Video conferencing is key in most businesses these days. If you want the best experience, then choose Microsoft Teams. If you do not know the reason why you have to choose it for your video conferences, just brace yourself and I will give a lot of reasons why.
Video conferencing has become a part of almost every business since most companies now have workers everywhere in the world. Choosing the right platform for your video conference is also another thing to consider.
To have the best experience, you need a very reliable platform that also gives you all the tools you need. You cannot mention all the video conferencing platforms without mentioning Microsoft Teams. Of course, there are others including Skype, Cisco Webex, GoTo Meeting, etc. But let us focus on Microsoft’s version of the video conference platform for now.
What is Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft Teams is a collaboration and communication platform developed by Microsoft. It is designed to help businesses and organizations streamline their workflow and improve team collaboration by providing a central hub for communication, document sharing, project management, and video conferencing.
This platform is part of the Microsoft 365 suite, which includes other productivity tools such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. It allows users to create teams or channels for specific projects, departments, or functions, where they can share files, hold virtual meetings, and chat with team members in real time. You can also access the platform via the Microsoft official website.
Features
There are many features available in this video conferencing platform to help you make the best out of your collaborations. Below are some of the features you can take advantage of.
- Chat and Instant Messaging
Microsoft Teams offers instant messaging and chat capabilities that allow users to communicate in real time with individuals or groups within the organization. Users can also send text messages, emojis, and even GIFs to express themselves better.
- Video and Audio Conferencing
The platform’s major use evolves around video conferencing. This platform provides some of the best video and audio quality. Users can join meetings from any device, share screens, and collaborate on documents in real-time.
- Document Collaboration
The platform also offers document collaboration capabilities that allow users to share and collaborate on files such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. Users can co-author documents, leave comments, and track changes in real time.
- Integration with Other Microsoft 365 Apps
Microsoft Teams seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint, allowing users to access and share files across different applications.
- Channel-Based Communication
This video conferencing platform offers channel-based communication that allows users to create channels for specific projects, departments, or functions. Channels can be used to organize discussions, share files, and collaborate on projects with specific teams or groups.
- Customization
Microsoft Teams offers customization capabilities that allow users to customize the platform to suit their needs. This is one feature you can not get on most similar platforms. Users can create custom tabs, add connectors to third-party apps, and integrate with other tools to improve productivity.
These are some of the amazing features you can take advantage of on this platform. There are more features that you can also get to know about when using the platform.
Pricing
Below are some of the packages available if you want to use this platform.
- Free
Microsoft Teams offers a free version that includes unlimited chat and search capabilities, 10 GB of team file storage, and integration with other Microsoft 365 apps. This plan is suitable for small teams with basic collaboration needs.
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic
This plan includes Microsoft Teams, as well as access to other Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. It costs $5/user/month and is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard
This plan includes Microsoft Teams, as well as access to other Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. It also includes advanced security features such as device management and information protection. It costs $12.50/user/month and is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.
- Microsoft 365 E3
This plan includes Microsoft Teams, as well as access to other Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. It also includes advanced security features, compliance tools, and advanced analytics capabilities. It costs $32/user/month and is suitable for larger businesses with more complex needs.
- Microsoft 365 E5
This plan includes Microsoft Teams, as well as access to other Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. It also includes advanced security features, compliance tools, and advanced analytics capabilities. Additionally, it includes advanced voice capabilities such as a cloud-based phone system and audio conferencing. It costs $57/user/month and is suitable for larger businesses with advanced needs.
These are some of the packages that you can subscribe to. You can also use the free package with limited features.