Microsoft Adds Fluid Components to Teams for Hybrid Work Environments

Microsoft is bringing its Fluid components to Teams to enable the shift to what it calls hybrid, asynchronous work models. The new features will make meeting participants feel as though they are all together, Microsoft said.

It is expected that hybrid work environments will become more evident in the coming months. Microsoft signaled the launch of new collaborative Teams solutions for hybrid scenarios during last month’s Build event. Cisco underscored a similar expectation of hybrid work environments last week with the launch of its revamped Webex Suite.

Microsoft, which says there are more than 145 million active Teams users, now has a notable new partner: Neat. Neat’s cameras, audio and conference room solutions are notably used for Zoom meetings. Microsoft and Neat have inked their first partnership to offer Teams-based integration with Neat Bar, Neat Pad and Neat Board.

Neat said the products are currently undergoing Teams’ certification. They should be ready during Q4 of this year, as well as others that will be announced. The products support technologies offered by Neat. The Symmetry solution frames all participants in a meeting room as though they had their own camera. Neat Audio is designed to prevent a person from being cut off when two people speak simultaneously. Neat Bubble suppresses background noise.

Neat’s Simen Teigre

Simen Teigre, CEO of Neat, said in a statement: “By expanding Neat’s support to Microsoft Teams users, customers now have greater flexibility with their choice of device and can enjoy the simple and delightful Neat experience that brings people closer together in a hybrid world.”

Poly Studio Intelligent Camera

Poly, which offers a broad portfolio of Microsoft Teams Rooms cameras and complete conference room solutions, is launching  Poly Studio E70. The company describes it as an intelligent camera that also detects who is actively speaking and it can zoom in on that person. They are also working on delivering a segmented view capability that will display multiple people in their own individual frames.

Among other ecosystem partners, EPOS, Jabra, Lenovo, Logitech and Yealink are delivering new wares to support the new Microsoft Teams features.

During a 19-minute video, Marissa Salazar, Microsoft Teams senior product marketing manager demonstrated some of the key new features. Click through the gallery above to learn about 10 of them.