Welcome to the Might 2023 version of What’s New in Groups! This month featured a ton of nice bulletins from Microsoft Construct 2023. You’ll want to catch-up on all the nice options that had been revealed to make Microsoft and Microsoft Groups the very best place for builders to construct the next-gen of collaborative apps.
Now we have an awesome line-up of latest 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 digital camera break when I’ve a full day of on-camera conferences and Clever Assembly Recap for Groups Premium customers which leverages AI to robotically 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 lets you effortlessly monitor the present energetic speaker. The energetic speaker’s video shall be rendered at a better decision, offering higher visible readability. The usage of 16:9 tiles and constant placement of audio and video contributors on the identical stage ensures a fluid expertise. Toggling movies on or off won’t trigger the whole stage to be re-rendered. The primary space designated for the energetic speaker can be utilized for shared content material, enabling seamless transitions throughout displays. Speaker View is especially efficient in situations with a restricted variety of key audio system and a big viewers, akin to city halls, trainings, or lectures – particularly from the scholar’s perspective. You’ll be able to choose the “Speaker view” possibility beneath “View” within the assembly toolbar. This view just isn’t set as a default view.
Extra data on energetic speaker view may be discovered right here.
Profanity filtering on/off management for Stay Captions
You now have a brand new possibility to show off the profanity filtering and have the ability to see the Captions as is. You’ll be able to management this selection through Settings in Groups > Captions and transcripts > Filter profane phrases in assembly captions.
To show dwell captions on, be part of a gathering or begin a name. Choose the Extra icon within the assembly toolbar > Language and speech > Activate dwell captions. To vary the spoken language, click on the three dots within the dwell captions pane on the backside of the display screen.
Extra data on profanity filtering may be discovered right here.
Help Breakout Rooms on VDI
Organizer help for Breakout Rooms for VDI customers is now enabled. Breakout rooms enable assembly organizers to separate essential conferences into smaller periods for targeted discussions.
Extra data on help of breakout rooms on VDI may be discovered right here.
The brand new assembly recap expertise
Microsoft Groups helps you compensate for assembly contents from the ‘Particulars’ tab of a gathering, which gives hyperlinks to the assembly transcript, recording, and any handbook notes that had been taken. Now, we’re taking it additional with the brand new and improved assembly recap expertise, out there for all Groups customers.
The brand new assembly recap shall be out there on the ‘Recap’ tab and can allow you to look at the assembly recording instantly 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 digital camera break, whereas nonetheless permitting you to collaborate successfully. You’ll be able to add a brand new layer of option to your conferences and signify your self the best way you need with customizable avatars and reactions.
Groups Telephone
Change name queue and auto attendant greetings and bulletins by approved customers
To adapt to altering environments, Groups Telephone customers want to regulate their name queue/auto attendant greetings and bulletins. That is required extra regularly than what the IT helpdesk can usually deal with. Now with person 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 have the ability to be certain that compliance recording insurance policies are maintained when a name is redirected. Redirected situations embrace 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 business requirements.
Chat and collaboration
Expanded view for profile card
The expanded view that’s already dwell in different M365 experiences, akin to Outlook is coming to Groups. From Groups chats, channels, calls or conferences, you possibly can simply search for richer profile knowledge and study extra about who they’re collaborating with together with, contact data, job title and their LinkedIn profile and insights, like birthdays or profession updates, serving to kind private connections. Additionally, you will have the ability to 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, akin to 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 won’t embrace chat threads or different assembly functionalities such because the be part of a gathering button or recording capabilities.
New ‘notes’ tab when creating a normal channel
When creating a brand new normal channel in Groups, organizations who’ve enabled OneNote, the M365 app for notetaking, will robotically see a brand new ‘Notes’ tab created. Every workforce can have a devoted OneNote workbook throughout the channel making it simpler for workgroups to seamless collaborate. Workforce members will have the ability to add their notes, edit, connect information, recall & seek for channel notes inside OneNote on any platform.
A brand new information app expertise in Groups
A brand new information app expertise in Groups consists of an up to date navigation panel that lets you uncover, entry, obtain and simply share your paperwork and information out of your chats, channels, or conferences extra rapidly. The brand new file app expertise in Groups, is now powered by OneDrive, bringing consistency and familiarity with how information are saved, shared, and accessed throughout Microsoft 365.
Groups Rooms and Gadgets
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 may be paused quickly, permitting time to validate situations and many others. 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 simple for customers. Commonplace, Premium, and Professional service clients may also select Entrance Row because the default format.
Expanded, simpler interoperability
Groups Rooms clients have better performance and extra choices for having productive conferences with customers of different providers.
As introduced earlier this yr, Microsoft Groups Rooms clients now have an alternative choice for one-touch Direct Visitor Be a part of via Blue Denims by Verizon. Direct Visitor Be a part of permits BlueJeans Rooms clients to hitch a Microsoft Groups assembly from a BlueJeans Room through newer Home windows and Android-based gadgets. And conversely, Groups Rooms clients will have the ability to be part of a BlueJeans assembly from their Groups Rooms and built-in controller. Study extra about Direct Visitor Be a part of right here.
As of Might 2023, it’s quicker and simpler for Cloud Video Interop (CVI) clients to hitch Microsoft Groups Rooms conferences due to the brand new SIP visitor be 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 clients this expertise. Study extra about Cloud Video Interop (CVI) companions and choices right here.
Yealink MCore Professional Package on Microsoft Groups Rooms on Home windows
The Yealink third technology MCore Professional package is now out there and licensed for Microsoft Groups. The package consists of a mini PC, a contact panel, and wi-fi occupancy sensor. The MCore Professional mini-PC affords quicker processing, enhanced AI options, helps future upgrades for 3 screens and 21:9 shows with three HDMI outputs, and consists of 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 screen and the RoomSensor wi-fi occupancy sensor that robotically prompts the contact panel and hyperlinks with different clever IoT terminals to allow computerized check-in, lighting management, and assembly room launch. Study extra in regards to the Licensed for Microsoft Groups Yealink MCore Professional package 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. Simple 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 technique 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 workers through video name on a Groups Show. It’s primarily used for digital reception and helpdesk use instances. IT directors can simply configure Digital entrance desk with contact and routing data. This function is now out there via the Groups Shared Machine license.
Simpler Hotdesking Signal-in with QR Code Replace
Introduced earlier this yr, signing right into a hotdesking machine is now quicker with the QR code replace that’s usually out there for the hotdesking expertise on Microsoft Groups Shows. Now when customers need to entry private data 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 information.
Busy-on-busy admin settings now honored on Groups telephone gadgets
Inside Groups admin middle, admins can allow a “busy on busy” name setting to additionally present on telephone gadgets (excluding user-controlled possibility). Busy on busy helps you to configure how incoming calls are dealt with when a person is already in a name or convention or has a name positioned on maintain. New or incoming calls may be rejected with a busy sign or may be routed accordingly to the person’s unanswered settings, whereas the recipient will obtain a missed name notification. Introduced final month for desktop and internet, this function is now out there on Groups Telephone gadgets.
Dynamic emergency calling enhancements on Groups Telephone Gadgets
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 telephone machine. Introduced final month for desktop and internet, this necessary function is now out there on Groups Telephone 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 Affect 1060 ANC/1060/1030 sequence of enterprise headsets are designed particularly for open workplace areas, with EPOS BrainAdapt ™ expertise and voice pickup powered by AI to ensure messages get via crisply and naturally. These headsets promote readability, consolation and comfort to help targeted 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 rapidly view unspent Microsoft Azure consumption dedication (MACC) that they will apply when making buy of Groups apps which might be Azure profit eligible. It would solely be out there to organizations which have an current MACC settlement with Microsoft.
Block nameless customers’ assembly chat learn entry
This function builds on the power 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 prime of the present 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 may not see chat when this setting is in impact.
Cell
Dashboard for Chat
This function will replace the present chat particulars web page to offer extra data and enable you 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 establish and troubleshoot points you would possibly expertise throughout a Groups assembly or name. On this view you’ll get knowledge in your community, audio, display screen sharing, and outgoing video high quality.
Platform
App recommendations by activity in In-context Shops
You always take into consideration which duties they should full akin to making a survey inside Groups. Now, app recommendations shall be organized by duties the apps help versus typical classes (productiveness, undertaking administration). Consequently, the brand new categorization will cut back the period of time you’ll want to spend studying about these apps – serving to them to work extra successfully. The duty-based app recommendations 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 possibly can interact with content material and chat with different workforce members, side-by-side. Collab Stage helps you to share hyperlinks and collaborate on content material, proper from inside Groups.
Zero-touch App Set up
Microsoft Groups Zero-touch App Set up (ZTI) function permits admins and customers to streamline the administration and utilization of apps inside their organizations. ZTI robotically installs apps on Groups for customers after they check 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 current SaaS licenses. With ZTI, customers keep away from looking for apps and may proceed to make use of the identical instruments inside Groups to remain within the stream of labor with out context switching.
Groups Premium
Microsoft Groups: Digital Appointments two-way foyer chat
Digital Appointments two-way foyer chat to allow shoppers and facilitators to talk previous to B2C conferences.
Clever Assembly Recap
Clever recap leverages AI to robotically 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 personalised highlights that can assist you rapidly discover the knowledge most necessary to you, even for those who miss the assembly. Assembly recordings are an unbelievable software to compensate 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 personalised timeline markers, robotically generated chapters primarily based on PowerPoint Stay, and speaker timeline markers. With clever recap, you possibly can give attention to the assembly dialogue itself and never on capturing notes. AI-generated notes can help you see key factors and takeaways after the assembly, robotically created and powered by GPT. And follow-up is simple with AI-generated duties and motion objects robotically steered for you.
Authorities
These options at present out there to Microsoft’s industrial clients in multi-tenant cloud environments are actually rolling out to clients within the US Authorities Neighborhood Cloud (GCC), US Authorities Neighborhood Cloud Excessive (GCC-Excessive), and/or the USA Division of Protection (DoD).
Excel Stay for GCCH
Excel Stay is now out there for GCCH. With “Excel Stay,” you possibly can share and collaborate on an Excel workbook in a gathering. That is helpful while you need to get work carried out together 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 need 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 Stay right here.
GCC-H help for Microsoft Groups Rooms on Android
Groups Rooms on Android and Groups Admin Heart functionalities are actually supported¹ for GCC-H clients. Now GCC-H tenant clients can make the most of Microsoft Groups Rooms on each Home windows and Android gadgets. Obtainable in Commonplace, 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 at present out there together with Individuals depend in conferences, Beginning a Whiteboard, Reporting an issue, and 1 on 1 name recording.
