Microsoft is currently working on a major update for the Microsoft Teams Client for Windows.

Microsoft Teams is increasingly becoming the central interface for daily work. Be it for chat functionality, collaboration or telephony.
Despite all the advantages that Microsoft Teams brings with it, it is also known that the Teams client is a performance monster.

Microsoft has been working on a successor version for some time, which is now ready for rollout as a public preview. The new version will be rolled out worldwide from 27.03.2023.

 

IMPORTANT: The new version is not the Teams version, which comes natively with Windows 11.

 

What can we expect from the new Teams client?

The most important improvement is performance. This is reflected in the following benchmark:

  • 3x faster installation
  • 2x faster launch
  • 2x faster joining a meeting or a call
  • 1.7x faster switching between chats and channels
  • 50% less memory (RAM) needed
  • 70% less memory needed

A direct comparison is shown in the following video:

Demo new Teams Client

 

 

 

How do I get the new Teams version?

As already mentioned, the new Teams client has been available in the public preview version since 27 March. This is currently only for Windows devices, Mac OS will be released at a later date.
In order to use the public preview version, the tenant administrators have to activate a so-called opt-in for the users, after which the users can activate the new version in their Teams client.

 

Does the new version also bring new problems?

Basically, many known problems are fixed with the new version. Through the intensive testing phase by Microsoft and dedicated Microsoft MVP’s, many bugs could be identified and fixed.
The idea of the public preview version is to test the new client on a larger scale in order to find possible further bugs and eliminate them before the “GA release”.

Therefore, no new problems should occur with the GA version.
It should simply be noted that when apps are used in teams from third party manufacturers, no guarantee can be given that they will continue to function properly.

 

Are there more innovations in Microsoft Teams?

Yes, and more than we have seen in a long time! 🙂
The following are currently or soon to be rolled out for Microsoft Teams:

Meetings

  • Meeting notes in Microsoft Teams meetings
  • Video filters in Microsoft Teams Meetings
  • Cameo in PowerPoint Live
  • Speaker Coach in Microsoft Teams Meetings
  • Video Closed Captions in PowerPoint Live
  • Whiteboard innovations
  • Automatic lowering of a user’s Raised Hand after speaking
  • Meetings toolbar improvements
  • Support PSTN dial-in, dial-out, and call-me attendees in meetings to join Breakout Rooms for DoD and GCC High
  • Ultrasound Howling Detection
  • Disable chat write access for anonymous or unauthenticated users
  • Live Transcript in all available languages in Teams Meetings on Web
  • Leave a meeting on all my devices
  • Avatars for Microsoft Teams

Front Line Worker & Vertical Solutions

  • Virtual Appointments in Microsoft Teams
  • Viva Connections pre-configuration for frontline workers

Chat & Collab

  • Channels reimagined (The compose box and recent posts, conversation view, Viva Topics, information pane, pin posts, Simplified badging)
  • Expanded view for profile card (LinkedIn extension, pronouns)
  • Updated new file apps in Teams

Phone

  • Dynamic emergency calling enhancements
  • Busy-on-busy settings
  • User managed call queue and auto attendant greetings
  • Click-to-call
  • Hotline phones (Private Line Automatic Ringdown)
  • Simplified call delegation UI and feature enhancements
  • Teams Shared Device License on Android Devices
  • SIP Gateway support for DECT devices from Gigaset

EDU

  • Grading Categories in Teams Assignments
  • Students and educators get a notification when a new Class Notebook page is distributed

GOV

  • Isolated audio feed capabilities for GCC-High and DoD

Rooms & Devices

  • Surface Hub 2S: Now a Teams Rooms on Windows device
  • New User Interface on Teams Rooms on Windows devices
  • Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android Update
  • Cisco meeting devices natively run Microsoft Teams
  • Poly X70
  • Microsoft device ecosystem platform
  • Enable second video stream with “Teams Content Camera on Desktop
  • Yealink DeskVision A24
  • Virtual front desk

Rooms & Devices

  • Isolated audio feed capabilities for GCC-High and DoD

Rooms & Devices

  • Teams Admin Center: Simplified navigation
  • View users and groups assigned to a policy
  • Teams Advisor guidance for Phone system deployment
  • Export Teams list from Teams Admin Center
  • Customer Lockbox for Microsoft Teams

Platform

  • Power Automate Connector – Updates App (Microsoft 365)
  • Support apps in Channel Meetings
  • Visio: Visio personal app in Microsoft Teams
  • New app called Microsoft Viva Sales

Mobile

  • Join meetings from calendar view on Apple CarPlay
  • Text prediction for Teams mobile
  • Chat Bubbles during Teams meetings for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android

Events & Partnerships

  • Yammer Encoded Events powered by Microsoft Teams
  • Five9 (contact centers)

IT Admin & Security

  • Teams Admin Center: Simplified navigation
  • View users and groups assigned to a policy
  • Teams Advisor guidance for Phone system deployment
  • Export Teams list from Teams Admin Center
  • Customer Lockbox for Microsoft Teams

 

Post Views: 1,493