The explosion of video conferencing platforms—each with their own versions, protocols, and quirks—has made virtual meetings harder to navigate than ever. As organizations adopt Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, Webex and countless others, interoperability is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity.  

Video conferencing is now central to how organizations connect, collaborate, and compete. Over the past five years, video tools have evolved from basic screen shares to AI-enhanced platforms that support global, hybrid workforces at scale.  

Synergy CONNECT is a standards-based interoperability gateway that bridges SIP-based video conferencing systems and modern web meetings (WebRTC/HTML). It enables users to join browser-based meetings like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet directly from SIP video endpoints.

Synergy CONNECT relies on open standards to ensure interoperability:

• SIP (Session Initiation Protocol): Ratified by the IETF, this standard allows communication between a wide range of video conferencing systems.

• WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication): Supported by all major browsers, WebRTC powers real-time communication directly in the browser without plugins.
   

Seamlessly Connecting SIP Devices to Modern Meeting Platforms

Discover Microsoft PowerPoint Live feature within Microsoft Teams, which allows you to share your presentations interactively during video meetings without needing to share your screen. By using this application, you gain access to a wide range of engaging features, including real-time transcription and translation, audience participation tools, and the ability for viewers to navigate through the presentation at their own pace.

In this article, you will delve into the mastery of PowerPoint Live, not only in meetings with other Teams clients but also in video conference meetings with SIP systems like Cisco and Poly.

Compare and Contrast: Synergy SKY vs. the Competition

Synergy SKY has 3 gateways in 1

Synergy SKY CONNECT: A Viable Alternative to the Sunsetting Poly RealConnect

Poly RealConnect, a video conferencing interoperability gateway for standards-based video systems to connect to Microsoft Teams and Skype meetings, is nearing its end of life. This leaves many businesses scrambling to find a suitable replacement.

Empowering VTCs for Active Participation in Video Meetings

Beyond all the given features the number one video conferencing manufacturer provides, such as a 4K intelligent camera, integrated microphones, and auto noise reduction speakers, it also has smart IoT sensors that provide Presence Detection and People Count. 

Synergy SKY CONNECT offers an award-winning interoperability gateway that connects Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Zoom, and Webex meetings to existing video conference devices such as Cisco and Poly.    

Register your video endpoints with Synergy SKY - it's the only service your video devices need

Connect to all Google, Zoom and Teams meetings from any Cisco / Poly video endpoint.

We are excited to announce the launch of SIP to Zoom interoperability support in Synergy SKY CONNECT! This new feature allows users to join Zoom meetings from any SIP video endpoint, without the need for any additional hardware or software.

Video meetings have become an essential part of our professional lives. However, they often come with their fair share of complexities and challenges. Sean Lessman from Synergy SKY discusses how to solve some of these problems with an easy-to-use, user-friendly, and cost-effective solution.

Synergy SKY was recently featured in a blog post on the Cisco Webex website. To learn how we together connected 120 Cisco video rooms to Zoom and Google - read the full blog here.

Video meeting invitations often present a challenge when it comes to figuring out how to join the meeting. This can lead to frustration and delays in starting the meetings or even people avoiding the use of video conferencing rooms altogether. 

This is how to take any meeting invitation and generate a green join button that will promptly connect video conference devices all meetings.

Welcome to ‘Synergizers: The Experts Behind Video Interop”, the series where we talk and spotlight the developers and innovators behind the interoperability and video conferencing management tools simplifying the way organizations meet. The movers and shakers of our multi-vendor videoconferencing world. 

Meet Henrik Romnes, Developer at Synergy SKY. 

Henrik is one of R&D’s whizz kids (not that he would ever admit to this!). With a background in maths and an understanding beyond his years of all things video-related, he is responsible for making sure your video meetings work. You don’t get black screens when you connect to your meetings? That might very well be Henrik’s doing. We spoke with Henrik about his growth as a developer, as well as challenges and prospects in the videoconferencing industry. 

Welcome to 'Synergizers: The Experts Behind Video Interop', the series where we talk to and spotlight the developers and innovators of interoperability and video conferencing! These are the movers and shakers of our multi-vendor video conferencing world and are on a solid mission to simplify video meetings across the globe. 

Meet Egil Hasting, CTO at Synergy SKY. 

While it's not easy to say who the mother of our interop solution is, most people at Synergy SKY would agree that Egil is the undisputed father. He was responsible for conceptualizing, developing, and strategizing how to bring the product to the market. If there is anyone with a good understanding of our video interoperability, it's Egil.

A lot of companies today are mandating their workforce to return to the office. Whether your preferred way of working is from the office, hybrid or remote, one thing is for certain - video conferencing endpoints and meeting rooms in offices need to be flexible enough to include all working models.  

Synergy SKY stepped in to support the NHS with continuation of critical MDT meetings that include remote clinicians joining the meetings on Microsoft Teams, by providing an alternative interoperability solution. 

Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) service continuation is essential in the NHS for the health and well-being of patients and the collective expertise of specialists involved in a patient’s pathway. This includes the discussion of the diagnosis, pain management, support, welfare or treatment, and recovery. 

In June 2020, the NHS announced an agreement with Microsoft that would lead to the rollout of Microsoft Teams to 1.2 million users, across 450 organisations supporting patients in the NHS.  It was highlighted in a study by the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust* that this roll-out saved NHS users 2.9 million hours of NHS time.  According to NHS Digital, it replaced 14.5 million phone calls and hosted more than 32 million virtual meetings. Needless to say, it has been a huge success and became “the norm” for users across the NHS.  

Many organizations need a more inclusive and complete solution for interoperability right away. Synergy SKY CONNECT, which was launched earlier this year, can enable organizations to continue to use Cisco and Poly/Polycom devices in meeting rooms with Microsoft Teams.

At Microsoft Ignite, Cisco announced that in the first half of 2023, their latest generation Room OS devices will run Microsoft Teams natively. I applaud this development as users and administrators need simpler videoconferencing experiences when in the office. As significant as this announcement is, it, unfortunately, does not provide a solution for the millions older generation but high-quality Cisco / Poly SIP devices which do not have the onboard processing power to support either native MTR and Webex device interoperability.

• There is an alternative to buying new hardware. You can get interop software today! 

• The number of meeting platforms that you need to adapt to is increasing. Interoperability is becoming more and more important

• The major meeting platforms are changing every 3 years* 

Presentation sharing and application sharing, interaction and control features on the Cisco devices supporting macros (Touch 10 panel, DX-series, Desk Pro etc.) improved audio and video quality and a dedicated loading screen are new features that will enhance your video meeting experience and business collaboration.  

In Microsoft Teams meetings the new presenting experience with PowerPoint Live, Whiteboarding, and Hand raising introduces interactivity beyond traditional static presentation sharing (BFCP).

Only Synergy SKY gives you a similar native MS Teams experience on SIP devices.

Cross-platform video meetings shouldn’t be complicated. Watch Sean Lessman discuss the multi-vendor video complexities and potential solutions for easy collaboration at this year’s Cisco Live.

Video meetings from a PC are easy and uncomplicated. Video meetings between typical meeting rooms and external participants are still very complicated. We decided to do something about it.