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Art by Mike Sullivan.

Google Takes On Microsoft With Voice, Video Upgrades

Photo: Art by Mike Sullivan.

Google Cloud is working on major improvements to its G Suite productivity applications to bolster its appeal to businesses. These include voice and video conferencing upgrades along with a new service for managing user identity data, according to three people who have been briefed on the plans.

Central to the G Suite makeover is a new voice-over-IP service, codenamed Wolverine, to sharpen the quality of its phone service and better compete with Microsoft’s Skype for Business. Google Cloud is positioning Wolverine as a cloud-based “PBX,” or private branch exchange, software that routes calls both within a company and to calls outside. Wolverine might include upgrades to G Suite’s video conferencing tools, Hangouts and Meet, said two of the people. A Google spokeswoman declined to comment.

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