Download Microsoft Teams

What is Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Teams launched by the Internet, the Google offers a big collaborative environment for business, and other such purposes. It allows the members to collaborate in real time, chat, and conduct conference calls. It is also integrated with all productivity apps of Office Suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and so on. 

 Microsoft Teams offers multiple features for free i.e. you can use it for your organization with up to 300 members, conduct a conference call for up to 60 minutes, 5GB free cloud storage, and so on. You can avail of the subscription plan if you want to get other advanced features.

Microsoft Teams is cloud-based and used for remote collaboration in real-time while offering integration for all types of digital machines such as Windows PCs, laptops, Androids, iOS devices, and so on. It is also integrated with multiple other Microsoft business applications such as Exchange, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and so on. 

It is developed by Microsoft and works as part of Microsoft 365 and 0ffice 365 applications suite. It offers great services during COVID-19 and enables big organizations to continue their business activities while sitting at home. 

User-interface Arrangements 

The user-interface includes a ribbon of icons existing on the left side panel. The Chat collaboration feature is in the center of the screen. You will find the following elements on the UI; 

• Teams: it is the feature for adding people and colleagues related to your business or any other project. 
• Tabs: you will find several tabs for representing any specific task, and you can use them for linking files, apps, and other services. 
• Channels: channels are topic-wise for organizing communication between workers i.e. news items, monthly reports, and so on. Here, the collaborators are allowed to arrange meetings, work on files, etc. while adding thousands of people. 
• Feeds: whatever activity that takes place on channels i.e. summary of messages, replies, mentions, etc., are provided on the activity feed. You can filter the feed section according to your requirements. 
• Mentions: you can use @symbol before the name of the person’s name, or for the entire team or channel to message or alert others using the mention section. 
• Threads: it is the best option to create a conversation between team members. You simply select the Reply option to start a chat. The Thread section allows the users to schedule audio/video meetings as well. 

Flawless Customization 

Posta, Files, and Wiki are the three default tabs available on a channel, but the wonderful thing is that you can customize them if you want, keep them all, cut, or add a new one is also possible. There is no limit to adding new tabs, and you will also find multiple tabs i.e. MS Excel, PDFs, YouTube, Evernote, and so on. 

Chat-based Environment 

On the messaging chat app, you are allowed to start group or individual conversations within threads. Moreover, you can conduct a voice or video call for a better conversation. The editing functionality is also available to edit your message and pin your saved posts, and the integration of the calendar helps you to schedule your appointments reliably. Moreover, the incorporation of GIFs and emojis makes your conversation interesting. 

Audio/Video Meetings 

The cloud-based service enables the users to create voice calling processes over IP calls for team members using the Microsoft Phone System and Calling Plan. In addition to the audio-call facility, you can conduct video meetings for better collaboration. It was the best offer during COVID-19, and other such pandemics that helped the users to carry on their businesses, education, etc, while using multiple innovative features such as customized virtual backgrounds, meeting recording, transcription, whiteboarding, and so on. 

Innovative Templates 

Several types of innovative templates and custom templates are available for making differentiation between user settings, installed apps, and so on. You have the option to use your own created templates as well. Meeting templates help you to save different settings related to your meetings. It is available for Premium users. 

Share your Screen and Files 

Teams also let you share your screen and remotely manage your files i.e. share, store, and edit files within the app. Here the users can collaborate reliably in real time.  

Webinars 

Support for interactive meetings and webinars while adding up to 1,000 members is available here. You can disable the chat, audio, and video of members using the live reactions and host moderation controls features. The view-only broadcast can accommodate 10,000 people. 

Integrated with Apps 

You will find a limitless list of apps and services including Microsoft apps that are integrated with Teams. It offers real-time content creation for Office Online free as well as paid accounts. Moreover, you can add Microsoft apps to your Teams interface as a new tab. The integration process is wide such as it is available for both software and hardware, and prolonged to multiple web browsers such as Safari, Firefox, Chrome, and so on. 

Subscription Plan 

Microsoft Teams offers a free version with some basic features. You must purchase the subscription plan for Microsoft’s suite of business applications, additional features, and integrations. It will provide round-the-clock customer service and allow you to add 300 members. The paid version is available in three plans; 

• Microsoft 365 Business Basic: $72 per person per year 
• Microsoft 365 Business Standard: $150 per person per year 
• Microsoft 365 Business Premium: $264 per person per year 

Security Plan 

The security plan offers multiple innovative features including 2FA, SSO, encryption data, and so on. 

• ATP: ATP or Advanced Threat Protection is the optional cloud-based service of Microsoft that displays alerts in case of any malicious threat. 
• Private Channels: Private channels give access only to the owners of channels while keeping the conversation private among the users. 
• E2EE: it will make your online conversation safe and secure. 
• Safe Links: save your business from the entry of malicious sites. 
• Meeting Controls: you can disable the audio/video options.

Main Features

• Free to download
• Support chat filters
• Conference calls
• Collaborate and share files

Pros

• Cloud integration
• Customizable 
• Real-time collaboration
• Share files

Cons

• Complicated to use
• Require subscription for Microsoft plans