to resolve.
Interpreter
The Interpreter agent enables real-time speech-to-speech interpretation in Teams meetings so each participant can speak and listen in the language of their choice. This new agent will be coming in public preview in early 2025 and will require a Microsoft 365 Copilot license to access the preview.
Facilitator
The Facilitator agent starts taking real-time notes during your meetings, allowing everyone to co-author and collaborate seamlessly. This frees everyone up to focus and engage deeply in meetings, while also helping drive alignment before the meeting ends. The Facilitator also generates an up-to-date summary of important information in Teams chats, including key decisions, action items, and open questions to resolve.
Interpreter
The Interpreter agent enables real-time speech-to-speech interpretation in Teams meetings so each participant can speak and listen in the language of their choice. This new agent will be coming in public preview in early 2025 and will require a Microsoft 365 Copilot license to access the preview.
Conclusion
Microsoft Ignite 2024 was a highly informative and engaging event, packed with valuable updates and resources for customers, partners and professionals. The event highlighted the continuous innovation and commitment of Microsoft to enhancing digital collaboration and customer engagement. With new features, enhanced security, and valuable resources, the future of Teams Rooms looks brighter than ever.
Microsoft Ignite 2024 was a highly informative and engaging event, packed with valuable updates and resources for customers, partners and professionals. The event highlighted the continuous innovation and commitment of Microsoft to enhancing digital collaboration and customer engagement. With new features, enhanced security, and valuable resources, the future of Teams Rooms looks brighter than ever.
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