Apple users are poised to get a welcome productivity boost when it comes to using Microsoft Teams on their mobile devices or tablets.
The video conferencing platform has revealed that it is bringing Picture in Picture Mode to iPhone and iPad users, allowing them to view multiple windows at once on their devices.
This could mean that users are able to video call on their device while referring to a useful document or presentation at the same time, without having to switch between apps and drop potential calls.
Microsoft Teams Picture in Picture for iOS
In the official Microsoft 365 roadmap entry (Opens in a new tab) As for the update, the company notes, “The new picture-in-picture mode lets you see your meeting in an editable window while using other apps on your mobile device.”
The feature is still listed as “under development,” but its availability date is expected in December 2022, which means users shouldn’t wait too long. When released, it will be available to all iOS users in Microsoft Teams worldwide.
The launch is the latest in a series of productivity-themed releases of Microsoft Teams as it continues to try to enhance the usability and efficiency of its platform.
This includes a number of speed-related upgrades aimed at improving the user experience when navigating around Microsoft Teams, namely an upgraded framework that can now render HTML trees faster and run JavaScript and serialize arrays more efficiently.
The company claims that these changes should contribute to a 30% speed increase when switching between Microsoft Teams chats or channels.
In other multitasking news, the company recently announced that in-app games are coming to Microsoft Teams.
However, far from being a distraction, Microsoft claims that interaction through play is designed to address some of the biggest challenges in the hybrid workplace, including “struggles to build trust, establish connections, and improve team morale.”
It also recently revealed that transcription for 1:1 and conference calls is now available on the Microsoft Teams app for Android, giving users the opportunity to review exactly what was said, or if any details were missed.
Users will also be able to start transcripts for meetings on Microsoft Teams for iOS and Android, as well as be able to view meeting transcripts after their calls have ended.