Microsoft Teams to get 7×7 video layout by late August

Microsoft Teams will soon screen up to forty nine video clip participants on display screen concurrently. The seller will start off rolling out the 7×7 video clip layout this month and plans to deliver the function to all users in general public preview by the end of August.

A greater team video clip screen immediately turned the most requested function in Teams heritage amid the pandemic. When the virus compelled most enterprises to close offices in March, Teams only exhibited 4 people on display screen at a single time.

Microsoft launched a 3×3 video clip layout in May possibly but however trailed Zoom, which displays a 7×7 grid, and Cisco Webex, which supports a 5×5 sample. The shortcoming has led some Teams prospects to use Zoom for greater conferences. The introduction of a 7×7 grid could adjust that.

“This will unquestionably carry Teams to parity and battle the Zoom erosion,” stated Joshua Tretakoff, head of business enterprise development at JustAnswer, an on the web support assistance. Tretakoff not long ago commenced holding some conferences on Zoom because of the smaller video clip screen in Teams.

Tretakoff is also happy that Microsoft will soon permit as a lot of as one,000 people participate in a assembly, up from 250 people. His business maintains a GoToMeeting license for greater conferences right now. “And we’ll be happy to consolidate again on to Teams,” he stated.

Far more than fifty six,000 Teams users requested Microsoft to assistance a much more substantial team video clip screen via the vendor’s consumer comments discussion board. Which is much more than 2 times the quantity of users who voted for the second most popular function ask for, the ability to log in to several Teams accounts concurrently.

Microsoft stated the 7×7 video clip layout would start in preview, nevertheless. That indicates the business has not completed engineering the function, which could result in users to come across glitches. Companies will need to have to activate the new multi-window assembly setting to use the 7×7 grid.

Microsoft attempts to produce an immersive assembly practical experience

Microsoft also unveiled this week a distinctive new assembly screen called “collectively manner.” The function spots video clip participants in seats in a virtual auditorium.

Microsoft intended the setting utilizing the science at the rear of virtual actuality. The business wants to make people really feel linked to colleagues by simulating the spatial interactions that exist even though sitting collectively in the same home.

The function is not like any video clip screen on the current market right now. But it can be an open dilemma whether or not enterprises will use collectively manner when Microsoft launches it in August. The business plans to at some point insert assistance for much more virtual environments, this sort of as a espresso store.

Afterwards in 2020, Microsoft will also change its common assembly screen. The new display screen will location the most lively assembly participants in the most popular positions, keeping audio-only users off to the aspect. The update will also permit users see video clip feeds even when somebody is presenting a PowerPoint.  

Other potential enhancements involve true-time transcription, shut captioning with speaker attribution, emoji reactions, and video clip filters for altering mild stages and digital camera concentrate. New functions earmarked for the relaxation of the Teams application involve prompt replies, a duties tab and integration with the AI voice assistant Cortana.

Having said that, Teams users are however ready for a lot of a lot less flashy enhancements this sort of as a better calendar and parity amongst webinars and conferences. Some users have expressed stress about Microsoft prioritizing awareness-grabbing functions to fight Zoom as an alternative of correcting much more essential difficulties with the platform.