What's new in Microsoft Teams Rooms?

With a slew of new features and updates, MTR is making it easier than ever to connect, collaborate, and create—whether you're in the office, at home, or somewhere in between. Let's take a look at what’s new in Microsoft Teams Rooms, and why it’s the coolest tool in your work-from-anywhere arsenal.

1. Front Row Experience: Imagine you're in a meeting, and instead of staring at a screen full of tiny faces, everyone appears life-sized and at eye level. That’s what the Front Row experience is all about. This new layout places the video gallery at the bottom of the screen, making it look like your colleagues are sitting across the table from you. It’s a small tweak with a big impact—making remote meetings feel more intimate and natural. Front Row also integrates the meeting content, such as chat and hand-raising notifications, alongside the video feeds. This means you’ll never miss a message or a raised hand again.

2. AI-Powered Smart Camera Features: Who needs a Hollywood director when you’ve got MTR’s new AI-powered smart camera features? These updates include Speaker Tracking, Group Framing, and even an AI that detects people in the room and automatically adjusts the camera to ensure everyone is visible.

Speaker Tracking zooms in on whoever's speaking, making it easier to follow conversations. Group Framing adjusts the camera view to include everyone in the room, so nobody's ever left out, and People Detection uses AI to identify the number of participants and adjust the camera angle accordingly, so everyone gets their time in the spotlight.

3. Enhanced Room Management: Keeping track of multiple meeting rooms can be a headache, but MTR is here to help. The latest updates include a more robust management portal that gives IT admins superpowers (well, almost). They can now monitor the health of devices, deploy updates, and even manage room configurations from a single dashboard. But the coolest part? The new Pro Management Service. This optional service allows Microsoft experts to monitor and manage your Teams Rooms for you. They’ll keep everything running smoothly while you focus on more important things—like perfecting your video conference background.

4. Hot Desking with Teams Displays: Hybrid work means more shared workspaces, and Microsoft Teams Rooms is embracing this trend with the introduction of Hot Desking. Using Teams displays, employees can book desks, access their personalized Teams experience, and get to work—all without needing a permanent office setup. This feature is a game-changer for companies with hybrid work models. Employees can move seamlessly between different locations, all while keeping their work environment consistent and familiar.

5. Improved Audio Quality: Goodbye, echoes! One of the most significant updates to Microsoft Teams Rooms is the improved audio quality. The new AI-based noise suppression is so smart that it can differentiate between the sounds you want and those you don’t—like the hum of an air conditioner or the clickety-clack of a keyboard. MTR has also introduced support for Spatial Audio. This feature makes remote participants’ voices sound like they’re coming from their respective locations on the screen, creating a more immersive and natural listening experience.

6. Collaborative Whiteboard: Who said brainstorming sessions had to be boring? The updated Microsoft Whiteboard in Teams Rooms lets you collaborate in real-time, no matter where you are. With new features like sticky notes, laser pointers, and more templates, your virtual whiteboard sessions are about to get a whole lot more interactive and fun. You can also bring physical whiteboards into the digital realm with Content Capture Cameras. These cameras digitize your scribbles in real time.

7. Seamless Integration with Third-Party Solutions: Microsoft Teams Rooms is all about inclusivity, and that extends to the tech it works with. The platform now offers seamless integration with third-party meeting platforms like Zoom and Cisco Webex. This means you can join meetings on these platforms directly from your Teams Room without any extra hassle. It’s a win for productivity and flexibility.

8. Environmental Sustainability: Last but not least, Microsoft is making strides towards sustainability. The company is committed to reducing the carbon footprint of its devices and services, and this extends to Microsoft Teams Rooms. From energy-efficient hardware to more sustainable manufacturing practices, your MTR setup is now greener than ever.