CTO Introductory Guide to Meta & Mesh

Meta & Microsoft have been on quite a journey together....a journey to produce secure 3D immersive meetings. From them taking the first step of partnering with Azure, to the partnership of immersive meetings with Meta Quest Headsets and Microsoft's Mesh feature. Meta are now accelerating the accessibility and functionality of meta quest headsets whilst reducing the cost, which means it is saving users and business a substantial amount. 

Recently, Mesh has gained access to the Quest platform; however, it's important to note that full federation is not yet in place. Currently, inviting guests still requires IT admin support, as outlined in the downloadable PDF. 

For large events, the attendee limit for multi-room events was increased from 200 to 330 in September, along with the capability for a single master host to broadcast across multiple rooms.

Meta has also introduced the Quest 3S, featuring more affordable lenses than its predecessor, the Quest 3, and offering a three-year warranty. This makes the device more accessible, as it is priced lower than an iPhone and can effectively reduce the need for multiple screens on a desk.

Looking ahead to November 2024, workers can enhance collaborative efforts with the introduction of white-boarding functionality in Mesh, further improving teamwork and productivity.

Here are the second half of product developments that bring that accelerating capability into focus.  

To begin with, the firewall issues previously on the Teams communication infrastructure have been fixed and refined. This means that instead of faffing around with different firewall ports, they have eliminated that step completely. 

With the integration of Azure OpenAI into the Microsoft Mesh ecosystem, organisations now have access to enhanced AI-driven experiences for more intuitive collaboration and decision-making. This combination empowers CTOs to leverage AI’s transformative potential while maintaining strict security and compliance standards, driving innovation across their virtual workspaces and immersive environments.

A cost-effective alternative to the Meta Quest 3 and its predecessor, the Meta Quest 2, is the Meta Quest 3S. Designed to meet business needs, the Quest 3S offers flexible warranty options, including a 1-year warranty at £289.99 or an extended 3-year warranty at £379, making it a smart investment for organisations seeking to enhance their VR capabilities while managing their budget.

Guest access sounds like it could potentially be opening up to be a cross-domain communication system, currently you have to invite the guest to your tenant/domain in order for the meeting to successfully work. However, scale 3D Teleporting is here, albeit it at Beta development stage. 

Adding Microsoft Mesh just means adding a Teams premium license, here is what is possible if you decide to incorporate it into your business:

• You remove the need of commuting to see others, instead you can "teleport" into a meeting room with said person.
• Your employees don't have to figure out which days to go into the office, who will be in the office, they "teleport" into sessions when needed.
• This drastically cuts the corporate travel budget and reduces your carbon footprint, cost-effective but environmentally-effective also. 

However, the main thing to consider is the benefits your employees will have from this. By using this you are upgrading the quality of their working life, by no commuting in on a hectic morning and just simply teleporting into a meeting room from the comfort of their home. This ultimately gives them their time back for their own personal life, including health and spending time with loved ones. When an employee feels extremely satisfied with their job and have a healthy work-life balance, they are much more productive and engaged which will overall boost your companies performance. 

However, few CTO’s and organisations know you can bespoke these Mesh rooms to deliver the experience you want. Meaning you can create an exact replica of your office in real life, making the experience feel even more immersive. 

Microsoft is rapidly evolving, and while there are several "quirks" to be aware of, we provide a downloadable PDF as a dynamic resource to keep you, as a CTO, informed about these nuances.

As participants in Microsoft’s Technology Adoption Program (TAP), we gain early insights into developments as Microsoft Mesh expands. Additionally, we have Unity developers who can customise Mesh Rooms into tailored environments, enhancing the three-dimensional experience. 

Which we are happy to demonstrate these at any time - book here.

As a CTO, you have a unique opportunity to spearhead the Human Technology upgrade that immersive meetings with Meta Quest and Mesh can provide. You can facilitate immersive training sessions as part of our Meta and Mesh programs, effectively transforming how your organisation operates.

By transitioning from traditional commuting to "teleporting" into virtual environments, you can significantly reduce your company's carbon footprint. Championing these new initiatives within your organisation presents a valuable opportunity to implement impactful changes that benefit both the business and individual employees.

Other parts of the organisation will need educating on the advantages that Meta and Mesh offer, we are happy to support this education with a Q & A demo – Book here  

However the key is to own the technical upgrading of 2D Teams to 3D Mesh.

You may be wondering..."Well what can I do in a Bespoke Mesh room that I couldn't in a standard Mesh room? 

Well for starters you can tailor, share presentations, brand your room and have your corporate colours integrated into it. 

You may also be wondering: "Can I add a bespoke Mesh room to a multi-room call like I can with town halls?" The answer is yes, yes you can. 

"Can a guest join a mesh room standard or bespoke without being registered on the tenant?" - No, not at the minute.

"How do i invite a guest?" Answer Via the Mesh App.

"What license must I have to use Microsoft Mesh?" Answer: A Teams Premium license.

"Are there special Mesh firewall settings, after July’s update to Mesh?" Answer - no.

The answer to these questions will change quickly

To get the most up to date - download our CTO’s Guide here