Microsoft is delaying the Teams Classic app’s retirement date to give users extra time to switch to the new Teams app.
The Teams Classic app was initially due to be shuttered at the end of March 2024, but that deadline is now being pushed back to July 1, 2024.
The extension will give Commercial and Educational users who will not be able to meet the necessary requirements to transition to the new Teams App by April 1 this year.
Microsoft has confirmed that it is providing more time for users to make the transition via its Microsoft Learn technology education platform: “We're aware of the concerns around our timeline.
“Classic Teams users who have encountered issues moving to new Teams or who don't meet the prerequisites to upgrade will still have access to the classic Teams client until July 01 2024 at the earliest.
“This will give admins more time to address any issues encountered during this process.”
The extension appears to be an acknowledgement of the user feedback that Microsoft has received, urging it to give them more time to prepare for the new Teams client.
From March 2024, classic Teams users who have not switched to the new Teams will be shown an informational banner at the top of the page within the main Teams client window, which will remind them about the Microsoft AutoUpdate timeline.
Microsoft urges admins to update the new Teams app as soon as possible because new features are no longer being added to the old Teams.
CoPilot Comes to Teams
Microsoft Teams has more than 300 million active users, making it one of the most popular communication and collaboration applications available right now.
Its popularity is only expected to grow further through the upcoming addition of Copilot AI to the platform, which is available with a Microsoft 365 subscription plan.
Microsoft’s AI Copilot works alongside Teams users to assist them with tasks by providing conversation summaries, summarising key discussion points in meetings, and locating relevant information buried in documents, presentations, emails, calendar invites, notes, or contacts.
In July, 2023, Microsoft unveiled new Copilot capabilities for Teams Phone and Teams Chat, including phone call and chat conversations features.
