Just weeks after announcing the consumer-based video communication platform Messenger Rooms, Facebook is announcing new features to Workplace, its unified communications and collaboration platform for businesses.
Those features are highlighted by the introduction of video chat, putting the platform on par with other competitors in the space like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Slack, GoToMeeting and many others.
Facebook is calling the new virtual meeting space Workplace Rooms, which provides an unlimited meeting time and lets users connect with up to 50 people, and they don’t need to be in the same organization or even have a Workpalce account.
Workplace has been around since 2016, but is dwarfed by several other popular platforms.
However, Facebook is reporting increased usage due to COVID-19, according to a Facebook blog.
Our customers agree. Last October, we announced that the number of paid customers using Workplace reached 3 million. As of Q1 this year, that number now exceeds 5 million.1 In the past six months we’ve welcomed new paying customers including Petco, Adeo, Sephora, Virgin Australia, Lojas Renner S.A, Ajinomoto, Smartsheet, TietoEVRY and Delivery Hero.
According to a Facebook blog, it’s the same technology the company used to build Messenger Rooms.
We’re using the same technology from the recent Messenger Rooms announcement and adapting it to the enterprise, transforming video collaboration for businesses.
Workplace Rooms will be available for free to all workplace customers until December 2020.
Other new features being rolled out next month include:
- Live Producer that allows users to touch base with their team by broadcasting live from their device.
- Live Q&A allows leaders to engage with their entire workforce during town hall meetings or other live events.
- Live captions auto-generated translations and caption editing features make live broadcasts more inclusive and accessible by helping those with hearing disabilities and different language proficiencies follow along.
- Workplace Live on Portal, which gives users a professional broadcast experience via Portal’s Smart Camera and Smart Sound.
- Support for Workplace on Portal TV and Workplace Rooms on Portal to allow users to invite up to 50 people on a group call and the ability to add custom backgrounds.
Leave a Reply