Microsoft Teams, but Unified

 

Microsoft Teams is used by businesses worldwide to collaborate effectively with team members. Whether through direct communication, meetings, or even sharing files and apps, Microsoft Teams makes teamwork in the digital world more manageable for all users.

However, Microsoft Teams is used in more than just business settings. Many users use Teams for personal tasks; others may use the program for schooling/educational purposes. For years, Microsoft had two separate Teams apps for users. One is a free version installed on Windows devices specifically for personal Microsoft accounts. The other application was specifically created for business and school accounts. In many cases, users with both work and personal accounts became flustered when switching between the applications.

What is the difference between the two apps?

Teams for personal use:

This application assists users in personal communication with friends, family, and small groups. It includes video calls, chat, file sharing, and integration with other Microsoft services. It's more focused on casual communication and collaboration.

Teams for work/school:

This application is used by businesses, organizations, and educational institutions to assist in teamwork, communication, and collaboration among employees or students. This version has more tools tailored to the work and academic setting, including team channels, document collaboration, integration with Microsoft Office apps, meeting scheduling, task management, and more admin controls.

So, what is Microsoft doing now?

Just a month ago, Microsoft announced that they would integrate both apps to create a seamless unified version for both personal and business/school accounts. Microsoft will test the new integration with Windows Insiders.

The plan has come to fruition. Soon, users will be able to switch from different accounts. All they have to do is click their profile picture in the top right corner of the screen and then switch to any account they would like.

What else does Microsoft have planned?

Not only has the company implemented this new integration, but Microsoft has also implemented additional features to make users' experiences easier. For example, in Teams meetings, users can now choose what profile they would like to join with. Microsoft also added a feature where user notifications will show which account receives that specific alert. (Petri).

The new unified version is expected to roll out in April.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.