The largest producer of network hardware, Cisco Systems Inc., is updating its Webex conference service to address threats from Zoom Video Communications Inc., the innovator whose stock has increased six times this year.

On Tuesday, the company revealed a raft of updates getting released and vowed to add a host of others soon. Webex calls, Cisco said at a business event, would now boost voice and cancel background noise. Closed captioning, transcriptions, voice commands, and impromptu sessions that do not require advanced preparation would be included in the program.

Cisco seeks to help Webex, a long-time favorite business tool, to fend off a range of relatively new competitors such as Zoom and improved offerings from other technology companies that have evolved steadily since its lockdown Covid-19 pandemic. The move is part of Chief Executive Officer Chuck Robbins’ mission to wean the company off a reliance on costly hardware sales and make the company With Zoom or other corporate darlings of the pandemic; Cisco has not held pace. This year the stock is down about 8 percent.

Other new capabilities on Webex include the ability for participants to read expressions. A physical thumbs up can transform into a transmitted virtual message to a speaker. Templates will support the success of meetings in a more orderly fashion and end on schedule. For starters, once anyone has had a fair opportunity to talk, participants could be shut out of speaking again. Cisco is now introducing real-time translation in 10 languages, beginning in February.

The organization is trying to make Webex experiences ten times more successful than in-person meetings by automating time-consuming follow-up tasks and making the software and hardware capable of interpreting and reacting to human behavior, Cisco Senior Vice President Jeetu Patel, who heads the business unit, said.

Cisco, Webex, Zoom, csco stock, Cisco stock

Cisco revolutionizes Webex Video Conferencing in an attempt to stay ahead of Zoom.

The largest producer of network hardware, Cisco Systems Inc., is updating its Webex conference service to address threats from Zoom Video Communications Inc., the innovator whose stock has increased six times this year.

On Tuesday, the company revealed a raft of updates getting released and vowed to add a host of others soon. Webex calls, Cisco said at a business event, would now boost voice and cancel background noise. Closed captioning, transcriptions, voice commands, and impromptu sessions that do not require advanced preparation would be included in the program.

Cisco seeks to help Webex, a long-time favorite business tool, to fend off a range of relatively new competitors such as Zoom and improved offerings from other technology companies that have evolved steadily since its lockdown Covid-19 pandemic. The move is part of Chief Executive Officer Chuck Robbins’ mission to wean the company off a reliance on costly hardware sales and make the company With Zoom or other corporate darlings of the pandemic; Cisco has not held pace. This year the stock is down about 8 percent.

Other new capabilities on Webex include the ability for participants to read expressions. A physical thumbs up can transform into a transmitted virtual message to a speaker. Templates will support the success of meetings in a more orderly fashion and end on schedule. For starters, once anyone has had a fair opportunity to talk, participants could be shut out of speaking again. Cisco is now introducing real-time translation in 10 languages, beginning in February.

The organization is trying to make Webex experiences ten times more successful than in-person meetings by automating time-consuming follow-up tasks and making the software and hardware capable of interpreting and reacting to human behavior, Cisco Senior Vice President Jeetu Patel, who heads the business unit, said.