Microsoft Teams

What is Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Teams is a unified communications (UC) application, a collaboration tool, that comes as an add-on to Office 365.

The Launch and its Adoption

The idea behind Teams was to create clearly defined group (team) spaces where projects could be run and creative decisions could be made. Microsoft Teams launched worldwide on 14th March 2017. Designed as a business communications, and collaboration, suite Teams included chat and document sharing features early on. Providing areas where associated group discussion, and related documents, could be stored. With online audio and video meeting features the product has been adopted rapidly by businesses, education and healthcare. The coronavirus pandemic helped establish Teams as a leading telecoms product across multiple sectors. In March 2020 the use of the product had sky rocketed to 44 million active daily users. Jumping again in April to 75 million active daily users and reaching 115 million active daily users by October 2020.

Remote Working

Businesses large and small have enabled their staff to work remotely; also know as working from anywhere (WFA). Internet connectivity has improved to a point where speeds readily support Streaming Services, Video and Voice over IP (VoIP). Flexible working policies have proved invaluable for maintaining productivity. Keeping colleagues connected, even when they can’t be together physically. It is clear that the enablement of remote, or home, working is more important than ever. This practice having lasting value beyond the COVID-19 outbreak.

For our society as a whole, the ability to interact virtually has enabled teaching to move from the classroom online. Lessons being delivered through Teams can be recorded. Students benefit from this because they are able to go back to the lesson, and revise the subject matter taught, time and again. Primary care establishments have adopted the technology to run remote appointments because it helps shield the vulnerable . Even if the patient doesn’t have Microsoft Teams they can be invited to join consultation appointments via an internet browser on a tablet or home computer.

As with other unified communications solutions, allowing people to interact simply is at the heart of Microsoft Teams.

Making Microsoft Teams a Complete Phone System

Those without a paid Microsoft 365 license are able to access the free version, but for the full feature set, including business telephone service integration, the licensed version is required. Making calls to external numbers can prove to be expensive without understanding what options are available. This is where a local, reliable, and specialist telecoms provider can help because their knowledge of the industry will ensure you are provided with the best advice.

Some of the benefits of integrating Microsoft Teams with an external Telco based telephone service include:

• No need to pre-pay for calls, with great inclusive minutes packages
• Call anywhere, anytime, with great VoIP calling rates
• Flexible number presentation
• Advanced call barring
• Enhanced Features, such as Call Logging, Fax to Email and Call Recording
• Fraud Prevention