24th November 2020, Kathmandu
Microsoft Teams free option is being provided to users with a 1day time limit on calls just in time for upcoming holidays according to The Verge. Now with this option, Microsoft is trying to lure the users of Zoom over to Microsoft Teams. While the software company has launched Microsoft Teams. it’s now bringing Teams’ to the web and desktop features for friends and family. Thus, allowing users to create a Microsoft Teams meeting can run 24 hours free of charge.
Coronavirus has impacted various business fields and many of them have fallen down. But some of them are benefitted from it One of them is the video communication platforms. Firstly Zoom was a huge hit and was getting high customers. Zoom surged in popularity after people flocked to the video calling service to connect to family, fellow students, coworkers, or even friends and family. Then enter the Microsoft teams which were also able to establish themselves in this trendy market. Though both being the communication platform they differ from each other in various features.
Who can use Microsoft Teams’ free option?
The first thing you need to know is that IT won’t need a Microsoft Account or the Microsoft Teams app for this option. As you can directly join free via a web browser. In addition, you can view up to 49 participants in a gallery view or through its Together Mode feature that puts you side by side in a virtual environment.
How many can participate in Microsoft Teams free?
As many as 300 people can be in one room, with a gallery view that can display up to 49 of them on one screen. Also, there’s also a feature called Together Mode which arranges everyone’s video feeds so it looks like they’re sitting together in the same place.
As Christmas is nearing, it’s clear Microsoft is making Teams as a way for families to connect virtually during this corona pandemic period. That’s particularly relevant, as health officials have recommended that people should not travel for Thanksgiving.
Microsoft is offering a convenient way to connect with friends and family free of charge with a long 24-hour limit on meeting length and an easy to use web application.
- Zoom has a 40-minute limit, which the company is lifting temporarily for Thanksgiving
- Google Meet have a 60-minute limit
- Cisco Webex has 50-minute limit restrictions
Microsoft is also trying to push Skype, but everyone has mostly forgotten Skype and people rarely use it.
How to get started?
To get started as a meeting host all you need to go to the new Microsoft Teams link and then sign in to Microsoft Account. Once you’ve created a new Teams video meeting you can share the link with friends and family. Then they will be able to join via the web free of charge without creating a Microsoft Account.
Also, you don’t need to download an app as the calls can be started and joined from a web browser. But as said earlier Whoever starts the call will need to have a Microsoft account. If you don’t have one then it is easy to set up.
This is a good move by Microsoft by targeting the holiday season. It is quite obvious that Microsoft will start enforcing limits on the free version in the near future. But as it stands, So, Teams is probably a better option for the next couple of months.
