Cisco has unveiled a new logo for Webex and integrated offering for office communications called Webex Suite. The redesign follows the addition of over 800 new features to the videoconferencing platform since last September in order to expand its uses for remote workers, large meetings and events. The launch will be accompanied by a global advertising campaign featuring testimonials from customers like the Mclaren F1 team.
Webex Suite collaboration package
Webex Suite replaces the previous Cloud Meeting + Calling EA Pack, updating the bundle to a new integrated offering for hybrid working. Customers can combine meetings, calling, messaging, polling and events and save 40 percent on the previous separate costs for all the Webex features. Other options such as real-time translation, calling plans and contact center can be added to Webex Suite for an extra fee, and discounts of up to 50 percent on Webex hardware are available.
One of the major new features of the bundle is events. To respond to the growing number of events held online, Webex gets a new events execution and management platform that can support both remote and on-site participants. Full capabilities of the event experience at scale will become available upon completion of Cisco’s Socio acquisition, announced last month.
Audience interaction tools also will be added, including polling, quizzes and Q&A. Powered by Slido, the audience engagement will be integrated in the wider collaboration platform. Polling is available now in Meetings and will be coming soon to Events.
Less background noise, people focus
To help focus during video conferences, Cisco brings the new feature My Voice Only to Webex. This eliminates background noise, including speech from people in the background. My Voice Only will be available worldwide in August.
People Focus also is coming to Webex in 2021. People Focus uses machine learning and AI technology to individually re-frame meeting participants who are spread across a meeting room, allowing remote participants to feel more connected and everyone in the meeting to benefit from seeing body language and facial expressions.
More encryption, EU hosting
To boost corporate security, Cisco is incorporating real-time data loss prevention in Webex. This automatically blocks and removes confidential information in Messaging, stopping users from posting protected content. Webex users will also benefit from strengthened end-to-end encryption options, including augmenting encryption with end-to-end verified identity.
Additionally, European Webex customers will be able to ensure their content stays hosted in the EU, without being sent elsewhere for processing. Cisco has joined the recently approved EU Code of Conduct for Cloud Providers and expects Webex to be its first product approved under the code in the coming weeks.
Webex data processing will take place at the Frankfurt data centre, with Amsterdam serving as a redundant back-up. UK customers can move to this site from July, when analytics data as well as Webex Identity will be processed in Frankfurt. By the end of 2022 any remaining usage data, related to billing or operations, will be either processed in the EU or have personally identifiable information removed, Cisco said.
