UCStatus Podcast Episode 65: Teams Insider crossover with Tom Arbuthnot – thoughts on 2025 from a combined 50+ years in UC

Hello Readers, I hope you’re well.

Welcome to Episode 65 of the UCStatus Podcast. This episode features me (@randychapman), Mark Vale (@markvale) and Shawn Harry (@shawnharry).

This week we have a returning special guest, Tom Arbuthnot (@TomArbuthnot). We’re also doing something new, a crossover episode for Tom’s Teams Insider podcast. Look out for the episode there too. I do hope to go again in the future.

We didn’t have a fixed agenda or list of topics this time. It was a very fluid conversation looking back at last year and prior with all that’s happened in Teams and M365 and a look ahead. The look ahead also has some combination wishes and predictions. So Microsoft if you’re paying attention, we have your roadmap laid out.

Since we didn’t have a list and I didn’t write down what we talked about I’m also trying a first, and that is giving you the Teams Copilot recap verbatim.

Here you go

• Teams Premium Uptake: Shawn and Tom Arbuthnot discussed the uptake of Teams Premium among customers. Tom mentioned that while their small company of six people uses it, customer adoption is still spotty. Some customers buy it for specific features like webinars or branding, but blanket adoption is rare.
• Teams Client Changes: Tom Arbuthnot highlighted the significant changes to the Teams client last year, including the new calendar and the introduction of unified contacts. These changes are laying the foundation for future innovations and improvements.
• Copilot and Intelligent Recap: Randy and Tom Arbuthnot discussed the value of the intelligent recap feature in Teams Premium, which provides a summary of meetings. Tom emphasized that this feature alone could justify the cost of Teams Premium for heavy meeting users.
• Voice and Video in Teams: Mark Vale and Shawn discussed the current state of voice and video in Teams. Mark mentioned that while Teams was revolutionary a year ago, it has now become a standard tool that no one is particularly excited about.
• Teams Premium Features: Tom Arbuthnot and Randy discussed the various features of Teams Premium, including branding, the Q&A app, and the potential for barge and whisper functionality. These features are expected to enhance the value of Teams Premium.
• Copilot in Teams: Randy and Tom Arbuthnot discussed the proliferation of Copilot in Teams and its impact on the platform. They noted that Copilot is becoming a significant part of Teams, with many sessions at the summit dedicated to it.
• Future of Teams and AI: Tom Arbuthnot and Mark Vale discussed the future direction of Teams, including the potential for AI-driven features and the integration of Copilot. They speculated that Teams might eventually be replaced by a more AI-centric platform.
• Contact Center AI Integration: Mark Vale and Tom Arbuthnot discussed the potential for AI integration in contact centers. Mark mentioned that call recording vendors are looking to integrate conversation data into Copilot to provide better customer insights and recommendations.
• Teams and BYOD: Randy and Shawn discussed the surprising adoption of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) in Teams, despite initial resistance. They noted that Microsoft has figured out how to monetize BYOD and is adding features to support it.
• Teams and Cross-Platform Interoperability: Tom Arbuthnot and Shawn discussed the challenges of cross-platform interoperability in Teams. They noted that while Teams does not natively support SIP, there are gateways and third-party solutions to enable interoperability.
• Teams and Security: Tom Arbuthnot and Shawn discussed the security implications of open federation in Teams. They noted that many organizations are closing federation due to phishing concerns, and Microsoft is introducing new controls to address these issues.
• Teams and AI-Driven Features: Tom Arbuthnot and Mark Vale discussed the potential for AI-driven features in Teams, including real-time coaching and sentiment analysis in contact centers. They noted that AI could significantly enhance the value of voice interactions.
• Teams and Copilot Adoption: Randy and Tom Arbuthnot discussed the challenges of adopting Copilot in organizations. They noted that Microsoft is offering free and pay-as-you-go options to encourage adoption and make it easier for organizations to justify the cost.
• Teams and Threaded Replies: Tom Arbuthnot mentioned that threaded replies are coming to chat in Teams, which will help reduce friction in adoption and improve the user experience.
• Teams and ARM-Based Devices: Tom Arbuthnot and Randy discussed the potential for ARM-based devices in Teams Rooms. They noted that ARM devices offer better performance per dollar and lower fan noise, making them an attractive option for Teams Rooms.

Thanks for listening! Catch you next time.

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