What's new in Webex Instant Connect

October 2024

Support for Closed Captioning in English

By clicking the CC icon, users can activate real-time captions during a call. The spoken dialogue is converted to text and shown on-screen immediately. The transcripts are produced in English.

September 2024

Instant Connect on Unified Space Meeting (USM)

Space-backed meetings are being replaced with full-featured Webex meetings in the meetings backend. This rollover is done in cohorts continuously, with ample notice to system administrators before the move. The backend move has implications for your Instant Connect app deployment, which are outlined below.

Instead of space-backed meetings, the Guest2Guest (G2G) app framework serves as a replacement. So far, space-backed meetings have been used in Instant Connect to facilitate meetings between two licensed/non-licensed users. Those spaces are typically created on the fly, two guests are added, and an ad-hoc meeting commences.

This mechanism is not available on the Webex Suite Meetings Platform (WSMP). Every meeting is a full-featured Webex meeting. We achieve this by introducing a new G2G Service App, which is licensed for Webex Meetings.

The workflow is as follows:

1. Cisco creates a Service App for instant Guest-to-Guest meetings. This Instant Connect Service App schedules meetings for a specific visit and operates as the license sponsor for the meeting.
2. These meetings must happen on dedicated guest-to-guest sites, which the admin must configure by providing a name. All reporting and most site configurations are available. The G2G site is available upon subscription/license activation.
3. When an admin approves the Instant Connect Service App in Control Hub, it is bonded to the G2G site.
4. The new Instant Connect Service App determines if the backend is on WSMP. If it is, it orchestrates G2G meetings; otherwise it orchestrates space-backed meetings.

All Instant Connect customers must approve this new Instant Connect Service App to avoid service disruption when their org is moved to WSMP. Once a customer approves the app, Cisco uses the service App’s machine access token to create a meeting in the G2G site. On authorization, the service app has the necessary license/entitlements to schedule G2G meetings in the org. Use the following image as a reference

August 2024

The Epic embedded browser is now supported

Epic’s embedded browser is now compatible with Instant Connect, improving convenience for customers, who can now, for example, view other data points within Epic while continuing an Instant Connect session. Epic embedded browsers are supported on both Android and IOS devices.

June 2024

Hosts and participants can join without video

We’ve added options to the administration page that allow users to disable their video when joining a session if they have a low bandwidth connection. In the Video section under Feature customization, we’ve created two options, Allow host to join without video, and Allow participants to join without video.

Invite by text and email toggles are combined

The two separate toggles for Invite guest by email and Invite guest by text message have been combined into a single toggle, Invite guests (selected by default), with two ways to invite, one by Email message and one by Text message. You can choose either option or none at all (which is the default).

May 2024

Auto join calls

Users can now bypass the username/password prompt and auto login to Instant Connect if they’ve saved their login information, via the Allow users to save username and password toggle.

Upcoming CyraCom support for Spanish

CyraCom currently supports only American Sign Language (ASL) but future versions will support Spanish as well.

Disconnection status notifications delays or failures

We’ve fixed an issue where, in certain instances, a patient’s disconnection status may be delayed or not received at all.

December 2023

Add and edit phone book contacts

Webex Instant Connect now allows administrators to add and edit contacts in the phone book. The contacts are then displayed in the Instant Connect phone book for Instant Connect users. See Disable screen sharing.

Disable screen sharing

To improve the customer experience, Instant Connect offers an option to disable screen sharing. See Manage phone book contacts.

Documentation updates for the Epic integration page

We’ve added additional documentation for Epic integrations on https://instant.webex.com/.

September 2023

Enhanced accessibility for screen readers

Instant Connect is greatly enhancing its support for screen readers, making it much more accessible to users with vision impairment.

General usability enhancements

We've made the following usability enhancements:

• Mobile and tablet devices now feature a more prominent camera Flip button.
• The message requesting device access for testing is now more prominent.
• Messages explaining session guidelines in chat are now more prominent.

August 2023

Improved Firefox and Microsoft Edge support

Mid-July 2023

Video size set to 16:9

The video size for all participants including the self view has been updated to a 16:9 aspect ratio, ensuring that the sizing ratio is consistent with Webex App meetings. This resolves a bug where the aspect ratio kept changing when more participants joined the Instant Connect sessions.

CyraCom native integration for Live Interpretation

Instant Connect now natively integrates with CyraCom Interpretation services, enabling users to add interpreters as video participants in an Instant Connect meeting.

July 2023

Organization names now allow up to 40 characters

Admins will now be able add organization name up to 40 characters (increased from 15 characters). This name is used in chat and SMS invites.

Epic disconnection fix

The problem with Instant Connect not sending Epic disconnection in a scenario where a user clicks the meeting link but leaves almost instantaneously has been addressed.

Incorrect aspect ratio when enabling blur

An issue has been addressed where the video aspect ratio for an external camera would be incorrectly modified when enabling blur.

Org entitlements caching improvements

The caching of organization entitlements has been improved, fixing an issue where a user sometimes receives a “Cannot find meeting” error due to an API limit breach.

May 2023

Epic disconnection status enhancements

Instant Connect sends disconnection status to Epic even if the participants leave the meeting by closing the browser tab or by closing the browser entirely. This covers various scenarios where the disconnection status was not sent to Epic. Instant Connect will continue to send disconnection status when the host clicks End meeting for all.

Auto redirect to Speaker Test Failed screen in Media Test Page fixed

An issue where some customers were directed to the Speaker Test Failed screen if they did not perform any actions on the Media Test Page has been fixed.

April 2023

Chrome and Edge on iOS devices now supported

Users can now join Instant Connect meetings using the latest versions of both Chrome and Edge for Apple iOS devices.

Shortened URLs for meeting links and a host login flow for bots are now supported in Webex for Government (FedRAMP)

FedRAMP customers can now create and share shortened Instant Connect meeting link URLs. For details, see Instant Connect Meeting Links. In addition, the Instant Connect bot in FedRAMP now supports the host login flow, providing better reporting, as well as access to features such as PSTN dialout.

February 2023

SMS Invites now available in Canada and Switzerland

Instant Connect users can now invite Canada and Switzerland customers using SMS text messages.

January 2023

Control PTZ-enabled cameras in meetings

Instant Connect users will now be able to control PTZ enabled cameras in meetings. Hosts will get the ability to pan, tilt, and zoom the cameras in remote locations on supported devices. Hosts joining through the desktop will be able to control up to 3 cameras simultaneously, and hosts joining through mobile will be able to control one camera at a time. See https://help.webex.com/nuwutmx/.

November 2022

Add Cisco devices by passing a SIP address

Instant Connect Users can now add Cisco Devices to an Instant Connect Meeting by passing a SIP address in the host meeting URL. This allows the participant to join through a Cisco device without the need for a meeting URL, enabling use cases such as Virtual Rounding, and in-patient consultation, in the healthcare industry.

October 2022

Background Noise Reduction in Meetings

Instant Connect Users will soon be able to leverage the power of background noise reduction for their meetings. Background noise reduction will help Instant Connect customers to have an enhanced meeting experience by reducing the audio distractions from background noise.

Blurred Background for Desktop Browsers

Users can now blur their background in supported Desktop Browsers. They can select this option both in the lobby room or inside the meeting.

September 2022

Picture-in-picture support

Attendees are now able to enable Picture-in-Picture in a meeting, allowing hosts to continue seeing the other user while they move to another browser tab or application altogether. If notifications are enabled, Instant Connect notifies a user if they move away from the tab and have not enabled picture-in-picture. Supported on Windows, Mac, and iOS for Chrome, Safari, and Edge.

August 2022

Instant Connect available for non-telehealth use cases

Instant Connect is now available for non-telehealth use cases. Our current clients in the healthcare industry will be able to leverage the power of Instant Connect for their non-telehealth use cases. It also allows clients outside the healthcare industry to take advantage of the power of Instant Connect for their use cases.

July 2022

SMS (text message) meeting invitations

Hosts can invite guests to a meeting in progress by sending an SMS, and, upon receiving the SMS, the new invitee can join the meeting simply by clicking the included link. The SMS invite also includes the name of the organization.

Customized email invitations

You can now personalize your email invitations with your own company branding as well as additional customizations. The new email template includes:

• Your company logo

• Your company name

• A link to check an attendee's device's media support prior to the meeting

• A shortened URL below the Join Meeting button

Extended Instant Connect language localizations

Instant Connect now supports the following additional languages based on the browser language selection:

• Japanese

• Portuguese

• Spanish

Post meeting feedback customization

You can now customize the following post-feedback meeting features:

• Enable or disable post meeting feedback. This is enabled by default for hosts.

• Threshold limit for the number of technical support emails you'll receive. The default is 2 or fewer.

• Whether you'd like to receive email from hosts or attendees. The default is hosts only.

• A selection of parameters for the attendees to rate. The options are audio quality, video quality, and overall experience. By default, audio and video quality are enabled.

June 2022

Use Webex devices for your consultations

Hosts signed in to Webex can transfer the consultation from their computer to their Webex device, once they start the meeting. This allows you to take advantage of the features offered in your Webex device.

Improved device testing

Users can use a new web page to test the following functions before joining, ensuring all participants are prepared for their consultation:

• OS compatibility

• Internet speed

• Microphone

• Speaker

• Camera

  

Video no longer a requirement for hosts

Administrators can now choose to disable the video requirement for hosts. If allowed, hosts no longer need to provide camera access before starting a consultation.

Webex for Government support

Webex for Government users can now use Webex Instant Connect, which maintains the security and compliance required by government institutions. Patients and healthcare providers meet using highly secure, browser-based video consultations without having to download Webex App.

May 2022

Use Webex App to host Instant Connect consultations

Webex App users can now choose to launch consultations directly in Webex App, taking advantage of all the features on offer in the native app.

Webex Instant Connect

Use Webex Instant Connect to create and start Webex Instant Connect meetings, all from within Webex App. When you start a meeting, the consultation lobby opens in your browser. You no longer need your own front-end interface to organize your consultations. You can invite participants using email, or text messages sent to their phone.

Post-meeting feedback

After a consultation ends, hosts can provide feedback on the audio and video quality. If the star rating is 2 or below, the technical support team receive an automated email with logs attached. This allows quicker resolution of any media quality issues.

Send email invites to participants

Hosts can now invite participants to a consultation using email.

April 2022

Feature customization

Administrators can control feature access and change the appearance of Webex Instant Connect for their users.

March 2022

Network connection warning message

If your network connection drops during a consultation, a warning message now appears to let you know about the problem. The message also includes suggested actions you can take to solve the issue.

Feature customization for Epic integrations

Administrators can now control feature access and change the appearance of Webex Instant Connect for their users. They can:

• Update the organization name and logo

• Change host and patient labels

• Turn the chat feature on or off

• Enable or disable PSTN dialing

February 2022

Remove participants

Using the participants panel, providers can now remove other participants from the consultation.

January 2022

Customer branding

You'll be able to add your organization's branding to Webex Instant Connect, by customizing what patients see while waiting in the lobby.

November 2021

Chat feature is generally available

The chat feature, which was made available to a limited number of customers in September, is now available for all customers.

October 2021

PSTN dial-out

Providers that are signed in can dial out to an external number to add another participant, an interpreter for example, to the consultation.

Capture participant feedback

Participants can now submit their feedback during or after a consultation, which organizations can review and follow up on if needed. The user feedback rating and the user's name is included in the feedback e-mail.

Warning for unsupported browsers

A warning message now appears if you are using an unsupported browser, prompting you to use a supported version.

Updated notification message for poor connections

The warning message for users when they have a poor network connection has been improved.

Chat enhancements

We've made the following general enhancements to the chat feature:

• Users are now alerted when a new message arrives, and the count of unread messages appears on the chat icon.

• "Seen by" text now appears when either the host or participant has read a message.

• Meeting controls are no longer hidden.

We've also made a number of enhancements to the chat feature on small screen devices, including:

• A send button (>) is now available in the chat window.

• The back navigation button and close button is now visible in landscape view.

• The close (“X”) button has been replaced with “<” to indicate that the user is navigating back to the meeting screen and is not ending the meeting.

• Automatic scrolling to new messages.

• Clicking return creates a new line, it does not send the message.

September 2021

Chat is now available on a limited basis

The chat feature is now available to a limited number of customers. Use the chat window during a consultation to send messages to other participants.

Organization name added to the welcome message

In the chat window, your organization name now appears before the welcome message.

Poor connection warning

Users are notified if they have a poor network connection.