In an effort to make video presentations even more engaging, Microsoft Teams has recently announced it will be adding a Cameo feature to its PowerPoint Live toolkit.
The tool, which was recently unveiled at the company’s latest product roadmap, will allow users to integrate their webcam feed into their PowerPoint slides for a more immersive audience experience.
As the demand for remote working technologies remains strong, Microsoft’s new Cameo tool is just one of many improvements the video conferencing software is making to improve digital collaboration. Read on to discover more about the handy feature.
Microsoft Teams Announces New Cameo Tool
Since the advent of Covid-19, virtual presentations have become commonplace in many workplaces around the world. Now, as remote and hybrid models only become more cemented, Microsoft Teams continues to evolve its offerings to cater to this new way of working.
According to a recent blog post by the company, the new Cameo feature will let you “seamlessly embed live camera feeds into your slides as part of your presentation.” Not only will this feature be able to create an immersive experience for you and your audience, it’s also been designed to help users feel more prepared for their virtual presentations.
“Cameo gives you full control of live camera feeds in PowerPoint. Just like any other image, you can move, resize, crop, and apply transitions or styles to the camera feed.”
Besides integrating a video feed into their presentation, the tool will also allow users to choose a layout where the video will appear on their slides. Just like any other image used on the platform, users will also be able to move, resize, and crop the camera feel to their liking.
Cameo should be available to PowerPoint Live customers this August.
How Else Is Microsoft Improving Teams?
Microsoft’s new Cameo tool isn’t the only update the video conferencing software has announced recently.
Microsoft Teams is also introducing a tool that can prevent instances of Team-bombing — a form of cyber harassment where individuals or groups gatecrash Team calls.
The software platform also recently released a “Parent Connection” feature designed to improve the experience of parent-teacher meetings, and new login features that aim to improve accessibility across the site.
Is Microsoft Teams the Best Solution for Small Businesses?
With Microsoft’s dynamic approach to problem-solving, it’s no surprise they sit among the best players on the market.
However, every small business will have slightly different web conferencing requirements. So it’s important to consider the pros and cons of multiple providers before you lock down a solution.
If your journey with video conferencing technology is just beginning, Zoom’s simple, user-friendly interface and affordable software may be a good place to start. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a reliable tool with generous user limits and ample third-party integrations, then Microsoft Teams or Google Meet might be more suitable.
To learn more about what options are available you can read our breakdown of the best web conferencing tools here, or refer to our table below.
| Price from The lowest starting price for a paid plan. The lowest price available for your business will depend on your needs. | Best for | Free plan | Breakout Rooms | Whiteboard | Audio-Conferencing | Pros | Cons | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FEATURED DEAL  | TOP RATED  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Zoho Meeting | GoTo Meeting | Zoom | RingCentral | Webex | Google Meet | Microsoft Teams | Lifesize | BlueJeans | |
| Value | Sound and video quality | Beginners | Security | Larger businesses | Google Workspace users | Microsoft 365 users | Users that need hardware | Users that need customer support | |
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| Yes (paid plan) – VoIP, Phone & Toll-Free | Yes – VoIP, Phone & Toll-Free | Yes – Add-on audio plan allows you to add Call Out, global Toll-free & local dial-in for premium countries | Yes – Companies get a single audio conferencing bridge dial-in phone number for easy universal access. | Yes – Audio-only calls can be created when a host generates an Audio pin | Yes – Just call the number listed on the meeting invite, or join via the link and turn off your camera | Yes – but only in selected countries, and each user dialing into meetings will need an audio-conferencing license. | Yes – in a meeting contact card, users can tap the phone number under Details to call using their default phone or voice app | Yes – Easy access to audio conferencing is provided via a traditional PSTN number | |
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