Microsoft has revealed a number of new features coming to Microsoft Teams, including up to 20,000 participants in meetings, cloud phone, branding customization, and dedicated Teams hardware.
These are the new features that the company announced for Teams:
- Up to 20,000 participants in meetings: The limit for interactive meetings is up to 1,000 participants, but after the limit Teams switches to the “view only” mode allowing up to 20,000 participants.
- Company branding: The ability to add your company’s branding to meetings allows a more professional presence. In the coming months, this option will be available starting with branded meeting lobbies, and then, it’ll expand to branding the core meeting experience. This particular option will require an Advanced Communications plan, which is addon license to any Microsoft 365 or Office 365 subscription.
- Teams Calling: This is a cloud-based phone system for employees who use phone numbers to make and receive calls with customers, partners, and vendors, whether they are in the office, worksite, or working from home.
- Teams Displays: These are dedicated devices featuring an ambient touch screen, high-quality calling and video, and a hands-free experience powered by Cortana.
- Support for Skype for Business: Microsoft also announced that it’s extending support for Skype (3PIP) phones beyond 2023 as they make the switch to Teams. In addition, the company will be supporting core calling features on SIP phones from Cisco, Yealink, Polycom, and others with Teams. Support for SIP phones will be available in the first half of 2021.
- Teams phones: If you’re ready to upgrade existing phones, the company is also unveiling new Microsoft Teams phones with physical buttons, high-quality audio, and core calling features at an affordable price from AudioCodes, Poly, and Yealink. Also, there are new USB peripherals that have dial pads and a Teams user interface for heavy call users. These USB phones work out of the box and will connect to both a PC and Mac. These will be available in late 2020.
These new features are in addition to the recently announced Tasks app for the platform.
The Task app is a new task management experience powered by both Planner and Microsoft To Do, and it’s been designed to be the central hub for teamwork.
Some of the features includes new list view with a traditional board, charts, and schedule view from Planner, and Lists view. In addition, there is an option to edit multiple tasks at the same time, for things like modifying the progress, due dates, priority, and much more.
The feature is available now, but it’s rolling out slowing through September. However, the Tasks in Teams mobile experience won’t be available until the desktop rollout is complete. Also, if you use the Planner app inside Microsoft Teams, this experience won’t change.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].