Zoom releases new Mail and Calendar integration, Spots and Virtual agent to arrive next year | Digit

On November 8, 2022, Zoom announced a couple of new business features coming to its video conferencing platform. The features include Zoom Mail and Calendar, Zoom Spots and Virtual Agent. While some features are available as a beta release, placed in the new unified Zoom One interface, others will be available next year. With the new features, Zoom is trying to place itself as a complete video conferencing and communication solution to compete with rivals such as Microsoft Teams. 

Zoom Mail and Calendar are available as a beta feature

First, let’s talk about Zoom Mail. Until now, if users had to open an email sent during a Zoom call, they had to leave the call, open a third-party email service and view their email. Although that works for many users, Zoom Mail, the new feature, provides the convenience of directly viewing emails through the platform by connecting existing third-party email services to the app. 

Similarly, users can now view their schedule in the Zoom interface instead of viewing third-party calendars. Essentially, Zoom is integrating “popular email and calendar services” with its video conferencing services. Zoom says that the features will reduce toggle tax, which refers to the time internet users waste toggling between different tabs while getting their work done. 

The mail service is designed for “small-to-medium businesses without dedicated IT resources who also have a need for enhanced privacy in their business communications,” to whom the platform offers a self-hosted email as well. Last but not least, Zoom Mail service provides end-to-end encryption for emails sent directly between active Zoom Mail service users. 

Zoom Spots and Virtual Agent to arrive soon

Zoom has also announced Spots, a tool that enables simplified communication in a hybrid world. In the company’s words, Spots is its virtual coworking space, where users can foster inclusive discussions. A video-first tool, Zoom Spots, will release in early 2023. 

Another feature for business users, Zoom Virtual Agent, is an intelligent conversational AI and chatbot that uses natural language processing with machine learning. It delivers fast, personalised customer experiences, reduces call volumes to human agents, and drives business operational efficiencies. Zoom Virtual Agent will also be available in early 2023. 

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