Video conferencing has become an indispensable tool for modern enterprises. As businesses embrace hybrid work models and global collaboration, the ability to connect face to face without being in the same room is more important than ever.
But beyond convenience, what are the real advantages of video conferencing? 

1. Hybrid Work Isn’t a Buzzword Anymore – It’s the Baseline

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.  

• 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* 

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.

Seamlessly Connecting SIP Devices to Modern Meeting Platforms

As of 2022, Synergy SKY is officially ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certified. This achievement confirms our adherence to the highest standards for information security management systems (ISMS), ensuring the safety of data for our customers and ourselves. 

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.

😀 The only service with emoji feature parity in all meetings. 👍

In today's hybrid work environment, virtual meetings have become the cornerstone of collaboration. While video conferencing keeps us connected, the lack of in-person interaction can sometimes make it harder to fully engage. That’s why non-verbal cues like emojis have become an important part of digital communication, helping to express emotions, agreement, or humor.

But what if you're using a SIP-based video conferencing device? Until now, that meant you were limited when joining meetings on popular platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or Google Meet. Synergy SKY is changing that. 

Seamless Emoji Support—No Matter the Meeting Platform

Synergy SKY is excited to announce a groundbreaking new feature: the ability to send emojis from SIP video conferencing devices into Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google meetings. As the only vendor offering this capability, Synergy SKY bridges the gap between traditional SIP-based systems and modern web conferencing platforms, ensuring that everyone can participate in the rich, interactive experience that emojis provide.

Why Emojis Matter in Meetings

Emojis have become a universal language in digital communication. Whether you're giving a thumbs-up👍 to show agreement, clapping👏 to acknowledge a good point, or sending a smile😀 to brighten up the conversation, emojis can help convey emotions instantly, without disrupting the meeting flow. Now, with Synergy SKY, even users on SIP video conferencing devices can fully engage with the meeting experience, no matter which platform they're using.

Breaking Down Communication Barriers

This new feature exemplifies Synergy SKY’s commitment to interoperability and user experience. As meetings become more cross-platform, it’s essential that all participants—whether they’re using Cisco or Poly SIP devices, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or Google Meet—can interact seamlessly.

With Synergy SKY, there’s no need to worry about missing out on interactions just because of the device you're using. We’re making video conferencing more inclusive, fun, and engaging for everyone.

How it works

For Cisco video device buttons will appear on Cisco Touch 10 after installing Synergy SKY. See picture.

For all other SIP devices there is an option to use DTMF. AV Integrators will then be able to program room controllers like Crestron. Learn more here

Get Ready to Express Yourself

Emojis are more than just fun—they’re an integral part of modern communication. And now, with Synergy SKY, you can express yourself freely from any device. Whether you're using a SIP-based video conferencing system or a web platform, your meeting interactions just got a whole lot more dynamic.

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.

Synergy SKY has already become one of the most used integrations in Control Hub.

Synergy SKY Press Release:

Live captions enable people who are deaf or hard of hearing to follow along with the conversation, fostering inclusion and participation in meetings.

Even for those with normal hearing, captions can aid focus by providing a visual reinforcement of what's being said. This can be especially helpful in noisy environments or for meetings with heavy jargon or technical discussions.

Synergy SKY Press Release:

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. 

If there was ever a time to get your video conferencing technology and platforms optimized, this is it. Here's how you can make your video conferencing endpoints do the work for you. 

Synergy SKY CONNECT empowers Lifesize customers to expand their meeting capabilities beyond the CVI experience they have, encompassing:

• Seamlessly join all Microsoft Teams, meetings

• Engage in seamless application sharing (adding PowerPoint live and whiteboarding)

• Connect effortlessly to all Zoom and Google Meetings

Synergy SKY CONNECT is an award winning patented interoperability gateway that can be used by all video conferencing SIP video devices.

Enghouse press release:

Partnership With Synergy SKY Advances Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Cisco, Vidyo

MARKHAM, ON, Dec. 12, 2023 /CNW/ - Enghouse Interactive, a leading provider of customer engagement solutions, today announced a strategic technology partnership with Synergy SKY, a leader in simplifying video communication across multiple platforms.

This important partnership marks a significant step in enhancing the interoperability and user experience in video conferencing. It focuses on Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, Cisco and Enghouse proprietary video products Vidyo, Qumu and Lifesize.

Under this partnership, Enghouse Interactive's latest acquisition, Lifesize, will fully integrate Synergy SKY CONNECT, a leading solution for seamless video meetings. This integration expands and improves the customer experience by extending support to a wide range of video meeting technologies.

Enghouse Lifesize room systems, known for its high-definition video conferencing solutions, will benefit significantly from Synergy SKY CONNECT's intuitive and user-friendly meeting experience. This collaboration aligns with Enghouse Interactive's focus on superior communication solutions that cater to the evolving needs of businesses and their customers.

"We are delighted to partner with Synergy SKY," said Vince Mifsud, President of Enghouse. "Their innovative approach to video conferencing aligns perfectly with our strategy of offering customers choice when delivering exceptional customer experiences through our technology. This move is timely, considering more companies are returning to their offices in a full or hybrid model increasing the importance of quality video conferencing and collaboration in the global business landscape."

Ståle Reitan, CEO of Synergy SKY, added: "Our collaboration with Enghouse Interactive represents a significant milestone for us. We are dedicated to making video meetings as straightforward and efficient as possible. Joining forces with Enghouse Interactive, a company that shares our mission, will allow us to take our customer service to higher levels."

For more information about the partnership and the integrated solutions, please visit https://www.enghouseinteractive.com and https://www.synergysky.com.

About Enghouse Interactive    

Enghouse Interactive (EI), a subsidiary of Enghouse Systems Limited, is a global leader in contact center software and video technology solutions offering its customers and partners the valuable advantage of choice. EI empowers businesses to transform contact centers from cost centers into powerful growth engines. EI simplifies complex integrations through open standards and supporting various telephony technologies to ensure seamless customer accessibility across channels and locations.

Information contact:
Balvinder Sandhu
balvinder.sandhu@enghouse.com 

Synergy SKY is bridging the gap between video meeting platforms, enabling seamless collaboration for individuals across diverse locations and devices. As an independent software development and sales company Synergy SKY is creating synergies between different meeting platforms and simplifies the user experience. Synergy SKY connects your video conference rooms to Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google meetings. https://www.synergysky.com/

Information contact:
Vemun Waksvik
vw@synergysky.com

SOURCE Enghouse Systems Limited

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.

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.

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.

Seeing is believing! One thing is to read information about the award-winning interop solution Synergy SKY CONNECT online. Another entirely different thing is to see it in action.

We're proud to announce that we won the Global New Product Innovation Award in the video conferencing interoperability market attributed to the prestigious consultancy firm Frost & Sullivan.

The SIP to Teams interop and our Management Suite can now be found under one name.

As the home office backdrop slowly loses its charm and the need for a professional meeting setting increases, people are beginning to travel into the office to make use of meeting rooms for their video meetings.  

Video conferencing utilization will increase even after we return to the office, which highlights the need for proper video conferencing equipment in all meeting rooms and a strategy for UC interoperability.