Synergy SKY CONNECT
We’re constantly working to improve your experience. Keep an eye on this page to read the latest information about new features, enhancements, and issues we've fixed. Take a look at the most recent Synergy SKY CONNECT updates:
Requirements
Please keep in mind that the Management Suite needs to be up-to-date in order to get all the latest CONNECT features.
Release Date
October 31, 2024
Improvements
- Improved audio and video synchronization.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed issue with fit-to-frame for MS Teams meetings.
Release Date
September 14, 2024
New Features
- FaceTime meetings are now supported by Synergy SKY. Enabling any SIP device to connect to FaceTime meetings. (blog)
- Emoji support. Send and received from SIP devices 😀👏🎉💗 in Teams, Google and Zoom. (more)
Bug Fixes
- Fixed issue with participant list for Google meet.
Release Date
August 2, 2024
Improvements
- Improved Zoom captions layout
Bug Fixes
- Fixed issue with changing layout in Microsoft Teams Meeting
- Fixed an issue when taking control of content share in Google Meet meeting
Release Date
July 4, 2024
Improvements
- Improved handling of recording consent for MS Teams.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed issue with presentation sharing in Google Meet calls.
- Fixed issue with participant list for Zoom calls.
Release Date
June 21, 2024
Bug Fixes
- Fixed issue with data over QoS network.
- Fixed an issue with presentation sharing for Lifesize video systems registered to the Synergy SKY registrar service.
Release Date
May 31, 2024
Improvements
- Upgrade of call container OS.
- Faster handling of call connection.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed issue with calls not properly establishing with call rates above 6000 Kbps.
- Fixed issue with certain urldefense links.
- Fixed issue with stopping presentation sharing from Lifesize video systems.
Release Date
May 18, 2024
Bug Fixes
- Fixed an issue where presentations did not work for certain resolutions.
Release Date
March 26, 2024
Improvements
- New connection screen.
- Improved joining experience for Google Meet.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed an issue related to slow/sub-optimal SIP signal processing queue.
Release Date
March 05, 2024
Bug Fixes
- Fixed a disconnect issue caused by mid call re-negotiation of cryptography algorithms
- Fixed display name truncation for video systems containing special characters in their room name
- Fixed packet loss handling issues for older Cisco SX Systems, causing them to lose incoming video for a considerable length of time
Release Date
February 19, 2024
Improvements
- Improved handling of packet loss scenarios to avoid unnecessary overloading the network.
Release Date
February 8, 2024
Improvements
- Improved handling of SIP re-negotiation that caused certain calls to drop after approximately 15 min
Release Date
January 28, 2024
Improvements
- Connection time for all meetings have been reduced.
- Participants in a Microsoft Teams meeting is now automatically fit to frame, for an improved user experience for participants joining from a video system.
- Self-view in Google Meet meetings is automatically minimized.
- UTC time in Google Meet is now hidden.
- Calls are automatically disconnected from Zoom meetings, when the meeting is ended for all participants.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed an issue for video systems that have trailing whitespace in their room name.
- Fixed an issue with G.711 Audio codec.
- Fixed an issue with pop-up bars in certain Microsoft Teams meetings behind a secure link forwarding mechanism.
- Fixed change layout feature for Microsoft Teams meetings.
- Fixed an issue with calls at very low bandwidth (below 500kbps).
- Fixed an issue that caused calls to disconnect on mismatch on media payload type.
Release Date
January 20, 2024
New Features
- Support for GeoDNS Call Routing. The CONNECT Service now support GeoDNS routing for SIP calls, ensuring all calls to our service are routed in the best way possible. As an example this means that a device in Europe will use European based servers, and a device in USA will use USA based servers. Even when they call the same number to get to the same meeting.
- The global GeoDNS enabled domain @joingw.com are now replacing the previous location specific domains @euw.joingw.com and @use.joingw.com. For details on network requirements please see our support pages
Release Date
December 21, 2023
Improvements
- Improved media handling. Improved handling of both main and presentation video channel, and synchronization of audio and video.
- Improved in meeting user experience for Google Meet. Bottom control bars are properly hidden
- Improved in meeting user experience for Zoom meetings. Bottom control bars are properly hidden
Bug Fixes
- Fixed an issue where calls did not automatically disconnect when a Zoom meeting was ended.
- Fixed an issue with the Lobby Auto Admit functionality.
Release Date
December 18, 2023
Bug Fixes
- Resolved issue with new joining experience for MS Teams meetings.
Release Date
November 15, 2023
Improvements and Bug Fixes
- Fixed issue where video non-pinned or participants within a smaller windows in MS Teams meetings froze.
- Fixed an issue where presentation token was not properly released when in Zoom meetings.
- Improved stability on connection timeout.
- Fixed issue where video was wrongly cropped in MS Teams meetings.
- Fixed issue where the People and Action macro for MS Teams did not work as intended in certain meetings.
Release Date
September 26, 2023
New Features
- Support for Zoom meetings
Synergy SKY CONNECT users can now join Zoom meetings from their Cisco and Poly video systems, giving them more flexibility and choice in video conferencing platforms. This is a significant milestone in the development of the SIP to Web interoperability gateway, which was launched with Microsoft Teams support in 2022 and expanded to Google Meet support in mid-2023.
Release Date
August 28, 2023
New Features
- Support for Google Meet meetings
Users can now join Google Meet meetings from their Cisco and Poly video systems. This provides users with more flexibility and choice when it comes to video conferencing platforms. It represents a crucial next step in the development of the SIP to Web interoperability gateway, following its launch with Microsoft Teams support in 2022.
- Extended maximum call duration to 12h
This allows users to have longer calls without having to worry about reconnecting to the meeting.
- Expanded the character sets to support Japanese in displaying room and participant names
- Customizable waiting screen [CONNECT for Government only]
The waiting screen that appears while connecting calls can now be tailored to include branding, security measures, or other information.
Bug Fixes
- Video systems are now properly disconnected when the host ends the meeting.
- New macro version was released with multiple fixes, enhancing the user experience for Cisco device users.
- Log files are no longer retained indefinitely on media nodes used in CONNECT for Government deployments. Instead, they are now automatically cleaned after 24 hours. This will help to free up disk space on media nodes and improve performance.
Release Date
May 16, 2023
Improvements
- Call Support for Zoom-registered Neat endpoints
Synergy CONNECT now seamlessly integrates with Zoom-registered Neat endpoints, allowing users to make and receive calls directly from Neat devices. This integration enhances organizations' communication capabilities, providing a unified experience for both video conferencing and calling. All that is required from the user is to manually dial a Synergy SKY CONNECT URI as a SIP call.
Release Date
May 10, 2023
Improvement
- Dynamic bandwidth management for video systems on low or fluctuating network quality so that users can enjoy stable and high-quality video communication, even in challenging network conditions, without interruptions or lag.
Release Date
February 24, 2023
Fixed Issues
- All Poly/Polycom devices now support presentation sharing, making it easier for users to collaborate during meetings.
Improvements
- Removed the strict verification of client certificates for customers with an outbound packet inspection policy in their firewall reducing any unnecessary delays or disruptions in their network traffic flow.
- Improved media node allocation algorithm to optimize load distribution and enhance overall performance.
Release Date
January 25, 2023
Fixed Issues
- Fixed issue with packet loss handling that caused video freezes for up to 10-20 second.
- Fixed issue with Opus audio that caused a glitching artifact in the audio stream.
Limitations & Challenges
- All Poly/Polycom devices currently don’t support presentation sharing.
Release Date
November 11, 2022
Overview
Synergy CONNECT is now capable of presentation sharing from the SIP video endpoint into Microsoft Teams meetings. Moreover, it now has interaction and control features on the Cisco Touch 10 panel in Microsoft Teams meetings. Finally, we have improved the media engine for improved video quality. Both presentations and people will be crystal clear and make you feel as if you were in the same room.
New Features
- Application sharing and presentation sharing on all meetings between Cisco Webex and Poly SIP endpoints and Microsoft Teams clients (both Microsoft Teams Rooms and PCs)
The following presentation-sharing options are now enabled:
- From a video conference device:
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- Cable (HDMI and USB-C)
- Wireless (Webex, Barco Clickshare, etc.)
- From a Microsoft Teams Rooms or PC client:
- Presentation sharing via cable or wireless
- Application sharing – E.g. PowerPoint Live
- Screensharing
- Native Microsoft Teams experience offered to Cisco Touch 10, DX-series, and Desk Pro users
- Participants list
- All participants, including SIP rooms, are visible.
- In addition to their name, there are visual cues on participants’ status. Users can now see whether a specific participant is muted, has raised hand, and is currently sharing a presentation.
- Meeting views/layouts
- It’s now possible to select the preferred Microsoft Teams view directly from the SIP endpoint. The three classic options are offered: Gallery, Large Gallery and Together mode.
- Interactions
- Pin a participant in a Microsoft Teams Meeting (your view only)
- Fit to frame a specific participant (your view only)
- Raise/lower hand
Improvements
The media engine was updated in order to update the user experience. The optimization of media quality leads to high-fidelity audio, up to 1080p video resolution, and up to 30fps (frames per second) for video and content. This is dependent on network conditions and bandwidth limitations.
Existing users will now have a call connecting screen as they wait for the meeting to start providing the assurance that everything was done correctly.
Fixed Issues
- Fixed issue on encrypted media (SRTP) for certain Poly devices.
- Fixed issue on encrypted media (SRTP) for CUCM-registered devices.
Limitations & Challenges
- All Poly/Polycom devices currently don’t support presentation sharing.
Release Date
February 7, 2022
Overview
Synergy SKY CONNECT provides video interop as a cloud service that connects SIP signaling-based video protocol gateway services to Web Conference-based cloud platforms. This patent-pending video gateway allows for SIP-based endpoints, independent of registration, to communicate bidirectionally with both audio and video to the Microsoft Teams platform.
Intelligent routing in the service ensures that your video conference endpoints are connected in an optimal path to the Microsoft Teams meeting.
Combined with the existing Synergy SKY Management Suite you can now:
- Make all meetings easy to schedule and start.
- Support on-prem, hybrid, and cloud solutions.
- Ensure all users become self-sufficient in their video meeting experience.
- Provide administrative tools to better control and understand your collaboration environment.
- Improve meeting room utilization by using sensors.
Features:
- Call into all Microsoft Teams meetings from most SIP video conference endpoints.
- Enjoy high-quality two-way audio/video.
- Support receiving Microsoft Teams application sharing, screen sharing, and PowerPoint Live.
- Available as a cloud service.
Prerequisites:
- Synergy SKY Management Management Suite
- Synergy SKY CONNECT license
- Cisco or Poly(com) video conference endpoints
- Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Exchange, or Google Calendar/Workspace
- Allow SIP calling capability to Microsoft Azure IP addresses
How to deploy:
- Install or upgrade to Synergy SKY Management Suite version 30.04;
- Add a valid license containing Synergy SKY CONNECT;
- Define where your video conference endpoints are geographically located.
Get in contact with Synergy SKY today to acquire a trial license or upgrade your existing license.
Important Note for Synergy JOIN and Synergy CONTROL Users:
End of Support for Windows-based JOIN 5.x (and earlier) applications.
As previously reported, on January 31st, 2022, Synergy SKY officially ended support for Microsoft Windows-based Synergy JOIN and Synergy CONTROL applications. Current licensed users can migrate to the Synergy SKY CONNECT to continue to enjoy the supported benefits of JOIN, CONTROL, and ANALYZE in one platform. Users will be able to continue using Synergy JOIN and CONTROL, but some workflows may not work or have limited functionality for users running on these unsupported versions. For the best experience, we recommend upgrading to the latest Synergy SKY CONNECT.
We’re Listening
We appreciate your input on our products. Please let us know if you have any feature requests, recommendations on how to improve our support, or just want to share some ideas.
For simple comments, send us your feedback by email.
For submitting more complex feedback, create a ZenDesk ticket.
