Microsoft Teams Insider

Tom Richards, Senior Director of Strategy and Planning at Cisco, dives into the transformative partnership between Cisco and Microsoft, revealing how they now collaboratively enhance Teams Rooms. He highlights the innovative engineering behind combining Android and RoomOS for seamless management. Topics include cutting-edge AI capabilities like real-time noise removal and intelligent camera framing. Additionally, he discusses the flexibility for organizations to navigate between native MTR mode and RoomOS UI, marking a significant evolution in workplace collaboration technology.

Rick Garcia, EVP of Product & Marketing at Momentum, shares insights on integrating AI with Microsoft Teams for enhanced communication. He discusses how telcos can leverage AI-driven productivity to serve existing customers and transform simple workflows into responsive experiences. Garcia highlights the power of features like Power Automate and Copilot, and emphasizes realistic expectations for AI in customer experience. He also illustrates practical applications, such as missed-call detection and staffing automation, showcasing the immediate benefits of AI texting workflows.

In this discussion, Sean Keegan, Developer Evangelist for Azure Communication Services at Microsoft, dives into the world of communication APIs and their transformative potential. He highlights the surge in voice usage combined with AI to enhance interactions. Sean shares insights on low-code solutions via Copilot Studio for seamless voice agent creation and emphasizes the benefits of bi-directional audio streaming for more human-like interactions. Real-world applications, such as in healthcare and retail, showcase how these technologies can bring tangible benefits and insights.

Listen to Sean Gilmour, Principal Product Manager Lead for Advance Calling - Microsoft Teams, and Pratichi Dash, Product Manager - Dynamics 365 Contact Center Voice and Conversational AI , explain Teams Phone Extensibility (TPE), Unify and how they enable a single, unified phone system across UCaaS and CCaaS.• What TPE is, how it works with Azure Communication Services, and why the Unify certification matters for a level playing field• How Dynamics 365 Contact Center uses TPE to reuse existing Teams Phone architecture and Operator Connect carriers• Coexistence with Azure PSTN/Direct Routing today, with Microsoft recommending TPE going forward• Practical AI today: agent-assist with summaries, translation and guidance, plus the roadmap towards intelligent IVR and smarter routing• Seamless call movement between Dynamics agents and Teams SMEs for faster resolutions across the organisationThanks to Numonix, this episode’s sponsor, for their continued support of Empowering.Cloud

Gareth Bleasdale, Senior GTM Manager: Modern Work and AI at Microsoft, explains what Copilot Chat is, how it differs from consumer AI, and practical steps to adopt it safely across your organisation.What’s included in the free Copilot Chat with Entra accountsSecurity and governance: enterprise protections, encrypted web queries, audit and e‑discoveryNew capabilities: unified history, memory and personalisation, in‑app chat in Word and Excel, GPT‑5 accessAdoption playbook for IT, business decision makers and end users, plus Microsoft‑funded programmes and resourcesWhere agentic patterns fit: web‑grounded agents on the free tier and pay‑as‑you‑go options for tenant‑grounded workflowsCheck out Gareth’s webinar on 17 November 2025Thanks to Landis, this episode’s sponsor, for their continued support of Empowering.Cloud

MVP Tom Arbuthnot shares all the latest Microsoft Teams and Copilot news and announcements in less than 15 minutes for November 2025.Many thanks to Landis for their continued support.PowerPoint DeckMicrosoft-OpenAI Partnership ChangesMicrosoft Earnings Numbers (FY26 Q1)Teams Mode for Microsoft 365 CopilotTeams Channel AgentsTeams Chat with Anyone1080p 4Mbps Town HallsCopilot Researcher with Computer UserMicrosoft Teams Rooms New FeaturesTeams Devices NewsEventsBriefingsCustomer and Agent Assist AI Demos in Landis Teams Contact Center and Attendant Console with Preston Martin and Shannon Martin, Account Exexutives at LandisMicrosoft Teams Pro Management Portal AI: What’s Possible Today and Roadmap with Alvin Tsou, Product Manager at Microsoft and Andrew George, Principal Eningeering Manger at MicrosoftUnderstanding Microsoft Teams Channel Agents: Use Cases, Features, Workflows and Demo with Sandhya Rao, Principal Group Product Manager, Teams Core AI at MicrosoftCopilot Agents, No-Code to Pro-Code Options - Paolo Pialorsi, Senior Developer Advocate at MicrosoftTeams Insider PodcastsHow IQVIA scaled 650 Microsoft Teams Rooms with Global Standards & Smart Operations with Andre Razzuri, Associate Director at IQVIAHow Partners can Accelerate Copilot Success – Wesley Budd, Partner Solutions Architect at MicrosoftThe Future of Meeting Rooms with Tormod Ree, Chief Product and Engineering Officer at NeatThe Importance of Standardisation: Rolling out Microsoft Teams Rooms to 450 Rooms Globally with Andrew Liptrot, Service Owner for AV and Workplace Technology at HaleonMaking Microsoft Teams Great on Mac, iPad and iPhone with Microsoft Engineering with Hari Krishna Reddy Juturu, Partner Group Engineering Manager at Microsoft and Avinash Prasad, Partner Director of Engineering at Microsoft

Hari Krishna Reddy Juturu, Partner Group Engineering Manager, and Avinash Prasad, Partner Director of Engineering, both at Microsoft, talk through the importance of the Apple Platforms, user experience and new features.How the team “sim‑ships” features across platforms while embracing earned, Mac‑native integrations like Menu Bar Extras, AirPods support, and native screen sharing.Why day‑zero readiness for new macOS releases matters, and how close collaboration with Apple plus early beta testing protects reliability and performance.The update stance: older Teams clients are actively blocked after three versions, with visibility and remediation via the Teams Client Health dashboard for IT admins.Advances on iPad including dedicated multi‑window for chats and channels, external monitor support, and keyboard workflows.CarPlay improvements for safer commutes: hands‑free replies, notifications that respect system focus modes, and a continued push toward voice‑first experiences as the platform evolves.Thanks to Crestron, this episode’s sponsor, for their continued support of Empowering.Cloud.

Andrew Liptrot, Service Owner for AV and Workplace Technology at Haleon, shares insights on transitioning from traditional video rooms to Microsoft Teams Rooms. He discusses the development of four room archetypes—Meet, Create, Engage, and Influence—tailored to specific business needs. Emphasizing reliability and supportability, Andrew highlights the consolidation of components to streamline operations. He stresses the importance of user engagement and proactive monitoring to enhance digital employee experience across global standards.

Tormod Ree, Chief Product and Engineering Officer at Neat, discusses the future of meeting room technology and the challenges of hybrid work. He highlights the role of AI in enhancing meeting experiences through device intelligence. Ree explains how Neat is innovating with multi-device architectures and companion devices to create more flexible collaboration spaces. He also shares insights on the importance of equal presence for remote participants and how Neat's partnership with Microsoft aligns with their vision while maintaining unique innovations.

Wesley Budd, a Partner Solutions Architect at Microsoft, focuses on driving success with Microsoft 365 Copilot through the Copilot Jumpstart program. He discusses the importance of partners in ensuring readiness and security, emphasizing the need for effective adoption programs. Wesley highlights the growing relevance of ‘agents’ in business transformation, and how tools like AI Builder and Copilot Studio are shaping tailored solutions. He advocates for collaborative sessions to scale innovative ideas and shows how organizations can become AI-first firms.