Microsoft has announced that its unified Teams app for personal and work accounts is now generally available.
The new app merges the two previously separate Teams apps — one for work or education, the other for personal use — into one platform that Microsoft stresses can be easily switched between. The new app, which has been in testing for almost a year, is now available for Windows and Mac users.
Amit Fulay, Vice President of Product at Microsoft, wrote in the announcement blog:
Microsoft Teams has transformed the way we connect and collaborate at work and in our lives. To date, there have been two Teams apps on Windows 11 – one for work or education and another for personal use. We’re thrilled to share that today the unified Teams app is now available on Windows 11, Windows 10, and Mac. This update brings work, personal, and education accounts into a single Teams app.”
The new Teams desktop app supporting all account types is now available, complementing Microsoft’s mobile apps on Android and Apple. If a user already has Teams on their desktop, the app will automatically update.
More Specifics On The New App’s Feature Set
To manage or access multiple accounts in Microsoft Teams, users can click on their profile picture in the app’s upper right corner. This will allow users to open work, personal, and education accounts in separate, side-by-side windows within the same Teams application.
Microsoft recognises that many users manage multiple Teams accounts. Fulay said the company has streamlined the process, allowing users to easily select their preferred account when joining a Teams meeting. Additionally, users can join as a guest without needing to sign in.
All users, whether on Windows 10 or Mac, can now connect and collaborate with anyone, anytime, for free, by signing in with a personal email. They can schedule free meetings and invite participants with a simple join link. Additionally, users can create a Community to bring their group together, with Microsoft citing a fantasy football league as an example. This Community exists in a shared space that includes calling, chat, file sharing, and more.
Microsoft To Add a Central Hub For Teams Channels And Chats
In other Teams news this week, Microsoft is set to add a centralised hub for Teams channels and chats in October.
The new hub, titled “All Your Teams and Channels View,” is designed to provide users with a comprehensive overview of all their teams. Users can select channels directly from a single homepage, enhancing productivity and streamlining collaboration.
Earlier this month, The Verge reported that Microsoft is internally testing a new version of Teams that integrates both text chat and channels into a unified user interface. However, it remains unclear whether the centralised hub feature mentioned in the 365 Blog is the same as the one being trialled.
The centralised hub will begin rolling out in October for Desktop Teams platforms.
