A tsunami of new features is expected to crash into Zoom, expanding some services and making existing ones easier to use, ideally fostering better communication.
Two weeks before this announcement, Zoom released a new set of features for the Team Chat tool and hinted at more. We thought that the second round would have been revealed during the Zoomtopia event on November 8, but it seems that the company decided to do it now. Given the sheer number of features (opens in a new tab) in this update, it will be nearly impossible to give everyone their time in the spotlight, so we'll focus only on the biggest changes. As of this writing, it is unclear when any of this wave will hit users.
Most of the functionality will go to Zoom One, a service platform that brings “a variety of tools” together in one package. Starting with Zoom meetings, there will be a new designation for sign language interpreting. A host you can select multiple meeting attendees to speak through a sign language interpreter for those who need one, and people can select the artists they want to see.
Apple CarPlay will now support Zoom, allowing people to join meetings while driving via CallKit commands or view their agenda for the day. However, we strongly recommend that you do not check your route halfway; please wait until you are parked.
When it comes to phone calls, Zoom Phone will have new ways to manage audio files through an expanded asset library. This is a centralized hub where hosts can upload and share audio files "including greetings, music on hold, directions," according to Zoom. Group admins can set up an emergency calling system by assigning numbers to external teams or third-party systems. In addition, they can activate the new Survival Tool - opens in a new tab - to provide basic phone functionality during an outage.
And the latest major update to Zoom One is Zoom Whiteboard Plus. The basic version of the tool allows participants to draw on a digital whiteboard to share ideas with each other. Whiteboard Plus adds three new features: whiteboards to help organize a team's thoughts, a mind map to create flowcharts for greater organization, and @mentions to tag people outside of the meeting.
Changes in quality of life
The most minor changes focus on changes in quality of life. Zoom Rooms, in particular, will have a different user interface. It will have "bigger fonts, sharper colors, and better design" to make things like the meeting time easier to see. Screens in meeting rooms will be redesigned to have a better layout so notifications and the in-meeting chat window won't block the view.
Originally exclusive to the desktop app, Workspace Reservation is coming to iOS and Android devices. With this tool, you will be able to reserve resources and workspaces on the spot. It looks like all the original desktop tools will be present on mobile, including personalized location suggestions from an AI and user quizzes.
Looking at everything, it's hard to imagine what will be revealed at the Zoomtopia event (opens in a new tab). This avalanche of features is already looking like a major event, so it will be interesting to see what Zoom has up its proverbial sleeve.
It's also worth mentioning a worrying trend that's been happening lately, with Zoom users being attacked by malicious websites. Be sure to check TechRadar's recent coverage of these malware campaigns to stay safe.