Microsoft Teams About to receive an update that will create a whole new use case for cooperation And the video conferencing a program.
As shown in Latest addition (Opens in a new tab) To the official roadmap, Microsoft Teams will soon support a new meeting type called “Virtual Appointments”. The idea is to give B2C companies a simple way to schedule consultations with their clients.
“When you use the meeting type, guests will get a meeting invitation that includes important appointment details to make joining easier,” Microsoft explained. “They can join from any device – without having to install Teams – and experience a convenient virtual waiting room ahead of time until you’re ready to go.”
Not just for work
Like many other services in the collaboration and communications sector, Microsoft Teams has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence since the pandemic brought about a shift to remote and Hybrid work. The Latest numbers It reports that more than 270 million people now use the platform every month.
However, in an effort to extend the reach of the platform even further, Microsoft in recent months has put a great deal of energy into developing use cases for consumers as well.
Plus building Teams at the heart of Windows 11 (The chat app is now a staple in the taskbar), and Microsoft gave the desktop client a visual overhaul to make the platform more accessible to a non-commercial audience.
Separately, the company recently made it possible to mix customer and business accounts, allowing business users to start conversations and meetings with customers and partners who might use a personal Teams login.
Although Microsoft has described the launch of 3D avatars for Teams As a measure to improve interaction and immersion in the meeting, it’s also a feature that non-professionals will want to play with as well.
The move to create a new type of meeting for B2C appointments is the latest step in this broader process, creating a new reason for both businesses and consumers to engage with the now-familiar platform. However, whether or not people will take on the idea is a separate question.
The virtual appointments feature is currently still in development, but should make its way to all Teams users by the end of the year.