Hell freezes over as Microsoft announces it is pulling ads from Skype
Skype is one of those apps that has found numerous ways to irritate users over the years. But in something of a surprise move, Microsoft has announced a change that will instead delight.
Considering that this is a company that has faced complaints and criticism for stuffing ads into its Windows and Office products, the announcement feels very out of character. But the killing off of ads is not the only change in Skype.
Collaboration tools open up businesses to added digital risk
Thanks to remote working, businesses have become reliant on tools like Slack and Teams for workplace communication. But this new, unstructured data set introduces risk caused by the everyday conversations in which proprietary, harmful, or sensitive information is shared or deleted.
AI data platform Aware has released a new report based on proprietary research conducted using the AI-powered platform AwareIQ. It finds collaboration platforms are moving beyond chat and are now at the center of a new enterprise workflow, with 15.4 percent of messages originating from integrated third-party applications.
WhatsApp is finally getting more text formatting tools
Although WhatsApp leads the way in many regards, there are plenty of areas in which it is lagging behind. The text formatting options in the message app are incredibly limited, for instance, but this is about to change.
The Meta-owned app is finally being given more formatting tools. The update means that WhatsApp users will no longer be limited to using bold, italics and strikethrough, and the need to find workarounds for the lack of common formatting options will soon be eliminated.
Instant video messages arrive in WhatsApp
There are many ways to use Meta's WhatsApp. From typing text-based messages through sending photos, to full-on video chats, there are options to suit just about every eventuality.
With voice messaging having proved incredibly popular, WhatsApp is now expanding its instant messaging options to include video. Just like its audio-based cousin, instant video message let you quickly record and share messages -- this time with video.
Are collaboration tools opening up a backdoor into enterprises? [Q&A]
The pandemic changed the way we work, with more people working from home and fewer in the office. That meant we became much more reliant on tools like Slack and Teams in order to keep in touch with colleagues.
Even though some people are now going back to the office, reliance on these collaboration tools remains high. The dark side of this trend is that cybercriminals have noticed and are increasingly using them as vectors for phishing attacks.
Why workplace engagement and collaboration are the true benefits of the metaverse [Q&A]
The trend towards hybrid work has meant that face-to-face meetings have been widely supplanted by collaboration tools like Zoom, Teams and Slack.
With the advent of the metaverse, virtual interaction is set to become even more common. We spoke to Martin Bodley, director of emerging business at Bose Work to find out more about how this new world might look and how it can draw on expertise gained from video games.
Okta launches identity verification for Zoom users
Many organizations have come to rely on Zoom as a means of connecting employees and customers in a hybrid environment.
But this comes with challenges when it comes to keeping meetings secure without harming productivity. Identity management platform Okta is launching a new identity verification feature that will authenticate Zoom meeting attendees in End-to-End Encryption (E2EE).
Collaboration tools still top the app download charts
Video conferencing and collaboration tools like Zoom catapulted to popularity during the pandemic as organizations made the shift to remote working.
But data published today by Finbold shows that even as we return to more normal working patterns Zoom remains the most downloaded business app in the US, with Teams in second place.
Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows is getting an amazing new look
Microsoft has revealed details of an upcoming visual update to Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows which is due to hit general availability by the end of this quarter.
"Vivid" and "vibrant" are words Microsoft is using to describe the new look and feel that will be making its way to the software soon. A quintet of new themes will be added for greater customization options, and there are new buttons, an updated calendar and better alignment of interface appearance across Windows and Android.
Microsoft is launching Teams Premium and some features that are currently free will be paywalled
Back in October, Microsoft announced plans to launch Microsoft Teams Premium, a paid-for version of its meeting and collaboration software. Now we know that the Premium tier is due to launch next month, and that as of February some of the features and options that are currently available to everyone for free will only be available to Premium users.
Although a precise launch date has not yet been revealed, Microsoft has told partners that the current schedule has Microsoft Teams Premium launching in "early February 2023". The company has also said that "some Teams features will move from Teams licenses to Teams Premium licenses".
Visibility into communications remains a worry for compliance and security chiefs
Two-thirds (66 percent) of security and compliance leaders are worried that their employees are using unmonitored communications channels, according to a new report.
The study from Theta Lake finds 67 percent of respondents expect the usage of collaboration tools and popular platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Webex, Slack and RingCentral to increase.
WhatsApp introduces privacy-protecting option to hide online status
Like all messaging apps and services, WhatsApp has its fair share of advantages and disadvantages. For many people, the end-to-end encryption the app offers is a major draw, although being owned by Meta requires some users to hold their noses while they use it.
But among the great things about WhatsApp are the speed at which its developers work, and their willingness to listen to -- and act upon -- user feedback. And it is user demand for greater privacy options that has driven the addition of online status control for beta users.
Zoom reveals new logo and product name as part of its evolution into a communications platform
Zoom is far from being a new company, but it really became a household name during the coronavirus pandemic as more and more people were forced to work and communicate online. As part of what it described as an evolution from a video app to a communications platform, Zoom has unveiled a new logo as well as a new name for one of its biggest products
In an apparent bid to more clearly compete with Microsoft Teams, Zoom Chat has been rebranded as Zoom Team Chat. Aping Google and the Goooooogle visual that appears in search results, Zoom has also revealed new Zoooooom imagery to highlight its wide-ranging product line.
Dealing with the risks of online collaboration tools [Q&A]
The shift to working remotely has led to businesses relying increasingly on collaboration tools like Slack and Teams. But while these undoubtedly increase productivity they also introduce some extra risks.
We spoke to Brian Mannion, chief legal and data privacy officer at Aware, to find out about these risks and how enterprises can address them.
AI-based security solution protects email and messaging
With more people working remotely, messaging and email have become even more essential tools, but the sharing of sensitive data via these routes also presents risks.
Concentric AI is using this week's Black Hat USA to launch an AI-based solution that protects sensitive data shared as text or attachments across today’s most popular business messaging platforms, including email, Slack, and Microsoft Teams.
Recent Headlines
BetaNews, your source for breaking tech news, reviews, and in-depth reporting since 1998.
© 1998-2025 BetaNews, Inc. All Rights Reserved. About Us - Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy - Sitemap.