Cisco Spark is no more as the company announces the convergence of the platform with Webex-- bringing about new Webex Meetings and Teams applications, a new Webex Assistant and the Share hardware device.

The company insists the unification is not a mere rebrand, since "significant technical work has gone into combining these platforms." For instance, the meetings come through a unified feature set, including roster, meeting controls and PSTN connectivity, and are joinable via either Meetings or Teams applications. Teams also supports a new kind of meeting dubbed a Webex team meeting providing a space both secure and easy to use.

Crestron boosts the support of Microsoft solutions with Microsoft Teams integration-- equipping meeting spaces of every size with what it calls "innovative intelligent communications technology."

As a result, Crestron SR and the Crestron Mercury conference system can run Microsoft Teams in spaces ranging from huddle rooms and multi-purpose rooms to executive meeting rooms and large auditoriums. Organisations can repurpose Skype for Business hardware, and receive Teams enhancements such as Cortana voice integration and background blurring as they are rolled out.

Enterprise unified communications and collaboration solutions provider CallTower acquires Appia Communications, a developer of cloud-based applications and communication services.

CallTower says the acquisition allows it to deliver a broader range of services and solutions to a combined customer base counting around 150000, as well as new business customers of all sizes. As it puts it, "the combination further broadens employees, shareholders, partners and customer’s overall value while strengthening CallTower communication service offering."

Following the establishment of an EMEA HQ in Sinsheim, Germany, QSC takes to ISE 2018 to present the expanded control capabilities of the Q-Sys integrated audio, video and control platform.

One 1 June 2018 the company will also open offices in the UK and Germany, and end its long-term distribution agreement with Shure Distribution in the two countries.

“QSC maintains a leading position in North America as a solutions provider for corporate meeting rooms, hospitality, large-scale performing and sports venues, government applications and more," the company says. "Establishing a regional headquarters in Europe brings us closer to key geographic markets and enables us to expand in-region services to better serve our distributors, channel partners, influencers and end customers."