Cisco has announced plans to discontinue its Spark collaboration platform and fold the service into its Webex conferencing service. The result is a new Webex Meetings application for group calls and video meetings and a collaboration application called Webex Teams (formerly Cisco Spark). All the company's video devices will use the new converged platform.
The new Webex Meetings will take a 'video first' approach, encouraging users to turn on their camera for each meeting. All customers will be automatically updated to the new version of the app. Cisco claims 100 million people around the world already use Webex.
Webex Teams offers the same features as Cisco Spark for messaging and collaboration between colleagues, along with new features based on the Webex conferencing platform, such as whiteboarding, persistent messaging, simple guest access, content sharing and integrated tools to support teams both during and after the meeting. Existing Webex customers only need to add the Teams extension to start using the platform. Webex users can also still opt to integrate other collaboration apps, such as Google, Slack or Microsoft.
The new name also extends to Cisco devices. For instance, the Cisco Spark Board becomes the Webex Board. In addition, Cisco is launching a new adapter to extend Webex to existing screens in the office, such as TVs. The palm-sized adapter plugs into the back of the TV, and after pairing with the system, users can start sharing their documents or screen. Webex Share will be available for Webex Meetings and Teams towards the end of 2018.
Along with the new name come new subscription options for the services. The Cisco Collaboration Flex Plan is now available at a subscription fee for each active user. In addition, Webex Meetings will allow up to 1,000 people to join, and Cisco said it added more storage, advanced security and analytics capabilities.
As part of Cisco's efforts to integrate AI in the collaboration products, Webex Assistant (formerly Cisco Spark Assistant) will be available on more devices and with more functionality. Based on technology from the acquisition of MindMeld, Webex Assistant will start showing up over the next couple of months in all Cisco's cloud-connected Webex Room Kit and Room Series devices.
