Tag: #TEAMS

Poly Voyager Surround 80 UC Review

Having reviewed audio gear and office headsets for over 10 years, I’ve tested a wide range of Poly (formerly Plantronics) products — from dependable Bluetooth models to enterprise-grade headsets. The Poly Voyager Surround 80 UC is positioned as a premium, business-focused option for hybrid professionals who need comfort, clarity, and seamless connectivity across devices.

Design and Comfort

The Voyager Surround 80 UC is an over-the-head model featuring an ergonomic gap at the top of the headband to reduce pressure points. At 275 grams, it feels comfortable and balanced even during long meetings. The artificial leather ear cushions are soft and breathable, providing a pleasant wearing experience throughout the day.

The overall construction feels solid and businesslike, with subtle branding and a Teams logo for those in Microsoft environments. While the button layout is intuitive for right-handed users, left-handers might find the positioning less natural. Still, it’s a well-designed, durable headset suited to daily professional use.

Controls and Connectivity

Poly combines touch and button controls to handle calls, music playback, and volume with ease. Touch gestures manage playback and volume, while physical buttons cover mute, power, and Bluetooth pairing. 

Connectivity is excellent, with support for Bluetooth 5.3, the included BT700 USB-C adapter, and optional USB-C to 3.5 mm cable for wired use. Pairing with Windows 11, Android, and macOS devices was quick and stable. The headset supports dual-device connectivity, making it easy to switch between laptop and phone without interruptions.

 

What’s in the Box

  • Poly Voyager Surround 80 UC headset
  • Premium carry case with zip pocket for accessories
  • BT700 USB-C Bluetooth adapter
  • USB-C to USB-A adapter 
  • USB-C to 3.5 mm audio cable 
  • USB charging cable 
  • User guide

 

The carry case deserves special mention — sturdy, compact, and well thought out, making it ideal for professionals commuting between office and home.

Setup & Software (Poly Lens)

The Voyager Surround 80 UC can be used straight out of the box via Bluetooth, connecting instantly without requiring additional software. However, downloading the Poly Lens app unlocks a range of useful customisation and management options.

With Poly Lens, users can: 

  • Customise headset controls and button functions
  • Enable smart sensors that detect when the headset is worn or removed
  • Automatically pause or resume media, or mute/unmute calls
  • Manage firmware updates and battery monitoring
  • Access Poly Lens Cloud for centralised device management (ideal for IT teams)

The software is well designed and adds real value, particularly for business users who want to tailor their experience or manage multiple devices.

 

Features

  • Adaptive Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) to reduce distractions
  • Six built-in microphones for clear, boomless voice pickup
  • Dual-device Bluetooth connectivity for laptop and phone pairing
  • Touch and button controls for calls, playback, and volume
  • Up to 21 hours talk time / 24 hours listening time
  • DeepSleep mode conserves power when inactive
  • Teams and UC certified for professional collaboration platform
  • Poly Lens integration for software customisation and management
  • 2-Year Manufacturer Warranty for peace of mind

 

Sound and Microphone Performance

Audio performance is impressive for professional use. The six microphones deliver crisp, natural voice pickup and handle background noise effectively through adaptive ANC. The boomless design keeps things tidy while maintaining excellent speech clarity.

During testing across Teams, Zoom, and Android phone calls, the overall audio quality was faultless. Voices were clear, background noise was minimal, and the headset performed reliably across multiple devices.

However, one noticeable drawback was that while mute and volume controls worked correctly on the headset, these actions didn’t always visually reflect in Microsoft Teams across different laptops. The headset muted and adjusted sound as expected, but Teams’ on-screen indicators didn’t always match the headset’s status — a minor but noticeable usability issue.

On Android, by contrast, everything worked seamlessly: media playback, track skipping, and volume control all responded perfectly.

Battery and Power Management

Battery life remains a major strength, with up to 21 hours of talk time or 24 hours of listening time. The DeepSleep mode automatically conserves energy after 24 hours of inactivity, and charging via USB-C is quick and convenient. It’s an ideal companion for long workdays or travel without needing to worry about frequent recharging.

Real-World Experience

In practical use, the Voyager Surround 80 UC delivers exactly what professionals need: reliable connectivity, consistent audio, and all-day comfort. The dual-device connection works flawlessly, allowing smooth transitions between phone and laptop calls.

While the Teams visual feedback issue is worth noting, it doesn’t affect actual functionality or audio performance. The headset remains a dependable tool for business calls and virtual meetings.

Verdict

The Poly Voyager Surround 80 UC is a high-quality, professional headset built for hybrid workers who spend much of their day in virtual meetings. It offers excellent microphone clarity, strong noise cancellation, long battery life, and a well-designed carry case that makes it easy to travel with.

While it commands a premium price, it’s backed by solid engineering, reliable connectivity, and a two-year warranty. The only minor frustrations lie in the Teams visual control sync issue and sensitive touch controls, but overall, this is a polished, professional headset that performs consistently where it matters most — in call quality, comfort, and usability.

BUY

Other Poly reviews

Video Review

Jabra Expands Meeting Room Portfolio with Jabra Scheduler

Jabra, a world leader in professional audio and video solutions, today announced the launch of the Jabra Scheduler, a touchscreen scheduling panel that displays meeting room availability and allows users to reserve spaces directly at the room or through their digital calendars. The panel simplifies scheduling by making it easier to find available spaces, prevent double bookings and deliver a seamless experience across Jabra’s meeting room solutions. Made from more than 50% recycled materials, the panel also supports more sustainable manufacturing practices. The Jabra Scheduler will be globally available on November 17, 2025.

A Complete End-to-End Solution

The Jabra Scheduler works seamlessly with both Microsoft Teams Rooms and Zoom Rooms, making it easy to pre-book meetings through a digital calendar or reserve a space directly at the room. Once synced, upcoming meetings appear in real-time on the interactive touchscreen display, showing exactly how long each room will remain available. LED indicators clearly signal whether a space is free or in use, helping reduce interruptions and keep meetings running smoothly.

In addition to complementing Jabra’s audio and video portfolio, the Jabra Scheduler can also be used in environments and rooms that don’t currently feature Jabra devices. This flexibility allows organisations to standardise their scheduling experience across all meeting spaces while still benefiting from Jabra’s high-quality hardware design and integration with leading platforms.

The Right Room for Every Meeting

The Jabra Scheduler makes it easier for employees to quickly find the space that best suits their meeting needs. Its clear touchscreen display shows real-time room availability, helping users see whether a room is available and for how long, reducing interruptions and last-minute confusion.

  • Book ad hoc with confidence: Instantly check if a room is available for the full duration of your meeting.
  • See availability at a glance: The high-contrast display and LED indicators make it easy to spot open rooms.
  • Simplify everyday workflows: Pre-book or reserve on the spot to save time and keep meetings on schedule.

By making it easy to match meeting needs with the right room, organisations can reduce wasted time, avoid double bookings and improve overall meeting efficiency.

Fast, Reliable Deployment

The Jabra Scheduler is designed for quick setup at scale. With integrated cable management, the panel connects directly via a category cable, making installation straightforward once power is in place. It also offers several flexible mounting options, including flat on the wall, angled wall mount, mullion mount or glass, with all hardware included in the box to streamline deployment and minimise complexity.

Devices can be centrally managed through Jabra+, enabling organisations to provision, monitor and update schedulers across multiple locations.

Holger Reisinger, SVP Enterprise Video Business Unit at Jabra, said, “The Jabra Scheduler marks an important expansion of our video and collaboration portfolio, introducing a new product category that completes our meeting room offering. With industry-leading video, professional audio and now intuitive room scheduling, Jabra delivers the full meeting experience from one trusted provider, making it simpler for organisations to deploy, manage and collaborate seamlessly across every space.”

Key Benefits

  • Instant room status – Lightbar and on-screen schedule for quick availability checks.
  • Reliable deployment – Wired connection with easy cable management and plug-and-play setup.
  • Remote-friendly – Spaces can be booked in advance, on-site or off-site.
  • End-to-end integration – Complements Jabra PanaCast portfolio, Microsoft Teams Rooms and Zoom Rooms.

The Jabra Scheduler will be available at an MSRP of £610.

Learn more at: www.jabra.com/jabra-scheduler

See our Jabra Reviews

Dell unveils its first-ever earbuds Dell Pro Plus Earbuds

Dell Technologies today announced the launch of the Dell Pro Plus Earbuds (EB525), the latest addition to its AI-based audio portfolio. Designed for the hybrid workforce, these earbuds combine advanced noise filtering, voice optimisation, and all-day comfort for employees, while offering IT teams simplified deployment and centralized manageability.

As the world’s first earbuds to earn Microsoft Teams Open Office Certification, the Dell Pro Plus Earbuds are engineered to empower effortless communication – whether users are commuting, working remotely, or jumping into a quick Teams meeting. Certified for both Microsoft Teams and Zoom, they ensure flawless compatibility with the most widely used professional collaboration platforms.

Consumer-grade audio gear often falls short in professional settings, where background noise and poor mic quality can derail productivity. The Dell Pro Plus Earbuds address these challenges head-on. With an AI-powered noise-cancelling microphone trained on over 500 million noise samples, adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC), and enhanced transparency mode, they deliver a premium audio experience tailored for the modern workplace.

Built for real-world conditions, the earbuds come with four ear tip sizes (XS, S, M, L) for a custom fit. Seamless multi-device connectivity is enabled through Bluetooth 5.3 and multi-host pairing, while the Dell Pair feature ensures quick setup and smooth transitions. A compact charging case with a built-in Dell Wireless USB-C Audio Receiver adds on-the-go convenience.

For IT administrators, the Dell Display and Peripheral Manager (DDPM) provides a centralised dashboard for easy device configuration, firmware updates, and fleet oversight – streamlining audio management across hybrid teams.

“The Dell Pro Plus Earbuds are designed to empower effortless communication, whether you’re commuting, working remotely or jumping into a quick Teams meeting. said Mike Alessi, Senior Director of Global Product Planning & Launch for Collaboration Peripherals at Dell Technologies. “The future of workplace audio isn’t just about cutting-edge technology, it’s about empowering teams to connect, collaborate and thrive. With the Dell Pro Plus Earbuds, that future is here.”

The Dell Pro Plus Earbuds are available through Dell Technologies and authorised partners in Ireland and across EMEA at a recommended retail price of €245.99 including VAT. Find out more at: www.dell.ie.

 

See our earbuds reviews 

Why Irish Tech Companies Are Failing at Sustainability Marketing

The €4.2 Million Greenwashing Fine That Changed Everything

When the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission hit a prominent Irish software company with a multimillion-euro fine for misleading environmental claims, boardrooms across Dublin’s tech corridor went silent. The message was clear: vague sustainability promises and manufactured green credentials no longer fly in an era of radical transparency.

Irish tech companies, from fintech startups in Cork to medtech innovators in Galway, often run genuinely sustainable operations. They’ve achieved carbon neutrality, eliminated single-use plastics, and built products helping other businesses reduce environmental impact. Yet their sustainability communications fail so spectacularly that consumers trust them less than traditional industries with worse environmental records.

The problem isn’t lack of green initiatives—it’s the disconnect between operations and communications. While engineering teams measure server efficiency to the kilowatt-hour, marketing departments resort to clichés about “saving the planet” that trigger scepticism. ProfileTree identifies this communication gap as why Irish tech companies struggle to monetise genuine sustainability investments through improved brand perception.

The Data Behind Tech’s Sustainability Crisis

Analysis of 200 Irish tech websites reveals disturbing patterns. Seventy-eight percent use identical phrases—”committed to sustainability,” “reducing our carbon footprint”—meaningless through overuse. Only 12% provide measurable environmental data. Most damning: 91% bury sustainability information in footers rather than integrating it into value propositions.

Irish consumers rank environmental responsibility as their third-highest purchase criterion for tech products. Yet when surveyed, they couldn’t identify a single Irish tech brand as sustainability leaders. This perception gap represents billions in lost brand value.

Tech companies with verified, well-communicated sustainability credentials see 23% higher retention rates and command 18% price premiums. Those caught greenwashing face 18-month recovery periods. Effective sustainability communication has become existential rather than optional.

Why Traditional Marketing Fails

Tech companies list environmental certifications like software specifications, expecting customers to value ISO 14001 compliance. This engineering-driven style fails because consumers don’t buy certifications—they buy authentic stories resonating with values.

The velocity of change compounds challenges. While manufacturing companies celebrate the same renewable installation for years, tech companies constantly evolve initiatives. Marketing teams struggle keeping pace with improvements across Dublin, Cork, Limerick offices.

Cultural misalignment creates friction. Tech marketing emphasises innovation and competitive advantage—messages conflicting with sustainability’s collaborative nature. This produces confused messaging satisfying neither advocates nor growth-focused stakeholders.

AI Revolution in Sustainability Storytelling

Artificial intelligence transforms sustainability marketing from guesswork into science. Natural language processing analyses millions of conversations, revealing which messages resonate. Irish consumers respond to local environmental impact but dismiss global climate messaging as abstract.

Machine learning identifies unexpected narratives within operational data. A Dublin SaaS company discovered their platform prevented 2.3 million commute miles annually—more compelling than carbon-neutral hosting. An Irish cybersecurity firm found their algorithms reduced client energy consumption by preventing cryptomining malware.

Predictive analytics determine optimal timing for communications, avoiding “green fatigue” whilst maintaining visibility. This precision targeting ensures messages reach sympathetic audiences, improving engagement and conversions.

Building Credible Narratives That Convert

Effective sustainability marketing strategies begin with transparency about achievements and shortcomings. A Galway software company increased trust 40% by publishing detailed reports including failures, not just victories.

Specificity replaces vagueness. Instead of “reducing emissions,” successful companies state “our Dublin data centre runs on Arklow Bank wind power, preventing 2,400 tonnes CO2 annually.” These concrete claims, backed by verification, build trust incrementally.

Employee voices amplify messages better than corporate statements. Engineers explaining code optimisation, managers describing waste reduction—authentic perspectives resonate more than polished copy. Companies leveraging employee advocacy see 3x higher engagement on sustainability content.

Link to video

The Technology Stack for Communications

Modern sustainability marketing requires sophisticated infrastructure. Carbon accounting provides real-time data. Blockchain creates immutable records. IoT sensors capture granular environmental metrics.

Integration between measurement and automation enables dynamic communications. When renewable usage peaks, systems update badges, trigger posts, notify customers. Cork tech companies using integrated platforms report 50% reduction in reporting costs whilst improving accuracy.

AI-powered content tools help teams maintain consistent communications without dedicated headcount. Systems transform technical data into accessible stories. However, human oversight ensures authenticity before publication.

Measuring What Matters

Traditional metrics fail capturing effectiveness. Trust scores and reputation indices matter more than clicks. Irish tech companies need frameworks connecting messaging to outcomes over extended timeframes.

Sentiment analysis provides nuanced understanding. A Limerick company discovered high-traffic content actually damaged perception by appearing self-congratulatory.

Attribution modelling reveals true impact. Customers exposed to authentic content show 31% higher lifetime values over months. Without sophisticated measurement, companies underinvest, missing revenue opportunities.

Navigating Regulatory Requirements

The EU Green Claims Directive changes requirements fundamentally. Vague claims face fines up to 4% of global turnover. Companies must implement verification ensuring claims withstand scrutiny.

Life cycle assessments become mandatory. Tech companies must account for entire product lifecycles. A Dublin startup discovered their “eco-friendly” device generated more emissions due to shorter replacement cycles.

Third-party verification provides essential credibility. Verified claims generate 5x more trust than self-reported metrics. Smart companies view verification as insurance against reputational damage.

Link to Video

Sector-Specific Strategies

Different sectors require tailored approaches. Fintech emphasises how digital banking reduces infrastructure. Medtech highlights remote monitoring reducing patient travel. Agtech demonstrates precision agriculture reducing chemical inputs.

B2B companies focus on helping clients achieve goals. Enterprise software quantifies client carbon reduction. This customer-centric approach transforms sustainability from cost to revenue driver.

Consumer-facing companies need emotional narratives. Gaming companies highlight digital distribution eliminating waste. EdTech emphasises democratising education without travel. Human-centred stories resonate more than metrics.

AI-Powered Training for Teams

Marketing teams need comprehensive training, but traditional workshops fail keeping pace. AI-powered corporate training delivers personalised, continuously updated education ensuring teams remain current.

Adaptive systems identify knowledge gaps, focusing on specific weaknesses. Irish companies using AI training report 60% faster competency development.

Simulation environments allow practicing without risk. Teams trained through simulations handle challenges 40% more effectively than those relying on theory.

Building Internal Alignment

Sustainability marketing fails when disconnected from reality. Marketing needs integration with operations to communicate authentic achievements.

Regular workshops bring diverse teams together identifying narratives. Engineers explain improvements accessibly. Product managers describe design decisions. These sessions generate authentic content whilst building commitment.

Executive sponsorship proves crucial. When CEOs champion initiatives, authenticity follows. Waterford companies with CEO-led programmes see 4x better outcomes.

Future-Proofing Your Strategy

Emerging regulations require greater transparency. CSRD mandates detailed disclosures. Digital Product Passports track lifecycles. Companies building infrastructure now will navigate smoothly whilst competitors scramble.

Blockchain will revolutionise verification. Smart contracts compensate offsets automatically. Irish companies should explore integration preparing for this transparent future.

Consumer expectations escalate beyond current standards. Gen Z demands regenerative models improving conditions. They expect real-time data and participation in decisions. Companies must evolve from communication to conversation.

Your 90-Day Transformation

Start with honesty about current communications. Audit content for greenwashing risk. Remove questionable content—silence beats deception. Rebuild narratives based on verified data.

Invest in measurement before campaigns. Implement carbon accounting, establish baselines, create verification. This foundation enables credible communications.

Partner with experts understanding sustainability complexity and tech dynamics. The sweet spot combines sustainability expertise, marketing sophistication, and industry experience. These combinations deliver strategies satisfying regulators, resonating with customers, driving results.

The path from greenwashing risk to leadership requires commitment beyond tactics. For Irish tech companies embracing authentic sustainability marketing, rewards include reputation, loyalty, and alignment between commercial success and environmental necessity.

 

Custom Application Development Company — How to Choose the Right Partner & Maximize ROI

If your business needs software that fits exact workflows and scales with growth, hiring a reliable custom application development company is critical. Off‑the‑shelf solutions may work for many tasks, but when you require unique integrations, industry compliance, advanced security or AI‑driven features — bespoke software delivered by an experienced team becomes a business advantage.

Why choose custom application development? Custom application development provides a tailored solution that aligns with your specific processes and objectives. Compared to off‑the‑shelf software, a custom solution offers:

  • Full alignment with business workflows and unique user journeys.
  • Seamless integrations with ERP, CRM, payment gateways and third‑party APIs.
  • Better scalability and long‑term total cost of ownership.
  • Stronger security and compliance (GDPR, HIPAA, industry standards).
  • Competitive advantages through unique features and functionality.

Key services offered by a custom application development company:

  • Custom software development (web & mobile)
  • Custom ERP development and integrations
  • Fintech & payment solutions development
  • Healthcare software with compliance (HIPAA, data protection)
  • IoT / IIoT solutions and device connectivity
  • AI / ML integration and data engineering
  • MVP development & rapid prototyping
  • Legacy modernization and platform re‑engineering
  • QA, automated testing and performance optimization
  • DevOps, cloud migration and managed hosting
  • Staff augmentation and dedicated development teams

How to evaluate prospective vendors: 8 practical criteria

  1. Relevant industry experience
    Look for case studies in your industry: fintech software company experience for payment platforms, healthcare app experience for EHR integration, logistics experience for WMS or tracking systems.
  2. Technical stack and expertise
    Ensure the vendor works with technologies you need (backend: Node.js, Java, .NET; frontend: React, Angular, Vue; mobile: Swift, Kotlin, React Native; cloud: AWS, GCP, Azure). Also check experience with microservices, containerization and CI/CD pipelines.
  3. Portfolio and measurable outcomes
    Ask for metrics: conversion lift, process time reduction, cost savings, uptime improvements. Real numbers prove competence.
  4. Development process and communication
    Prefer partners with clear processes: Discovery → Architecture → MVP → Iterative development → QA → Deployment → Support. Regular sprint demos and transparent reporting matter.
  5. Security, compliance and QA
    Confirm the team follows secure coding practices, threat modeling, penetration testing, and compliance measures (GDPR, HIPAA, SOC2 when needed).
  6. Pricing models and engagement types
    Assess fixed‑price vs time‑&‑material vs dedicated teams. For uncertain scope, a Discovery + MVP approach reduces risk.
  7. Team composition and culture fit
    Meet the engineers and product owners who will work on your project. Team stability and domain knowledge help reduce ramp‑up time.
  8. Support and SLAs
    Make sure there are clear SLAs, incident response times and maintenance plans.

Common project types and typical timelines

  • MVP for startups: 6–12 weeks (basic features, core UX & API integrations)
  • Medium enterprise app: 3–6 months (multi‑module system, integrations)
  • Large enterprise solution / ERP: 6–18 months (architecture, compliance, migration)

Estimating cost: realistic ranges

  • Small web app / MVP: 10k–10k–50k
  • Mid‑sized business application: 50k–50k–200k
  • Enterprise / custom ERP with integrations: $200k+

(Actual costs depend on feature complexity, integrations, compliance needs and geographic makeup of the team.)

How to structure a low‑risk engagement\

  1. Start with Discovery & Technical Audit — clarify scope and constraints.
  2. Build an MVP — test assumptions, show value and collect user feedback.
  3. Move to phased delivery — deliver in increments with measurable KPIs.
  4. Scale via dedicated teams — staff augmentation or a long‑term managed team.
  • Custom software development (web & mobile)
  • Custom ERP development and integrations
  • Fintech & payment solutions development
  • Healthcare software with compliance (HIPAA, data protection)
  • IoT / IIoT solutions and device connectivity
  • AI / ML integration and data engineering
  • MVP development & rapid prototyping
  • Legacy modernization and platform re‑engineering
  • QA, automated testing and performance optimization
  • DevOps, cloud migration and managed hosting
  • Staff augmentation and dedicated development teams

When to consider staff augmentation or a dedicated team Staff augmentation makes sense when:

  • You already have product management and need extra engineers.
  • You need to scale fast for short‑term sprints or specialized skills (ML, IoT).
  • You want lower overhead and flexible headcount vs hiring full employees.

Dedicated teams are better for:

  • Long‑term product ownership and evolution.
  • Projects requiring continuity and deep product knowledge.

Local vs offshore vendors — how to choose

  • Local vendors offer easier overlap hours, face‑to‑face meetings and often better domain knowledge for local markets (e.g., London, Dubai).
  • Offshore vendors can provide cost efficiency and access to a vide pool of tools 

Jabra Speak2 75 professional speakerphone review

The Jabra Speak2 75 professional speakerphone is an ideal kit for those who use teams and more not only that it is a great personal speaker.

The Speak2 75 features a sleek, modern “puck” design with a brushed aluminum finish and a premium fabric speaker cover. It feels robust and well-built, giving it a professional aesthetic that fits seamlessly in any office or home setting and a nice upgrade to previous models.  Weighing around 466g, it’s portable enough to put into a travel or tech bag with the included felt carry pouch, There is also an integrated USB-C cable with a built-in USB-A adapter, which makes it highly versatile and prevents the hassle of losing adapters. The capacitive touch controls on the top surface are intuitive and responsive, lighting up when in use which I really like. 

This device is clearly tuned for voice, and it delivers as you will see in the video review compared to the laptops speakers. It features a full-range 65mm speaker and Jabra’s “Super-wideband audio” technology, which is designed to capture a wider range of frequencies for more natural-sounding conversations. For conference calls, voices come through crystal clear and rich. While it can also be used for a personal speaker it sounds good as you will see in the review also.

Microphone Quality

This is where the Speak2 75 truly shines. It is equipped with a four-microphone beamforming array that works with advanced digital signal processing (DSP) to effectively isolate voices and reduce background noise. The full duplex audio allows for natural, two-way conversations without participants cutting each other off. A standout feature is the “Microphone Quality Indicator,” a 360-degree light ring that provides real-time visual feedback on how well your voice is being picked up. This innovative feature is a game-changer for hybrid workers, as it removes the guesswork of whether you’re being heard clearly.

Connectivity and Battery Life

The Speak2 75 offers flexible connectivity options, including Bluetooth 5.2 and a dual-connector USB-C/USB-A cable. It also comes with a Bluetooth dongle for a more stable wireless connection to a PC, and supports Microsoft Swift Pair and Google Fast Pair for quick pairing with mobile devices. The battery life is impressive, with Jabra claiming up to 32 hours of talk time making it a reliable device for long workdays without needing a constant charge. It is also IP64-rated, providing protection against dust and water splashes.

Overall Verdict

The Jabra Speak2 75 is an excellent professional speakerphone. Its superb audio and microphone quality, combined with smart features like the Microphone Quality Indicator and full duplex audio, make it a top-tier choice for professionals who need reliable, high-quality communication. It’s ideal for a variety of use cases, from individual use at a home office to small group meetings. While the price might be a barrier for some, its performance and feature set make it a worthwhile investment for those who depend on clear, professional communication.

Jabra Sound Plus App

 

Features of the Speak2 75  

·         Super-wideband audio and full range 65mm speaker  

·         Microphone Quality Indicator  

·         Up to 33% sustainable materials (from mechanical parts) 

·         Easy connection with Microsoft Swift Pair 

·         Plug-and-play straight out of the box  

·         Up to 32 hours of wireless battery life 

·         Microsoft Teams Rooms and Zoom Rooms 

BUY

Other Jabra Reviews 

Video Review

Empty Seats, Broken Dreams: Why the 2025 Club World Cup is Failing to Excite Fans

FIFA billed the 2025 Club World Cup as football’s most extraordinary club event: 32 teams, a $2.5 billion prize pool, and global giants clashing in a US summer spectacle. It promised blockbuster action, but reality disappoints like a hyped film flopping on opening weekend. Reports show that 40% of opening match tickets are unsold, starkly contrasting with FIFA’s sold-out vision. Even Inter Miami’s star power fails to draw, with their key match against Al Ahly plagued by empty seats. The anticipated excitement hasn’t materialized, fans wanted an event to cheer about and maybe put a little fun money for casual bets using things like shangri la bonuses, but they were left shrugging.

Five Reasons Fans Are Saying “No”

Why aren’t fans attending? Five hurdles for the 2025 Club World Cup:

  • Schedule Overload. Sandwiched between Euro 2024, 2026 WC qualifiers, Nations League, and Gold Cup, it’s simply too much football too fast.
  • Absurd Pricing. $140+ tickets for group games ($50 for MLS) feel like a wallet punch, especially with rising costs.
  • Meaningless Format. Mismatches feel like pre-season friendlies, not high-stakes games.
  • Star Fatigue. There’s a rumor that some stars may limit their participation due to fatigue, dimming the tournament’s appeal.
  • No Stakes. Even Champions League winners seem indifferent. If top clubs don’t care, why should fans?

These issues stack up like a losing streak. Fans want value and meaning, not a forced, bloated event.

The American Misfire

Hosting in the U.S. seemed a slam dunk, but FIFA fumbled badly. Choosing tourist hubs like New York and Los Angeles over soccer-passionate cities like Portland or Kansas City ignored the true fanbase, making it feel like hosting the Super Bowl without a local team: all flash and no soul.

Further alienating local fans were awkward kickoff times, like 12 p.m. ET for games featuring Asian or African teams, rather than prime-time slots. This corporate focus and scheduling misstep created a Grand Canyon-wide disconnect between FIFA’s plan and what U.S. fans actually want.

FIFA’s Tone-Deaf Response

FIFA’s response to poor ticket sales has baffled. Instead of addressing issues, they’ve said that fans don’t yet understand the vision. Their solution? Desperate discount codes, cutting prices by up to 84%, resemble a clearance sale for unwanted goods.

The core problem is the lack of an emotional hook. Unlike the history-rich Champions League or the pride-filled World Cup, this event feels like an unasked-for “Super League Lite” corporate experiment. FIFA is banking on prestige, but without a resonant story, they’re shouting into the void.

How to Fix It

Can this ship be turned around? Maybe, but it’ll take more than quick fixes. Here’s what could spark some life into the 2025 Club World Cup:

  • Cut Prices. Cap group-stage tickets at $50. Affordable seats worked for baseball’s resurgence in the ‘90s, pulling fans back to struggling teams. Football could use the same playbook.
  • Engage Locals. Partner with grassroots clubs, not just hotel chains or big sponsors. Think small league tailgates or watch parties with local teams. Build a community, not a tourist trap.
  • Simplify the Calendar. Shift the tournament to odd years, away from the Euros and World Cup cycles. Give it breathing room, like a classic TV rerun that finds new fans in a quiet season.

These ideas aren’t rocket science, but they demand that FIFA listen, not dictate. Think of a struggling sports franchise rebuilding its fan base, block by block, through outreach and heart. That’s the vibe this tournament needs.

Wrapping Up

The 2025 Club World Cup, intended as a global football celebration, falters with empty seats signaling broken promises. Fans reject the hype, alienated by excessive games, steep prices, and a soulless event. Hosting in the U.S. was a missed opportunity, undermined by poor city choices and corporate focus. FIFA’s response has been ineffective.

While time remains for bold changes, current signs are worrying: lagging ticket sales and frustrated fan chatter online show little buzz exists. The tournament isn’t doomed but faces a steep climb to win back supporters.

Building Digital Resilience: Strategies for Security Teams Under Pressure

As digital infrastructures expand, so too does the scope of risk. Enterprises no longer contend solely with perimeter breaches or isolated phishing attacks; they face a constantly shifting threat landscape shaped by geopolitics, emerging technologies, and the growing sophistication of adversaries. Security leaders are under pressure to adapt—not just reactively, but strategically.

Building resilience requires more than a solid firewall or frequent employee training. It’s about anticipating, responding, and recovering in a way that minimizes disruption and safeguards long-term operations. But doing so demands that cybersecurity programs mature beyond static controls and embrace continuous learning, contextual awareness, and intelligent prioritization.

Bridging the Gaps Between Risk, Strategy, and Action

Many organizations maintain a separation between risk governance and technical security operations. Compliance frameworks dictate controls, audits verify their implementation, and risk registers get updated annually. Meanwhile, security teams operate on a different cadence—responding to alerts, patching vulnerabilities, and investigating anomalies as they occur.

This disjointed approach leads to blind spots. Executives believe risk is under control because a framework has been followed. Security teams, however, may be aware of threats or attack paths that aren’t reflected in the documentation—or even properly understood by other departments.

Bridging this gap requires more than cross-functional meetings. It calls for a shared understanding of risk that is both technical and strategic. Security leaders must be fluent in the language of business impact, while decision-makers must recognize that cyber risks evolve faster than annual review cycles allow. When technical realities and business goals are misaligned, even a well-funded cybersecurity program can falter.

The Role of Contextual Awareness in Cyber Threat Intelligence and Incident Response

Security incidents don’t happen in a vacuum. Threat actors tailor their tactics based on industries, technologies, and even geopolitical developments. What matters is not just what happened, but why it happened, and what it means for future exposure.

This is where the convergence of cyber threat intelligence and incident response becomes critical. Together, they provide a cycle of insight and adaptation. Intelligence supplies the context—who is targeting your sector, what tools they use, and what signals might indicate reconnaissance or lateral movement. Incident response, on the other hand, applies that knowledge during high-pressure moments to reduce dwell time, contain impact, and improve response accuracy.

Organizations that invest in this synergy are better equipped to move beyond one-off incident reports. Instead, they build a threat-informed defense posture that continually adapts to new realities. This doesn’t require reinventing the SOC model, but it does mean integrating intelligence into both detection logic and post-incident reviews. The result is not just faster response—but smarter, more resilient defense cycles. [Insert link here]

Avoiding Tool Sprawl While Maximizing Operational Value

A common reflex when addressing gaps in security posture is to adopt new tools. Behavioral analytics, extended detection and response (XDR), and SOAR platforms all promise faster insights and better coordination. But without a clear integration plan, these technologies often introduce complexity faster than they add value.

Tool sprawl has both operational and psychological consequences. Analysts waste time switching between dashboards, reconciling conflicting alerts, or manually correlating data. Worse, leadership may assume that the presence of cutting-edge tools equates to effectiveness—when in reality, the team may be overwhelmed and underutilizing key capabilities.

The solution isn’t to avoid new technology altogether, but to pursue it deliberately. Start with clear objectives—what gap are you trying to close, and how will success be measured? Choose vendors that emphasize interoperability, not lock-in. And most importantly, invest in people. Even the most advanced threat detection platforms are only as effective as the analysts interpreting their output.

Building Toward a Culture of Preparedness

Cybersecurity has matured into a discipline of both prevention and recovery. As such, organizational culture matters as much as technology. Incident simulations should be routine, not exceptional. Cross-functional tabletop exercises should test both the technical and communicative response to hypothetical breaches. Post-mortems should be honest, blameless, and actionable.

Preparedness is not a state; it’s a practice. It involves executive buy-in, realistic planning, and a willingness to acknowledge uncertainty. No team can prevent every incident—but those that cultivate transparency, learning, and agility will fare far better when one occurs.

By focusing on strategic alignment, intelligent integration of threat intelligence and response, and a culture of readiness, organizations position themselves not only to endure attacks—but to emerge stronger from them.

3 ways financial modeling software can streamline corporate financial management

With the growing volumes of financial data and the rapidly changing market conditions, financial decision-making has become unprecedentedly challenging at both tactical and strategic business levels. But what if you could calculate the impact of your future financial choices on your business? Undoubtedly, it would greatly improve financial planning and management processes in your company and help reduce financial losses.

Luckily, no magic is needed to predict the future in corporate finance today. Instead, CFOs and finance teams can use software for financial modeling equipped with mathematical models that help assess the current economic performance of their companies and predict how it might change in different economic scenarios.

What is financial modeling software?

Financial modeling software offers templates replicating common financial models (the three-statement model, the leveraged buyout model, etc.), tools for building bespoke financial models, or both. Since models need relevant financial data to make accurate findings and forecasts, these solutions also typically provide robust integration capabilities, enabling them to exchange data with other tools. 

Beyond the highlighted software functionalities, financial modeling systems can offer a range of other capabilities useful for finance management professionals. These can include data visualization to arrange insights from financial data in the form of graphs or charts, scenario analysis to compare different possible financial scenarios, collaborative analytics to share data and insights with colleagues, and many other features.

How can financial modeling software elevate corporate financial management?

1. Improving capital budgeting

Capital budgeting is one of the most critical yet daunting aspects of corporate financial management. Capital projects require long-term substantial investments, and if such a project turns non-viable or fails, the company risks facing financial losses, which can be devastating for business.

Therefore, financial professionals should evaluate possible capital budgeting options with extra caution. And by using financial modeling software, financial professionals can leverage ready-made model templates or build their own models to efficiently evaluate investment opportunities from multiple perspectives, which can help your business make more risk-free and rewarding capital budgeting decisions.

For example, suppose your company is considering acquiring some other business. In such a case, finance teams can use a discounted cash flow model to evaluate that company’s financial health and predict its future financial performance by analyzing the business’s revenue, expenses, and taxes. Teams can simply import the company’s publicly available financial data (balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement, etc.), and the financial modeling tool will automatically perform all necessary calculations.

Teams can additionally assess an investment’s return potential by using a leveraged buyout model, which also takes into account a target company’s  common financial metrics and combines them with the amount of borrowed money required to fund the deal. Additionally, they can apply a trading comps model, which implies comparing a target company’s financial ratio with other firms from the same niche, helping you choose the most promising and rewarding investment opportunity.

2. Streamlining capital financing

Besides choosing a project to invest in, finance teams must decide how the company should raise funds to support its business operations (taking a bank loan, selling some share of its stock, or else). 

Suppose your company decides to issue common stock through an initial public offering (IPO) to leverage new sources of capital. The company must decide what share of its business it should sell to the public to raise a larger amount of cash, which can later be used to pay off a company’s existing loans or fund internal research and development initiatives. In this case, the finance team can use an IPO modeling template to model various IPO scenarios and estimate the potential for future capital raise.

3. Enhancing working capital management

Among other things, financial teams should make accurate decisions regarding working capital management to help their companies optimize the utilization of existing assets. The decision-making process in capital management requires careful monitoring of both overall company performance and the performance of individual assets.

In this regard, financial modeling software can come in handy, as teams can use it to measure and project their company’s financial performance. Finance professionals can simply leverage the same type of model they would use to assess the value of other businesses or investments, namely the discounted cash flow model, but feed it with internal financial data.

Teams can also implement a ready-made template or a custom formula to calculate the return on a company’s assets. The return on assets ratio allows financial professionals to estimate the percentage of a company’s assets that are profitable and to predict how the economic performance of their assets can change over time. If the future earnings of some specific assets are lower than expected, a company can decide to sell those assets to another business and thus adjust the corporate financial portfolio.

Final thoughts 

Making financial decisions in corporate finance is a challenging duty for any finance team, which nonetheless can be streamlined with the help of financial modeling software. Financial professionals can use these digital tools to make capital budgeting, capital financing, and working capital management decisions more accurately and quickly. 

Nonetheless, if your company decides to implement a financial modeling tool, it should first have to decide whether to adopt a platform solution from Microsoft, IBM, and other vendors or develop software from scratch. Since both options differ significantly in their complexity and cost, you should choose carefully. A reliable technology partner can analyze your business and study its established financial processes to help you make a sounder choice. If needed, the partner can also assist you with the implementation itself and handle all its technical aspects, from software architecture design and coding to solution customization and integration.