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The Azure Communication Services team is excited to share several new product and feature updates released in April 2024. (You can view previous blog articles here.)  

See this month’s updates:

Business-to-consumer extensibility with Microsoft Teams for Calling
Image Sharing in Teams meetings
Deep Noise Suppression Desktop
Updated Calling native SDKs for Android, iOS, and Windows
Updated Calling native UI Library for Android and iOS

Business-to-consumer extensibility with Microsoft Teams for Calling

Now in general availability, developers can take advantage of calling interoperability for Microsoft Teams users in Azure Communication Services Calling workflows.

Developers can use Call Automation APIs to bring Teams users into business-to-consumer (B2C) calling workflows and interactions, helping you deliver advanced customer service solutions. This interoperability is offered over VoIP to reduce telephony infrastructure overhead. Developers can add Teams users to Azure Communication Services calls using the user’s Entra object ID (OID).

Use Cases

Teams as an extension of agent desktop: Connect your CCaaS solution to Teams and enable your agents to handle customer calls on Teams. Having Teams as the single-pane-of-glass solution for both internal and B2C communication increases agent productivity and empowers them to deliver first-class service to customers.
Expert Consultation: Businesses can invite subject matter experts, on Teams, into their customer service workflows for expedient issue resolution, and to improve their first call resolution rate.   

In a world where customers need quick resolution and seamless interactions, Azure Communication Services B2C extensibility with Microsoft Teams makes it easy for customers to reach sales and support teams and for businesses to deliver effective customer experiences.

For more information, see Call Automation workflows interop with Microsoft Teams.

Image Sharing in Microsoft Teams meetings

Microsoft Teams users can now share images with Azure Communication Services users in the context of a Teams meeting. This feature is now generally available. Image sharing enhances collaboration in real time for meetings. Image overlay is also supported for users to look at it in detail.

Image sharing is helpful in many scenarios, such as a business sharing photos showcasing their work or doctors sharing images with patients for after care instructions.

Try out this feature using either our UI Library or the Chat SDK. Note that the SDK is available in C# (.NET), JavaScript, Python, and Java:

Enable inline image using UI Library in Teams Meetings
Sample: Image Sharing

Deep Noise Suppression for Desktop

Deep noise suppression is currently in public preview. Noise suppression improves VoIP and video calls by eliminating background noise, making it easier to talk and listen. For example, if you’re taking an Azure Communication Services WebJS call in a coffee shop with considerable noise, turning on noise suppression can significantly improve the calling experience by eliminating the background noise from the shop.

For more information, see Add audio quality enhancements to your audio calling experience.

Calling native SDKs for Android, iOS, and Windows

We updated the Calling native SDKs to improve the customer experience. The April release includes:

Custom background for video calls
Proxy configuration
Android TelecomManager
Unidirectional Data Channel
Time To Live lifespan for push notifications

Custom background for video calls

Custom backgrounds for video calls is now generally available. This feature enables customers to remove distractions behind them. The custom image backgrounds feature enables customers to upload their own personalized images and use those as background.

For example, now business owners can use the Calling SDK to show custom backgrounds in place of the actual background. You can, for example, upload an image of a modern and spacious office and set it as its background for video calls. Anyone who joins the call sees the customized background, which looks realistic and natural. You can also use custom branding images as background to show a fresh image to your customers.

For more information, see QuickStart: Add video effects to your video calls.

Proxy configuration

Proxy configuration is now generally available. Some environments such as highly regulated industries or those dealing with confidential information require proxies to secure and control network traffic. You can use the Calling SDK to configure the HTTP and media proxies for your Azure Communication Services calls. This way, you can ensure that your communications are compliant with the network policies and regulations. You can use the native SDK methods to set the proxy configuration for your app.

For more information, see Tutorial: Proxy your calling traffic.

Android TelecomManager

Android TelecomManager is in public preview. It is a system service that manages audio and video calls on Android devices. Use Android TelecomManager to provide a consistent user experience across different Android apps and devices, such as showing incoming and outgoing calls in the system UI, routing audio to the device, and handling call interruptions. Now you can integrate your app with the Android TelecomManager to take advantage of its features for your custom calling scenarios.

For more information, see Integrate with TelecomManager on Android.

Unidirectional Data Channel

The Data Channel API is generally available. Data Channel includes unidirectional communication, which enables real-time messaging during audio and video calls. Using this API, you can integrate data exchange functions into the applications, providing a seamless communication experience for users. The Data Channel API enables users to instantly send and receive messages during an ongoing audio or video call, promoting smooth and efficient communication. In group call scenarios, a participant can send messages to a single participant, a specific set of participants, or all participants within the call. This flexibility enhances communication and collaboration among users during group interactions.

For more information, see Data Channel.

Time To Live lifespan for push notifications

The Time To Live (TTL) for push notifications is now generally available. TTL is the duration for which a push notification token is valid. Using a longer duration TTL can help your app reduce the number of new token requests from your users and improve the experience. 

For example, suppose you created an app that enables patients to book virtual medical appointments. The app uses push notifications to display incoming call UI when the app is not in the foreground. Previously, the app had to request a new push notification token from the user every 24 hours, which could be annoying and disruptive. With the extended TTL feature, you can now configure the push notification token to last for up to 6 months, depending on your business needs. This way, the app can avoid frequent token requests and provide a smoother calling experience for your customers.

For more information, see TTL token in Enable push notifications for calls.

Calling SDK native UI Library updates

The April updates include Troubleshooting on the native UI Library for Android and iOS, and Audio only mode in the UI Library. 

Using the Azure Communication Services Calling SDK native UI Library, you can now generate encrypted logs for troubleshooting and provide your customers with an optional Audio only mode for joining calls. 

Troubleshooting on the native UI Library for Android and iOS

Now in general availability, you can encrypt logs when troubleshooting on the Calling SDK native UI Library for Android and iOS. We’ve made it easy for you to generate encrypted logs to share with Azure support. While ideally calls just work, or developers self-remediate issues, customers always have Azure support as a last-line-of-defense. And we strive to make those engagements as easy and fast as possible. 

For more information, see Troubleshoot the UI Library.

Audio only mode in the UI Library

The Audio only mode in the Calling SDK UI Library is now generally available. It enables participants to join calls using only their audio, without sharing or receiving video. Participants can use this feature to conserve bandwidth and maximize privacy. When activated, the Audio only mode automatically disables the video function for both sending and receiving streams and adjusts the UI to reflect this change by removing video-related controls. 

For more information, see Enable audio only mode in the UI Library.

You can learn more about these updates and Azure Communications Services Communication Platform as a Service in our overview.  

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I have installed the new Outlook using the method described in this page:  Deployment overview for the new Outlook for Windows – Deploy Office | Microsoft Learn

When I launch Outlook (new), the initial Sign in window prompts for an email address and when you start typing the address it won’t let you type more than one character.  If you click Continue you can then type the full address but you have to do this each time you launch Outlook (new).

Anybody else find this?

​I have installed the new Outlook using the method described in this page:  Deployment overview for the new Outlook for Windows – Deploy Office | Microsoft Learn When I launch Outlook (new), the initial Sign in window prompts for an email address and when you start typing the address it won’t let you type more than one character.  If you click Continue you can then type the full address but you have to do this each time you launch Outlook (new). Anybody else find this?   Read More

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By: Santos Martinez – Sr. Product Manager – Microsoft Intune Architect

In today’s digital landscape, ensuring the security of corporate data is paramount for businesses globally. As Intune administrators, security professionals, and decision makers, you play a crucial role in safeguarding sensitive information. This post provides an overview of a new Secure your corporate data in Intune with Microsoft Edge for Business guide that is available to empower you to navigate this intricate terrain using Microsoft Edge for Business in Intune.

What is Microsoft Edge for Business?

Microsoft Edge for Business is a dedicated browsing experience designed specifically for work environments. It’s secure by default and provides a productive and secure work-browser across both managed and unmanaged devices.

Why Microsoft Edge for Business?

Microsoft Edge for Business is essential because it offers a visually distinct, secure, and user-friendly work browsing experience. It separates work and personal browsing into dedicated browser windows, each with its own favorites, cache, and storage locations. This ensures that personal data remains private, while work data is secure. It’s particularly beneficial in today’s remote work environment where data security is paramount.

Screenshot of the Microsoft Edge for Business account and sign-in page.

Benefits and features

Microsoft Edge for Business offers many advantages, from streamlined IT operations to improved user experience, and enhanced security. With Microsoft Intune, the experience for managing Microsoft Edge for Business policies reduces complexity, saving time and resources.

App protection policies

Intune app protection policies (APP) are rules that ensure an organization’s data remains safe or contained in a managed app. Secure your corporate data in Intune with Microsoft Edge for Business guide navigates implementing these policies to ensure secure access and usage of enterprise applications.

Screenshot showing an example prompt in Microsoft Edge that prevents a user from copying content from a website.

Zero Trust Methodology

The Zero Trust security strategy transforms the way organizations approach security. It has become the new standard for security strategy in response to the evolving threat landscape. The Zero Trust methodology is based on the concept of “never trust, always verify” and aligns with three key principles.

Verify explicitly – always authenticate and authorize based on all available data points, including user identity, location, device health, service or workload, data classification, and anomalies.

Use least-privilege access – limiting user access via just-in-time (JIT) and just-enough-access (JEA), risk-based adaptive policies, and data protection to help secure both data and productivity.

Assume breach – minimize blast radius and segment access. Verify end-to-end encryption and use analytics to get visibility, drive threat detection, and improve defenses.

Guided steps

This Secure your corporate data in Intune with Microsoft Edge for Business guide provides a wealth of information and practical advice on various aspects of using Microsoft Edge for Business and will walk you through the following scenarios:

Microsoft Entra Conditional Access: Learn how to create an Entra Conditional Access policy and Intune app protection policy for browsing on Android, iOS, and Windows.
App protection policies: Understand how to ensure secure access and usage of enterprise applications when implementing app protection policies.
Mobile Threat Defense integration: Discover how to enhance the overall security posture of your organization by using the secure enterprise browser to integrate with the Windows Security Center or any Mobile Threat Defense Partners.
App configuration policies: Gain insights into how Microsoft Edge for Business and mobile application management can be used to protect your organization from various cyber threats.
Microsoft Edge for Business user experience: Understand how security measures impact users.
Troubleshooting: Benefit from a series of examples on how to troubleshoot app protection policies.

For example, the first step in Secure your corporate data in Intune with Microsoft Edge for Business guide shows you how to secure Microsoft Edge for Business with Microsoft Entra conditional access policies. In this scenario, you’ll create a conditional access policy using Microsoft Intune by following these steps:

Navigate to the Microsoft Intune admin center
Select Endpoint security > Conditional access > New policy
On the Conditional Access policy pane, set the following details:

Name: Secure Enterprise Browser Policy
Users: All Users or Specific Group dedicated to using the policy
Target Resources: Cloud Apps – Office 365
Conditions:

Device platforms: Include – Windows, Android and iOS
Client Apps: Browser
Filter for devices: Exclude – is Compliant Equals True

Grant: Require app protection policy
Session: N/A
Note: Set Report-only to On until you confirm that the policy is working as expected. Once confirmed, set this setting to Off.

Select Create to enable the policy.

After you have successfully created the recommended conditional access policy, be sure to evaluate the results and enable the conditional access policy afterwards.

For more steps and additional in-depth guidance, review the Secure your corporate data in Intune with Microsoft Edge for Business guide in Microsoft Learn.

The use of Microsoft Edge for Business with Intune provides a robust and secure browsing experience. By implementing the different recommended policies, you can ensure secure access and usage of web and SaaS applications, protect your organization from various cyber threats, and provide an enhanced browsing experience for users. Secure your corporate data in Intune with Microsoft Edge for Business guide also gives you some tips and tricks along with troubleshooting examples when implementing app protection policies for Microsoft Edge for Business. You can find them in Step 6. Troubleshoot Microsoft Edge for Business data security

If you have any feedback or questions, leave a comment below or reach out on X @IntuneSuppTeam. Stay tuned for more insights and updates on this topic! Remember, in the evolving landscape of cyber threats, “never trust, always verify”. Let’s embrace the Zero Trust methodology and make our digital space safer and more secure!

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