On the heels of the Microsoft Teams certification of two all-in-one collaboration displays, Microsoft is launching several new touch-enabled experiences designed to make meeting and collaboration easier on Teams Rooms on Android.
According to Microsoft, whiteboarding on Teams Rooms on Android was previously only possible in a Teams meeting context which required prep time, including setting up a Teams meeting or having a user’s device be invited to one, and then share whiteboard within that meeting.
With the release of Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android update 3 (App version: 1449/1.0.96.2022120503), users can walk up to a device and start whiteboarding using the new Whiteboard button on the home screen, Microsoft says in a Tech Community blog. The one-touch functionality allows users to launch Microsoft Whiteboard instantly and collaborate outside of a Teams meeting, removing friction from the starter experience and helping organizations stay productive in meetings.
These new features come after Microsoft earlier this year announced the certification of Neat Board and Yealink Meeting Board, a new form factor for Teams Rooms on Android where audio, video, touch display and compute are combined in a single unit.
The new release also allows users to seamlessly switch from a local collaboration experience to an online co-creation space by tapping “Start meeting” on the local whiteboard screen, Microsoft says. This kicks off an ad hoc meeting and automatically presents the whiteboard that was started on the home screen onto the meeting stage. Users can then add remote participants into the meeting and contribute across the same whiteboard in real-time.
The new features also allow users to see remote participants side-by-side with Whiteboard.
With a redesigned share menu, users can find all content options that can be shared in one place, including Whiteboard. This experience is now supported on resource accounts, Microsoft says.
Microsoft says it is also introducing new touchscreen support that allows users to control the room system from both the touch display at the front of the room and the touch console, making it convenient for users to operate a Teams Room using whichever device is closer to them. In addition, 4K is now supported to enhance meeting experiences on larger screens.
This article originally appeared on Commercial Integrator’s sister-site MyTechDecisions.com.
