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Welcome to the Could 2023 version of What’s New in Groups! This month featured a ton of nice bulletins from Microsoft Construct 2023. You should definitely catch-up on all the good options that have been revealed to make Microsoft and Microsoft Groups the most effective place for builders to construct the next-gen of collaborative apps.
Now we have an ideal line-up of recent options to announce. This month brings 32 new options to Groups. My private favorites are Avatars for conferences which can provide me a much-needed digicam break when I’ve a full day of on-camera conferences and Clever Assembly Recap for Groups Premium customers which leverages AI to routinely present a complete overview of your assembly, serving to save time catching up and coordinating subsequent steps.
Please examine all of the updates and let me know your ideas! I’ll do my greatest to reply and reply questions as they arrive up.
Conferences
Energetic speaker view in conferences
Speaker view for Groups conferences permits you to effortlessly monitor the present energetic speaker. The energetic speaker’s video shall be rendered at a better decision, offering higher visible readability. Using 16:9 tiles and constant placement of audio and video contributors on the identical stage ensures a fluid expertise. Toggling movies on or off is not going to trigger your complete stage to be re-rendered. The primary space designated for the energetic speaker can also be utilized for shared content material, enabling seamless transitions throughout shows. Speaker View is especially efficient in eventualities with a restricted variety of key audio system and a big viewers, reminiscent of city halls, trainings, or lectures – particularly from the scholar’s perspective. You may choose the “Speaker view” possibility below “View” within the assembly toolbar. This view shouldn’t be set as a default view.
Extra info on energetic speaker view will be discovered right here.
Profanity filtering on/off management for Dwell Captions
You now have a brand new possibility to show off the profanity filtering and be capable of see the Captions as is. You may management this feature through Settings in Groups > Captions and transcripts > Filter profane phrases in assembly captions.
To show stay captions on, be a part of a gathering or begin a name. Choose the Extra icon within the assembly toolbar > Language and speech > Activate stay captions. To vary the spoken language, click on the three dots within the stay captions pane on the backside of the display.
Extra info on profanity filtering will be discovered right here.
Assist Breakout Rooms on VDI
Organizer assist for Breakout Rooms for VDI customers is now enabled. Breakout rooms permit assembly organizers to separate predominant conferences into smaller classes for centered discussions.
Extra info on assist of breakout rooms on VDI will be discovered right here.
The brand new assembly recap expertise
Microsoft Groups helps you atone for assembly contents from the ‘Particulars’ tab of a gathering, which supplies hyperlinks to the assembly transcript, recording, and any handbook notes that have been taken. Now, we’re taking it additional with the brand new and improved assembly recap expertise, obtainable for all Groups customers.
The brand new assembly recap shall be obtainable on the ‘Recap’ tab and can allow you to look at the assembly recording immediately inside Groups, in addition to present co-created collaborative assembly notes, assembly transcript, and content material shared.
Avatars for Microsoft Groups
Avatars for Microsoft Groups provides you that much-needed digicam break, whereas nonetheless permitting you to collaborate successfully. You may add a brand new layer of option to your conferences and characterize your self the way in which you need with customizable avatars and reactions.
Groups Cellphone
Change name queue and auto attendant greetings and bulletins by approved customers
To adapt to altering environments, Groups Cellphone customers want to regulate their name queue/auto attendant greetings and bulletins. That is required extra regularly than what the IT helpdesk can sometimes deal with. Now with consumer managed CQ/AA greetings for Groups finish customers, approved customers recognized by Groups tenant admins can change greetings and bulletins for his or her respective name queues and auto attendants with out leaving Groups.
Compliance recording for redirected calls
Organizations who’re utilizing compliance recording options built-in with Groups will now be capable of be sure that compliance recording insurance policies are maintained when a name is redirected. Redirected eventualities embody forwarded and transferred calls, calls redirected to voicemail, delegated calls, and name to name teams. This additional permits organizations to persistently adhere to laws, inside insurance policies, and trade requirements.
Chat and collaboration
Expanded view for profile card
The expanded view that’s already stay in different M365 experiences, reminiscent of Outlook is coming to Groups. From Groups chats, channels, calls or conferences, you may simply lookup richer profile information and study extra about who they’re collaborating with together with, contact info, job title and their LinkedIn profile and insights, like birthdays or profession updates, serving to kind private connections. Additionally, you will be capable of simply entry their colleagues’ group chart from the profile and as soon as carried out viewing, they will merely shut and proceed the place they left off in Groups.
Create offline conferences in Groups
Now you can schedule in-person conferences, like when a gathering doesn’t require you to be on-line, reminiscent of private appointment or lunch break. Within the Groups calendar, it is possible for you to to simply flip off the net toggle to create an offline assembly. Offline conferences is not going to embody chat threads or different assembly functionalities such because the be a part of a gathering button or recording capabilities.
New ‘notes’ tab when creating a regular channel
When creating a brand new normal channel in Groups, organizations who’ve enabled OneNote, the M365 app for notetaking, will routinely see a brand new ‘Notes’ tab created. Every staff may have a devoted OneNote workbook inside the channel making it simpler for workgroups to seamless collaborate. Crew members will be capable of add their notes, edit, connect recordsdata, recall & seek for channel notes inside OneNote on any platform.
A brand new recordsdata app expertise in Groups
A brand new recordsdata app expertise in Groups contains an up to date navigation panel that permits you to uncover, entry, obtain and simply share your paperwork and recordsdata out of your chats, channels, or conferences extra shortly. The brand new file app expertise in Groups, is now powered by OneDrive, bringing consistency and familiarity with how recordsdata are saved, shared, and accessed throughout Microsoft 365.
Groups Rooms and Units
Observe and pause computerized firmware updates for Android-based Groups gadgets within the Groups Admin Heart
Admins can now simply monitor which firmware is being rolled out via computerized updates through the Groups Admin Heart and when. Moreover, computerized updates will be paused quickly, permitting time to validate eventualities and so forth. Relevant for Groups Rooms on Android and Android-based Groups Telephones, Panels, and shows.
Default assembly format controls for Microsoft Groups Rooms on Android
IT admins can select the default assembly format, selecting between Content material solely and Content material + Gallery when content material sharing begins to make sure a standardize expertise that’s straightforward for customers. Normal, Premium, and Professional service prospects may select Entrance Row because the default format.
Expanded, simpler interoperability
Groups Rooms prospects have larger performance and extra choices for having productive conferences with customers of different providers.
As introduced earlier this 12 months, Microsoft Groups Rooms prospects now have an alternative choice for one-touch Direct Visitor Be part of via Blue Denims by Verizon. Direct Visitor Be part of permits BlueJeans Rooms prospects to affix a Microsoft Groups assembly from a BlueJeans Room through newer Home windows and Android-based gadgets. And conversely, Groups Rooms prospects will be capable of be a part of a BlueJeans assembly from their Groups Rooms and built-in controller. Study extra about Direct Visitor Be part of right here.
As of Could 2023, it’s sooner and simpler for Cloud Video Interop (CVI) prospects to affix Microsoft Groups Rooms conferences because of the brand new SIP visitor be a part of expertise. The trouble of getting to handle assembly coordinates within the invite will go away, making your Groups conferences much more seamless. The Groups Rooms platform will allow all 4 licensed CVI companions to supply licensed prospects this expertise. Study extra about Cloud Video Interop (CVI) companions and choices right here.
Yealink MCore Professional Equipment on Microsoft Groups Rooms on Home windows
The Yealink third era MCore Professional equipment is now obtainable and authorized for Microsoft Groups. The equipment consists of a mini PC, a contact panel, and wi-fi occupancy sensor. The MCore Professional mini-PC affords sooner processing, enhanced AI options, helps future upgrades for 3 screens and 21:9 shows with three HDMI outputs, and contains embedded CEC and EDID codecs for automated show management and sign adaptation. It’s paired with the MTouch Plus contact panel with an expansive 11.6-inch 1080p display and the RoomSensor wi-fi occupancy sensor that routinely prompts the contact panel and hyperlinks with different clever IoT terminals to allow computerized check-in, lighting management, and assembly room launch. Study extra concerning the Licensed for Microsoft Groups Yealink MCore Professional equipment right here.
Shure Microflex® Advance™ MXA902 Built-in Conferencing Ceiling Array with the ANIUSB-MATRIX Audio Community Interface
An entire ceiling-mounted audio answer for AV conferencing that’s licensed for Microsoft Groups, the MXA902 combines a state-of-the-art array microphone with an built-in wide-dispersion loudspeaker, plus IntelliMix® DSP for natural-sounding speech seize and replica, in a single unit. Straightforward to deploy for AV conferencing, with minimal setup required when paired with the ANIUSB-MATRIX Audio Community Interface, the MXA902 is a Microsoft Groups Rooms answer for medium-sized rooms that gives a quick method to higher sound. Study extra about Shure Groups Assembly Rooms options.
Digital entrance desk on Groups licensed shows
Digital entrance desk permits employees to greet and serve guests or staff through video name on a Groups Show. It’s primarily used for digital reception and helpdesk use circumstances. IT directors can simply configure Digital entrance desk with contact and routing info. This function is now obtainable via the Groups Shared Gadget license.
Simpler Hotdesking Signal-in with QR Code Replace
Introduced earlier this 12 months, signing right into a hotdesking system is now sooner with the QR code replace that’s usually obtainable for the hotdesking expertise on Microsoft Groups Shows. Now when customers wish to entry private info whereas hotdesking with a Groups show, they will merely scan a QR code with their cell phones to login and entry their conferences, calendar, chats, and recordsdata.
Busy-on-busy admin settings now honored on Groups cellphone gadgets
Inside Groups admin middle, admins can allow a “busy on busy” name setting to additionally present on cellphone gadgets (excluding user-controlled possibility). Busy on busy permits you to configure how incoming calls are dealt with when a consumer is already in a name or convention or has a name positioned on maintain. New or incoming calls will be rejected with a busy sign or will be routed accordingly to the consumer’s unanswered settings, whereas the recipient will obtain a missed name notification. Introduced final month for desktop and internet, this function is now obtainable on Groups Cellphone gadgets.
Dynamic emergency calling enhancements on Groups Cellphone Units
If you’re within the US and Canada, now you can simply set and make sure their emergency location within the Calls app on the cellphone system. Introduced final month for desktop and internet, this vital function is now obtainable on Groups Cellphone gadgets.
Jabra Evolve2 30 and 40 SE Headsets
The Jabra Evolve2 30 and 40 Stereo headsets are licensed for Microsoft groups and ship distinctive audio, excellent noise isolation, and superior consolation. Study extra about these and different licensed for Microsoft Groups peripherals.
New Epos wi-fi headset now licensed for Groups
The EPOS Impression 1060 ANC/1060/1030 collection of enterprise headsets are designed particularly for open workplace areas, with EPOS BrainAdapt ™ know-how and voice pickup powered by AI to ensure messages get via crisply and naturally. These headsets promote readability, consolation and comfort to assist centered conversations. Obtainable now in a wide range of fashions with choices for energetic noise cancelation, and single- or double-sided Bluetooth. Wired variations are anticipated to be licensed quickly.
IT Admin and Safety
New widget for unspent Azure consumption dedication
New widget within the Microsoft Groups admin middle (TAC) helps admins shortly view unspent Microsoft Azure consumption dedication (MACC) that they will apply when making buy of Groups apps which can be Azure profit eligible. It’s going to solely be obtainable to organizations which have an present MACC settlement with Microsoft.
Block nameless customers’ assembly chat learn entry
This function builds on the flexibility to dam nameless customers’ write entry in inside conferences by additionally blocking nameless customers from accessing the chat. That is carried out by disabling the learn entry on high of the prevailing disabled write entry. IT admins can activate this setting for inside customers from the Groups Admin Heart or via PowerShell. Attendees in the identical assembly who’ve entry to assembly chat shall be notified that exterior contributors won’t see chat when this setting is in impact.
Cellular
Dashboard for Chat
This function will replace the prevailing chat particulars web page to supply extra info and assist you to simply discover content material shared within the chat.
Name Well being Panel
The Name Well being Panel in Groups on VDI and internet helps you determine and troubleshoot points you may expertise throughout a Groups assembly or name. On this view you’ll get information in your community, audio, display sharing, and outgoing video high quality.
Platform
App strategies by process in In-context Shops
You continually take into consideration which duties they should full reminiscent of making a survey inside Groups. Now, app strategies shall be organized by duties the apps assist versus standard classes (productiveness, venture administration). Because of this, the brand new categorization will scale back the period of time that you must spend studying about these apps – serving to them to work extra successfully. The duty-based app strategies shall be added to the Tabs, Messaging Extension, and Bots in-context Shops.
Collaborative Stageview
With Collaborative Stageview, app content material opens in a brand new Groups window the place you may have interaction with content material and chat with different staff members, side-by-side. Collab Stage permits you to share hyperlinks and collaborate on content material, proper from inside Groups.
Auto Set up Authorised Apps
Microsoft Groups Auto Set up Authorised Apps (AAA) function permits admins and customers to streamline the administration and utilization of apps inside their organizations. AAA routinely installs apps on Groups for customers after they sign-in to SaaS apps with Azure AD credentials, whereas respecting app entry controls set by admins. This reduces handbook processes and administrative prices. Admins can seamlessly add apps that customers have used outdoors of Groups, maximizing the worth of present SaaS licenses. With AAA, customers keep away from trying to find apps and may proceed to make use of the identical instruments inside Groups to remain within the move of labor with out context switching.
New Collaborative Apps
The Groups platform continues to develop via the addition of collaborative apps, with six newly revealed in Could.
From software program startup Threedy, instant3DHub was the second-place answer in Startups Innovation 2023 by the Federal Ministry for Financial Affairs and Local weather Motion in Germany. This Groups app makes it straightforward to entry, visualize, and collaborate on advanced 3D fashions, reworking the way in which tier 1 producers collaborate and talk.
With WorkBoard in Groups, everybody has a steady line of sight to firm and staff goals and outcomes. Deliver WorkBoard’s OKR heatmaps, automated enterprise critiques, and good agendas proper into your Groups surroundings for seamless entry to the details you want each day. Use chat to search out your OKR standing or deliver outcomes into conversations.
The combination of Optimizely CMP with Groups supplies real-time alerts, notifying entrepreneurs of Optimizely CMP exercise immediately inside the Groups interface. By connecting the app with Groups, it is possible for you to to watch an ongoing, automated feed of alerts (e.g. @ mentions and asset shares) with the flexibility to click on via to Optimizely CMP immediately from the notification.
The entomo app supplies a singular folks expertise platform inside Groups to drive expertise growth inside your common move of labor. The app lets you measure efficiency checks in opposition to targets; have interaction via pulse surveys, suggestions, rewards, and recognitions; and use automated actional insights that drive efficiency. Handle distributed staff targets and get market intelligence-based, skill-gap evaluation, in addition to profession and studying suggestions.
Items for Builders optimizes developer instruments and eliminates context switching, and the brand new app makes it straightforward to avoid wasting code snippets, workflow context, and different helpful developer assets in Groups.
Arvato Programs constructed the Visitor Person Supervisor app to supply straightforward administration of exterior customers inside Groups, so you may resolve who will get authorization and who can edit which information from one central location. Customise consumer onboarding and handle the complete exterior consumer life cycle.
Groups Premium
Microsoft Groups: Digital Appointments two-way foyer chat
Digital Appointments two-way foyer chat to allow shoppers and facilitators to speak previous to B2C conferences.
Clever Assembly Recap
Clever recap leverages AI to routinely present a complete overview of your assembly, serving to save time catching up and coordinating subsequent steps. You’ll see generated assembly notes, beneficial duties, and customized highlights that can assist you shortly discover the knowledge most vital to you, even in case you miss the assembly. Assembly recordings are an unimaginable device to atone for discussions you missed, however setting apart the time to look at them of their entirety is greater than a small problem. Navigate effectively to the elements of the recording most related to you thru customized timeline markers, routinely generated chapters based mostly on PowerPoint Dwell, and speaker timeline markers. With clever recap, you may concentrate on the assembly dialogue itself and never on capturing notes. AI-generated notes can help you see key factors and takeaways after the assembly, routinely created and powered by GPT. And follow-up is straightforward with AI-generated duties and motion gadgets routinely urged for you.
Authorities
These options presently obtainable to Microsoft’s business prospects in multi-tenant cloud environments at the moment are rolling out to prospects within the US Authorities Group Cloud (GCC), US Authorities Group Cloud Excessive (GCC-Excessive), and/or the USA Division of Protection (DoD).
Excel Dwell for GCCH
Excel Dwell is now obtainable for GCCH. With “Excel Dwell,” you may share and collaborate on an Excel workbook in a gathering. That is useful while you wish to get work carried out along with your colleagues in a gathering. It seamlessly turns the assembly window canvas into an Excel workbook for collaboration with out having to maneuver between home windows or screens. Choose the file you wish to share, grant permissions to assembly contributors, and allow all assembly contributors to edit the doc from the assembly window.
Discover extra details about Excel Dwell right here.
GCC-H assist for Microsoft Groups Rooms on Android
Groups Rooms on Android and Groups Admin Heart functionalities at the moment are supported¹ for GCC-H prospects. Now GCC-H tenant prospects can reap the benefits of Microsoft Groups Rooms on each Home windows and Android gadgets. Obtainable in Normal, Premium, and Professional licenses.
1. Whereas most options within the Business tenant are additionally within the GCC-H tenant, there are a couple of options that aren’t presently obtainable together with Individuals rely in conferences, Beginning a Whiteboard, Reporting an issue, and 1 on 1 name recording.
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