Microsoft Teams and Cisco Webex: Building Bridges
A common misconception is that Cisco WebEx Room Kits don’t work with Microsoft Teams. But this isn’t true at all. In fact, Cisco WebEx Room Kits work great on the Microsoft Teams platform and should be seriously considered as an option for your conference rooms, regardless of your preferred conferencing software. Higher the Office 365 plan, the better the features with Microsoft Teams. Though Cisco Webex also offers a free version, in comparison, Microsoft Teams offers far more generous features in the free version. Cisco Webex’s cheapest plan starts with $13.50 per user per month and calling service add-ons would be priced extra. Sign in to Webex Teams for group chat, video calling, and sharing documents with your team. It's all backed by Cisco security and reliability. Microsoft Teams for Education Help drive the transition to inclusive online or hybrid learning, build confidence with remote learning tools, and maintain student engagement.
The Cisco CVI (Cloud Video Interop) is currently in trials and soon to be generally available. This will allow the Room Series video systems to join (including OBTP) a MS Teams meeting. For other platforms, the capability is there as long as the third part offers a standard SIP dial string to call. View solution in original post.
To serve business needs, enterprises often end up installing custom software or using multiple tools to fulfil requirements.
Many tools offer freedom to avail distinct features, but accessing those features from different resources can be a daunting task.
That’s where interoperability makes sense.
When two or more applications interoperate, they offer users to have access to all features.
The co-existence of two tools not only provides an extensive list of functionalities but also makes the workplace productivity, and the business process twice as efficient.
Messaging interoperability: Microsoft Teams and Cisco Webex
The number of messaging users is rapidly growing.
From around 1.6 billion users in 2014 to 3.8 billion users in 2018, the growth of messaging provides an insight into the need and challenges on interoperability between messaging and collaboration tools.
To meet the distinct demands of the company, more and more enterprises are seeking means to bridge the features of multiple tools in one system.
While many applications can be bridged together, this article mainly addresses the interoperability of Microsoft Teams and Cisco Webex.
Here, we will highlight the best medium of connecting these two tools, and making the most of it.
Why Microsoft and Cisco is a great combination
Here’s why Microsoft Teams and Cisco Webex make for a perfect interoperability combination:
- With Microsoft Teams, the users can avail Microsoft Licenses, Skype for Business features, and integrate natively with Office 365 features
- Given Cisco’s legacy, users get access to hardware like Cisco Webex boards, VoIP handsets, and telepresence solutions
- Microsoft Teams and Cisco Webex interoperability is the optimum solution for company acquisitions and mergers where one company’s resources are on Microsoft Teams, and the other one uses Cisco Webex.
- Where Cisco Webex offers core hardware, Microsoft allows integration with leading third-party tools like Adobe Creative Cloud, Trello, Slack, Outlook, Survey Monkey, Wrike, Jira, Folly, and many more
Microsoft Teams and Cisco Webex interoperability options
1 – Cisco Webex and Microsoft Teams Office 365 integration
Recently, Cisco announced the compatibility of Webex with Office 365. With such an alliance, the users can easily access OneDrive, SharePoint, and even G-Suite applications within the Webex app.
Pros
1. You no longer require signing off from Webex to access Office 365 productivity tools like MS words, MS Excel, and Powerpoint
2. Since Office 365 assures robust security to your company’s data, Webex integration will allow you to benefit data governance have to keep your files encrypted
3. Content Created in MS tools can be easily transferred to Webex storage space
Cons
1. This combination works fine with different Microsoft Office tools, but the integration of Microsoft Teams is not possible
2. Webex users cannot make changes to Microsoft files
Author Verdict
The MS Office 365 and Webex team’s integration is perfect for users who need to access Office 365 tools within Webex, but it’s not a great pick for those looking for MS team’s collaboration too.
2 – Bot integration
IFTTT (If This Then That) allows the collaboration of applications and devices.
Through IFTTT, a rule or function is established for one device or app based on the action or behavior on another device or app.
One example is syncing an Instagram account with Twitter so the photos display on Twitter rather than a link.
In the business world, a similar process is followed when setting IFTTT for both Cisco and Microsoft. So, when a Webex contact sends a text, the bot in Microsoft Teams also gets a notification.
Pros
1. Users have the freedom to add customized actions
2. Bot integration has several pre-built activities to choose from across an extensive range of devices and applications
3. The familiar feel and design of IFTTT applications in the business world, that you may be used to from a consumer world
Cons
1. Administrative time for adding custom options is lengthy
2. With new users, the administrator is asked to add further actions or recipes
3. Limited features across platforms
Author Verdict
Bot integration can facilitate collaboration across Webex and Teams, but the cross-platform experience is not as seamless since notifications are not received in a native app, instead of in the bot itself.
3 –Cisco Webex Meetings for Microsoft Teams
Microsoft users who wish to host live meetings can integrate with Cisco Webex.
You don’t have to switch to a different tool since the interoperability allows Microsoft users to host Cisco Meetings directly.
Pros
1. Users can host and schedule Cisco meetings without signing out of Microsoft Teams
2. The meeting app is available for Workplace from Facebook and Slack too
Cons
1. During the Webex meeting, from Microsoft Teams, you cannot exchange chats, messages, or files
2. Webex Meetings for Microsoft Teams does not support accounts on meetingsIn.webex.com and webex.meetings.com
Author Verdict
Cisco Webex Host Meetings for Microsoft is an excellent integration, but you’ll have to compromise with limited meeting functionality.
Bridging the gap
Interoperability between Microsoft Teams and Cisco Webex is simple.
You don’t need a technical developer, and no longer do you need to shoehorn one app into another. There’s only one tool you need: Mio.
Mio is the only platform to fully sync Cisco Webex and Microsoft Teams.
Mio operates through APIs and runs in the background to offer seamless messaging interoperability across channels and messages.
To start connecting your Microsoft and Cisco software, you don’t even need to download a new app, as it’s an entirely native experience.
How to Make Cisco Webex and Microsoft Teams Interoperable
You don’t need administrative support or a ton of training to get started. The way Mio allows collaboration across platform is simple.
Here’s how a non-techie can do it:
Step 1: Getting Started
Request a demo here (will open in a new tab).
Sign up by entering your email address and name. A Mio account rep will send you a verification link for account authentication for web-based interoperability experience.
Once your account is registered with Mio, you will need to add basic details that’ll help the system learn which programs or applications you want to sync. Once you have shared account details, Mio will scale to fit your business requirements.
Step 2: Channel mapping and User mapping
The next step involves administering your team and adding the channels of your choice. For example, you can sync the ‘Project Management’ channel in Cisco Webex with the ‘PM’ channel of Microsoft Teams.
If you have dozens of linked channels, you can use the search feature to make the process super efficient.
Step 3: Message Routing
Once you’ve linked your channels, Mio can provide interoperability between these specific teams. There’s also an option to sync all channels in one go. You can also enable future sync so any new channels are automatically synced.
Step 4: People Sync
Mio isn’t restricted to just syncing channels. People Sync allows you to send direct messages between Webex and Microsoft Teams.
Once People Sync is active, Auto Prompt sends automatic prompts to users whenever they receive a message from anyone using Mio so they can start receiving messages from other platforms.
Bridging the gap between Microsoft Teams and Cisco Webex in your company
With Mio as a bridging tool, you can easily make your favorite messaging tools interoperable. You no longer need a complicated development or migration strategy if your team’s different applications.
This is a guest post provided by Md Mohsin Ansari, Marketing Manager at Troop Messenger. Troop Messenger is a business messenger that is spreading its wings across all industries by bringing all internal communication to one place. Connect with him on Linkedin.
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If you’re in the situation where you’re using Microsoft Teams meetings at home but have Cisco video conferencing devices in the office, you’re probably looking for a way to make these work together.
In this post, we run through all your options for Microsoft Teams integration with Cisco video conferencing.
Jump to:
Cisco Webex Meetings for Microsoft Teams
You can use the Cisco Webex Meetings app to schedule, start, or join a Cisco Webex meeting or Webex Personal Room right from within Microsoft Teams.
All you need to do is install the Cisco Webex Meetings app into Microsoft Teams. If you don’t have admin access, you’ll need to ask your Microsoft 365 administrator to add this for you.
Once you have the app, you will get a Webex tab in Microsoft Teams.
Once installed, you can view your upcoming meetings and join straight from the list.
You can also join meeting rooms or start a new meeting with a recent contact - all without leaving Teams.
When a meeting is about to start, you can even get a Webex notification in Teams.
This integration is great for getting the most of virtual meetings when you’re working away from the office.
How to join a Microsoft Teams meeting from a Cisco device
If you’re phasing out legacy Cisco equipment because you now use Teams, the process probably isn’t big bang.
If you’re migrating users and rooms from one platform to another, there will be an overlap period where both are in play.
At this point, it’s important to ensure your new Microsoft 365 software integrates with your existing Cisco equipment.
The below endpoints can't join Teams meetings without native cloud video interop to bridge the connection.
OneMeeting provides just that.
Once installed, here’s how you can join a Microsoft Teams meeting from Cisco devices:
Using the Cisco DX80 with Microsoft Teams
To use Microsoft Teams on Cisco room kit like the DX80, follow these instructions:
- Dial the SIP address provided in the Join with a video conferencing device section of the Teams meeting
- Enter the VTC conference ID when prompted
- Join the Teams meeting
Using the Cisco SX10 with Microsoft Teams
To use Microsoft Teams on Cisco room kit like the SX10, follow these instructions:
- Dial the SIP address provided in the Join with a video conferencing device section of the Teams meeting
- Enter the VTC conference ID when prompted
- Join the Teams meeting
Joining Microsoft Teams meetings from any Cisco device
In fact, for OneMeeting customers, joining a Teams meeting from any Cisco devices is as simple as the two examples above.
- Dial the SIP address provided in the Join with a video conferencing device section of the Teams meeting
- Enter the VTC conference ID when prompted
- Join the Teams meeting
Can Webex Teams communicate with Microsoft Teams?
The Webex portfolio used to be split to include Webex Teams and Webex Meetings. Cisco has now combined the two apps to make a single Webex app for both meetings and messaging.
Microsoft Teams Cisco Download
Webex users who choose to stay in Webex for their messaging will likely be using Webex Teams instead of Webex Meetings.
If you’re a Teams user and you need to communicate with a colleague or external contact in Webex, you have a few options.
Microsoft Teams and Webex message interop
If you have one department that uses Webex and another who uses Microsoft Teams, you can enable message interop between the two platforms.
This means you can send messages from Webex to Microsoft Teams.
All you need to do is install Mio in the background to get this set up.
For example, if your sales team uses Webex because they always used Webex Meetings in the past, they can now chat with your customer service team who use Microsoft Teams.
You can use message interop internally for both direct messaging and working in channels.
Microsoft Teams and Webex external federation
If you need to message from Microsoft Teams to an external contact - like a contractor or partner - you can do this by installing a universal channel.
You’ll need to be a Microsoft admin - or get your Microsoft admin to authorise the app - so you can install the universal channels app in the background.
Once installed, you create a new channel in Microsoft Teams and send a link to your external contact who uses Webex.
Once they join, you’ve created a channel across platform for you both to collaborate in.
Webex Calling in Microsoft Teams
Cisco Webex also provides a calling platform since its acquisition of BroadSoft in 2018.
While adding a calling platform to Cisco’s portfolio, it also means any BroadSoft customers who want to use Microsoft Teams must integrate the two.
If you want to use Webex Calling from Microsoft Teams, you need to download the Webex call app for Microsoft Teams.
Once installed, when your users start an external call from Microsoft Teams, it will use the Webex calling platform.
To start this process:
- Check all users who need this integration are verified in the Webex Control Hub
- Make sure they are registered to Cisco Webex Calling or in your Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM)
- Install the Webex app for each user you need to use Webex Calling
- Update phone numbers for users in the Azure Active Directory (AD)
- If you don’t already, change your permission policies to allow third-party apps
- Then, in the Microsoft Teams Admin Center, click Teams Apps then Manage Apps
- Search for Webex Call and change to Allow
Next time your users log in, they will be using the Webex Calling platform even when they start an external call from Microsoft Teams.
While this sounds great on the surface, it does open up a new window when you dial.
If you’ve moved to Microsoft Teams to have all your communications in one place, this is a little beside the point.
Meetings between Webex and Microsoft Teams
To facilitate meetings between Webex users and Microsoft Teams users, OneMeeting provides a one-touch join experience regardless of the platform you’re using.
When you configure OneMeeting in the background, meeting participants on either Webex or Microsoft Teams can join the same meeting using a unique URL.
When you click the meeting URL, you can join from whichever meeting app you prefer - Webex or Microsoft Teams.
Joining Webex meetings from Microsoft Teams in the office
OneMeeting works for both remote meetings and in-person meetings. You don’t even have to change video devices. OneMeeting allows you to join any meeting from any device.
Microsoft Teams Cisco Cvi
Picture the scene:
- You’ve rolled out virtual meeting rooms to your users so they could all work from home during the pandemic.
- You already had video conferencing equipment installed in your meeting rooms and boardrooms.
- Because you needed the quickest solution to work from home, your virtual meeting rooms and existing video conferencing system in your office aren’t the same.
- People are starting to use the office again but your video platforms don’t work with each other.
If your scenario is something like this, you’re not alone.
Sandwiched between the millions of Microsoft Teams users are millions of users with other video conferencing services.
In your company, this could be hundreds or thousands. Even if it’s a handful, it’s an issue you shouldn’t have to deal with.
And with OneMeeting, you don’t need to.
Video interoperability
OneMeeting uses Pexip’s video interoperability service to connect your legacy kit in the office with Microsoft Teams at home.
By connecting your video platforms together, you create one-click join experience for your meeting participants.
Microsoft Teams Cisco Integration
Pexip apps and APIs creates a bridge between any SIP or H323 video conferencing system and the Microsoft cloud.
Taking Pexip apps one step further, OneMeeting is unique in that it takes the Microsoft Teams Cloud Video Interop (CVI) and makes your experience Microsoft Teams first.
In addition, you benefit from OneMeeting providing:
- A vendor-agnostic approach
- Full customisation of the native Microsoft Teams meeting invitation
- Full customisation and branding of the OneMeeting service from your video conferencing rooms
- Reporting via PowerBI
This means your users get a consistent experience regardless of the meeting room they join from. Less switching between meeting apps means happier users, less administration, and a slicker experience.
OneMeeting enables users to share and collaborate from any in-room video conferencing system, as well as from their desktop or smartphone.
Once installed, you remove the scheduling conflicts, awkward user experiences, and integration issues.
You can view the OneMeeting technical documentation here.