Microsoft Teams: Features and Resources

Teams and channels

Teams are made up of channels, which are conversation boards between teammates.

Conversations within channels and teams

All team members can view and add to different conversations in the general channel and can use an @ function to invite other members to different conversations, not unlike Slack.

Chat function

The basic chat function is commonly found within most collaboration apps and can take place between teams, groups and individuals.

Breakout rooms

Video meetings in Microsoft Teams now have the option for the meeting host to divide participants into breakout rooms for small group discussions. The host can automatically or manually assign participants to each room.

Document storage in SharePoint

Every team who uses Microsoft Teams will have a site in SharePoint Online, which will contain a default document library folder. All files shared across all conversations will automatically save to this folder. Permissions and security options can also be customized for sensitive information. The Microsoft Teams document library can also be synced with OneDrive personal storage.

Online video calling and screen sharing

Enjoy seamless and fast video calls. A good video call feature is great to have on a collaboration platform. One can also enjoy simple and fast desktop sharing for technical assistance and multi-user, real-time collaboration.

Online meetings

This feature can help enhance your communications, company-wide meetings, and even training with an online meetings function that can host up to 10,000 users. Online meetings can include anyone outside or inside an organization. This feature also includes a scheduling aid, a note-taking app, file uploading, and in-meeting chat messaging.

Audio conferencing

This is a feature you won’t find in many collaboration platforms. With audio conferencing, anyone can join an online meeting via phone. With a dial-in number that spans hundreds of cities, even users that are on the go can participate with no internet required.