MDEP: One year of innovation, collaboration, and growth
The announcement last year marked the first step in building a community of innovation and collaboration around MDEP. Since then, we have transformed the way device manufacturers and developers build, deploy, and manage connected experiences by unlocking new opportunities for innovation, security, and seamless integration. Over the past year, MDEP has made significant strides—delivering a consistent stream of new features, expanding our community with more device manufacturers and software developers, and receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from businesses worldwide. Continuous enhancements through frequent updates Since our initial release, we have gained momentum through regular feature updates to meet the needs of our device partners and enterprise customers. We started off by building a secure foundation for meeting room devices using hardware-based attestation with Microsoft Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and secure pairing between devices. We also developed a suite of flexible core services like Microsoft text-to-speech for accessibility, as the building blocks for partner innovation. Additionally, we collaborated with our silicon partners in ensuring PKI provisioning and hardware attestation are available across chipsets through modular software assets. The MDEP 2024.3 release continued our investments into security, along with improved developer tools and customization options, as well as an expansion to additional device categories like Microsoft Teams Panels and room scheduling displays. Key updates included the app integrity service, a feature that bridges cloud and device security—allowing cloud services to trust devices with confidence. The release also strengthened security through SoC Secure Enclave Abstraction, phased out TLS 1.0/1.1 in favor of newer versions, setting the stage for future advancements in connected device experiences. The MDEP 2024.4 release introduced comprehensive support for IP phones, including touchscreen and non-touchscreen models, as well as SideCar accessory modules. It also expanded hardware compatibility for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android built around a central unit, as an alternative to systems based on two paired Android devices. Additionally, the release enabled frictionless certificate provisioning on supported Qualcomm SoCs, added support for the Qualcomm QCS6490 chipset, and integrated Microsoft's Fluent 2 Design System for a cohesive and customizable UI. Key accessibility enhancements, such as flexible narrator audio output and improved UI navigation, ensured a more inclusive user experience. MDEP 2025.1 Today, we're excited to announce MDEP 2025.1, our first release of the year, packed with 20+ enhancements in device connectivity, pairing, hardware configurability, accessibility, and more —all driven by partner feedback. To name a few, MDEP will now offer native support for devices that can operate either as a touch console in a meeting room, or as a scheduling panel outside the room. MDEP will dynamically scale the DPI (dots-per-inch) of connected displays based on their native resolution. This release introduces full support for Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) over LAN and improves our secure pairing service to handle devices running different versions of MDEP, especially in update scenarios, while also offering greater granularity in establishing connections using specific network interfaces in stricter enterprise environments. We remain committed to building a truly inclusive platform with the addition of a screen magnification feature in our Microsoft accessibility suite. On the silicon front, we're expanding frictionless certificate provisioning to supported MediaTek SoCs, now including the Genio 510. MDEP: A growing ecosystem The success of MDEP is built on a thriving community of innovative OEMs and ODMs who are shaping the future of connected devices. Through deep collaboration, cutting-edge engineering, and a shared commitment to excellence, our partners are bringing powerful, secure, and intelligent solutions to market. Together, we are driving the next wave of device innovation, making seamless experiences more accessible than ever. Jabra – A pivotal launch partner, the Jabra PanaCast 50 VBS & PanaCast 40 VBS (coming mid-summer 2025) are both built on MDEP, setting new standards for video collaboration and ensuring seamless, intelligent meeting experiences. Yealink – Yealink's MP-E2 series Teams phones and RoomPanel E2 series Teams panels are available on MDEP, as well as Yealink's MeetingBar A40 and CTP25, leveraging MDEP’s robust security and manageability features, ensuring that their Teams-certified devices remain cutting-edge and enterprise-ready. Barco – Barco's next generation of ClickShare devices will run on MDEP, enhancing security and collaboration experiences across meeting rooms globally. Their commitment to MDEP-powered solutions is transforming hybrid work environments. AudioCodes – MDEP is set to power AudioCodes’ entire line of Teams Certified devices, including Microsoft Teams Rooms (MTRs), phones, and panels. By leveraging MDEP’s capabilities, AudioCodes is delivering seamless integration, enhanced security, and optimized performance, ensuring high-quality voice and collaboration experiences for organizations worldwide. Lenovo – A leader in hardware innovation, Lenovo is integrating MDEP into their next line of Teams-certified devices, ensuring seamless, secure communication solutions for the modern workforce. Shure – By integrating MDEP, Shure has elevated professional audio experiences across many spaces and devices, delivering exceptional sound quality in any setting. MAXHUB – MAXHUB has leveraged MDEP to create state-of-the-art meeting room solutions, transforming the hybrid workplace with immersive collaboration experiences. Crestron – Crestron has extended MDEP’s secure and manageable platform into meeting room solutions, reinforcing enterprise-grade security and seamless device integration. Owl Labs – Owl Labs' innovative AI-powered communication Android devices will run on MDEP, ensuring intelligent, adaptive collaboration experiences for hybrid teams. In addition, we have expanded the number of our ODM & development partners by onboarding CVTE, Thundercomm, AmTRAN, IAdea, and Capgemini while collaborating closely with Qualcomm, MediaTek, Rockchip, and NXP to bring MDEP to more devices across more categories. And there’s more to come We continue to work closely with leading device manufacturers and developers to bring more devices and experiences to the MDEP community. We are committed to bringing the best of Microsoft’s AI solutions and best practices into our MDEP AI Framework. Additionally, we are expanding enterprise features like Zero-Touch Enrollment (ZTE) to provide a Windows Autopilot-like, fast and frictionless device enrollment and provisioning experience for select Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android devices. As we look ahead, our commitment to innovation, security, and seamless integration remains stronger than ever. The momentum of the past year has set the stage for even greater advancements, and we can’t wait to share what’s next. Stay tuned as we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with MDEP.Advancing collaboration and accessibility: Inside the MDEP 2024.4 release
The MDEP 2024.4 release is here, and it's packed with exciting updates! We've expanded support to cover even more collaboration device types and hardware configurations in addition to introducing new tools for our OEM partners and developers that ease platform integration and customization. One of the highlights of this release is the comprehensive support for IP phones and compatibility with meeting room systems based on a centralized architecture. The MDEP 2024.4 release also packs improved accessibility features, ensuring that all users can effectively utilize our platform. This release truly reflects our commitment to providing secure and innovative solutions for the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform community: IP phones: Expanding device capabilities The MDEP 2024.4 release introduces support for a wide range of IP phones, including: Touchscreen phones: Devices equipped with touch displays of various sizes and aspect ratios. Non-touchscreen phones: High-volume models with physical buttons for navigation and actions. SideCar support: Accessory modules attached to Teams phones, which extend functionality through extra programmable buttons, providing quick access to features such as speed dialing and call transfers. Extended hardware support for meeting rooms In ensuring support for a variety of hardware configurations, this release adds compatibility for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android systems built around a cental unit, as an alternative to systems based on two paired Android devices: Centralized architecture: Allows for simplified touch console hardware that operates as a peripheral to a primary Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android device over a USB connection. Additional hardware support: We are working closely with our device partners in expanding support to additional meeting device configurations in subsequent releases. Easier configuration and provisioning To streamline deployments and support evolving hardware needs, the MDEP 2024.4 release offers: Frictionless certificate provisioning: Simplified workflows on supported Qualcomm SoCs, reducing setup complexities, and enables secure device authentication, seamless integration, and reduced complexity for OEMs and developers. Qualcomm QCS6490 chipset support: Expanding MDEP compatibility with Qualcomm’s QCS6490, a high-performance IoT processor, designed for advanced edge computing and AI-driven applications. VaaS provider enhancements: This update simplifies the provisioning and management of multiple video-as-a-service (VaaS) providers on a device, covering the installation, configuration, and removal of VaaS software as a scalable and extendable platform solution. Fluent 2 Design System for developers The new MDEP UI library integrates Microsoft's Fluent 2 Design System into a unified framework. Based on the latest native platform components, Fluent UI Android introduces a cohesive design language across platforms and Microsoft services, enabling the following: Faster partner customization: MDEP’s Fluent UI components are designed for fast integration, customization, and extensibility to meet unique partner needs. Future readiness: Prepares MDEP for additional device categories with turn-key UX/UI and consistency with other Microsoft services. Accessibility: Inclusive by design The 2024.4 release introduces key accessibility enhancements for more inclusive meeting environments: Flexible narrator audio output: Allows end users to switch audio output to the preferred device when using a screen reader in a meeting room. Improved UI navigation: MDEP’s app interfaces now support physical controllers and keyboards across device types. Looking ahead We’re excited to continue our journey in strengthening MDEP as a versatile and scalable foundation for a range of device categories together with our partners. Stay tuned for more updates and insights at ISE 2025 in Barcelona next month!
